CPM, Cong back TMC against Guv's 'recommendation' of Central rule
Kolkata, May 5 (UNI) In a rare instance, the CPI(M) and Congress have supported the West Bengal government and the ruling Trinamool Congress in opposing Governor CV Ananda Bose's mention of considering Article 356 of the Constitution -- recommending the President's rule -- in his report on the recent communal violence in Murshidabad district.
CPI(M) state secretary and politburo member Mohammed Salim in his statement said that transferring power from the West Bengal government to the Governor under President's Rule would not resolve the state's problems.
'What has been happening in Murshidabad and various other parts of the state clearly shows that Mamata Banerjee has failed in her roles as home minister, and chief minister. The state government has failed to maintain peace, harmony," he said. "However, that does not mean handing over power to the Governor through President's Rule will solve anything,' Salim wrote in his statement.
'The people of this state have had bitter experiences with President's rule. Even after turning a state into a Union Territory, a terrorist attack in J&K's Pahalgam could not be prevented. Now, even the National Security Advisor is untraceable. In Manipur, despite a 'double-engine' government, people's lives remain endangered. It is the elected state government that must take responsibility for protecting the lives of the people here. President's Rule is not a solution,' said the CPI(M) leader.
The Congress, too, strongly criticised the Governor. Terming his statement as, "constitutionally unwanted," "politically motivated" and against the federal structure of the country, the Congress in a written statement, said, 'The recommendation by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to impose President's Rule under Article 356 is a deeply alarming development that strikes at the heart of India's federal democratic framework. Such a move is not only constitutionally unwarranted, but also politically motivated, violating the basic tenets of cooperative federalism enshrined in the Constitution.'
Alleging that the imposition of President's rule, in its broader objective, is a political design of the BJP and RSS, the Congress statement, said, 'This act must also be seen in the broader context of the ideological objectives of the RSS and the BJP. Both have, in various forums, hinted at the long-term plan of fragmenting West Bengal — culturally rich and politically resilient — into smaller administrative units.'
'The imposition of President's rule, therefore, is not just a question of governance — it is a calculated attempt to undermine Bengal's political autonomy and pave the way for divide-and-rule politics. It must be opposed unequivocally by all democratic forces,' the statement read.
After his visit to trouble-torn Murshidabad, the Governor sent a report to Home Minister Amit Shah on the communal strife in the state where he suggested President's rule if the situation worsens. The report also recommended deployment of Central forces, a judicial inquiry and Central intervention.
Several former members of the Trinamool Congress strongly criticised the Governor's report for suggesting that the Union government consider invoking Article 356, with the party's West Bengal state general secretary calling the report biased and aligned with the BJP's political agenda.
Echoing this view, West Bengal Parliamentary Affairs and Agriculture Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay claimed the report's recommendations were made under instructions from the Union government, adding, 'So it is natural that the Governor will say all negative things about West Bengal in his report.'
UNI XC PRS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
12 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
Rush Hour: 84% of funds donated during polls went to BJP, 223 Air India victims identified & more
We're building a brand-new studio to bring you bold ground reports, sharp interviews, hard-hitting podcasts, explainers and more. Support Scroll's studio fund today. The BJP accounted for nearly 45% of all expenditure by political parties and over 84% of all funds received by parties during last year's election period from March to June, according to a non-governmental organisation. The Hindutva party spent Rs 1,493.91 crore and collected funds to the tune of Rs 6,268 crore during this period, said the Association for Democratic Reforms. Among the 32 political parties that the report analysed, the Congress had the second-highest expenses at Rs 620.14 crore, or 18.5% of the total expenditure. The Congress collected Rs 592.48 crore during the election period, which amounted to 7.96% of the total amount, the report said. The BJP spent Rs 983.92 crore on publicity, while the Congress spent Rs 502.97 crore. This included media advertisements, publicity material and public meetings. In total, political parties spent Rs 3,352.81 crore during last year's Lok Sabha election and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim that were held along with it. Read on. The Election Commission has reduced the period it will retain video footage and photographs of the polling process to 45 days, citing 'recent misuse' of such material by non-contestants. On May 30, the poll body told state chief electoral officers that recording of polling was not mandated by law but was used as an 'internal management tool'. In 2024, the Election Commission issued instructions laying out timelines, ranging from three months to a year, for storing video footage from stages of the election process. Read on. Eight days after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, the identities of 223 persons who died have been confirmed through DNA testing. Of the total, the bodies of 204 persons have been handed over to their families. Meanwhile, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is yet to decide whether flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the aircraft that crashed will be sent overseas for analysis. The crash on June 12 killed all but one of the 242 people onboard Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. Thirty-four persons were also killed on the ground after the plane crashed into the hostel building of the BJ Medical College and Hospital. Read on. Several Opposition leaders have criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for saying those who speak English in India will soon feel ashamed. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that English is 'not a barrier, but a bridge', adding that the language provides employment and boosts people's self-confidence. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi told Shah that 'the only thing to be ashamed of is imposing your will on the people and trying to destroy the pluralism of India'.
Hindustan Times
14 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Declined US President Trump's invite to Washington to come to Odisha: PM Modi
Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he declined an invitation from US President Donald Trump to visit Washington after his official visit to Canada because he had to come to Odisha, the sacred land of Lord Jagannath. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets the gathering during a public meeting in Bhubaneswar on Friday. (DD/ANI) 'During my visit, US President Donald Trump called me and said 'since you're already in Canada, why not come to Washington too? Let's have a meal and talk.' He extended a warm invitation. I respectfully told the President of the United States, 'Thank you for your kind invitation, but it is essential for me to go to the sacred land of Mahaprabhu.' And so, I humbly declined his offer, because your love and the devotion to Mahaprabhu drew me irresistibly to this holy land,' PM Modi said at an event in Bhubaneswar to mark the first anniversary of the BJP government led by Mohan Majhi. Modi said Odisha was a radiant beacon of India's rich heritage. 'For thousands of years, it has been a cornerstone of Indian culture, contributing to its growth and vibrancy. Today, as the ideals of development and heritage form the foundation of India's progress, Odisha's significance and role in this journey have grown even greater,' he added. 'Today is a very special day. Today, the first BJP government in Odisha has successfully completed one year. This anniversary is not just of the government; it is the anniversary of the establishment of good governance. This one year was dedicated to public service and public trust. When the BJP government in Odisha is completing its first year, all of you are busy preparing for the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. Mahaprabhu is our idol and inspiration and with the blessings of Mahaprabhu, the issues related to the Srimandir have also been resolved,' he said. PM Modi also unveiled the Odisha Vision Document, a roadmap for the state's development goals anchored around the centenary of Odisha's formation as India's first linguistic state in 2036 and India's 100 years of independence in 2047, an official statement said. The vision document aims to transform Odisha into a $500 billion economy by 2036 and a $1.5 trillion economy by 2047. Additionally, he launched the 'Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana' initiative to honour eminent Odias by developing their birthplaces into cultural hubs. The Prime Minister launched multiple development projects covering critical sectors such as drinking water, irrigation, agricultural infrastructure, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, sections of national highways, and a new railway line. He flagged off new train services extending rail connectivity to Boudh district for the first time and launched 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport initiative to promote eco-friendly urban mobility.
India Today
20 minutes ago
- India Today
Himanta Sarma claims 5,000 accounts from countries like Pak backing Congress
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has alleged that around 5,000 Facebook accounts, mostly operated from Islamic countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, have become active in the past one month and were posting content in favour of the said such foreign involvement ahead of the elections was concerning, and he had informed the Centre about to the media, Sarma said these accounts originated from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and were interacting with content related to the Assam Congress and one of its While Sarma did not name the Congress leader, he appeared to be referring to Gaurav Gogoi. Gogoi was appointed the Assam Congress president in from Islamic fundamentalist content, Sarma said pro-Palestine posts and remarks supporting Bangladesh's interim head Muhammad Yunus were being put out by these accounts."These accounts are not just politically aligned but are also propagating hardline Islamic content that does not resonate with the sentiments of indigenous Muslims in Assam," the Chief Minister further claimed that the Congress was highlighting interactions from these accounts to portray increased public support. He called this approach misleading and warned that such activity from foreign sources could harm India's democratic process, especially during also said there was information that some people from outside the state had rented houses in Guwahati and have connected with social media influencers for this Congress has not yet responded to the allegations, the Chief Minister called on national agencies to investigate what he described as "foreign involvement" in Assam Watch
