
Bengal: Abhishek slams poll panel, vows to fight against SIR
Speaking to mediapersons at NSC Bose International Airport upon his return from New Delhi, Banerjee highlighted the INDIA bloc's concerns over the functioning of the ECI, alleging that it is 'acting upon the directives of the BJP.' He stated that the issue of rigged elections was discussed in detail during the meeting, and that all leaders were briefed by Congress's Rahul Gandhi.
Banerjee was particularly critical of the proposed Special Electoral Roll Revision (SIR) which he claims the BJP is trying to implement in Bengal at an unprecedented speed.
'The way a 1-2-year-long exercise is being completed in just 1-2 months will lead to poor people being the first to be left out,' he said, citing the example of Bihar, where 65 lakh names were removed.
Banerjee drew attention to the Congress's own example of discrepancies in the Mahadevpura Assembly Constituency, suggesting that strong action should be taken against the former officials responsible.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
20 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Resign from Lok Sabha if have no faith in Election Commission of India: BJP to Rahul
The BJP on Saturday (August 9, 2025) said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi must resign on "moral grounds" from the membership of the Lok Sabha if he does not have faith in the Election Commission, and flayed him for not submitting a written declaration on his "vote theft" claim. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also asked Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to resign as members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha if they do not have any faith in the polls. "You (Rahul Gandhi) make baseless allegations before the media and then refuse to give proof and a written declaration when the constitutional body asks for it," Mr. Bhatia said at a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. Reading out excerpts of a past Supreme Court judgement, the BJP spokesperson said the apex court had observed that there was no doubt about the bona fides of the Election Commission and that it was a matter of record that the poll body had built a reputation as an impartial body over the years. "Rahul Gandhi, if you don't trust the election commission and the observations made by the Supreme Court, do one thing: first, you resign from the Lok Sabha membership. Priyanka Gandhi, you also resign. Sonia Gandhi, you also resign at least on moral grounds because you are raising questions on the same Election Commission," Mr. Bhatia said. "Then, you go to the Supreme Court, the high court and people," he said. Mr. Bhatia also demanded that the Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh must also resign, for their top leaders had no faith in the ECI. "Whatever suits you, you accept. Whatever is inconvenient, you reject and cast aspersions on the Election Commission. This will not work," Mr. Bhatia said. Mr. Gandhi on Friday (August 8, 2025) asserted that he had taken the oath inside Parliament on the Constitution, as a response to the EC demanding from him an affidavit under oath over his "vote chori" claim. Addressing the Vote Adhikar Rally in Bengaluru, he also said the Karnataka government should probe the inclusion of fake voters in the State during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. "The ECI asks me to file an affidavit and give information under oath. I have taken oath inside Parliament, in front of the Constitution, on the Constitution," he said. Mr. Bhatia termed Mr. Gandhi's "vote theft" claim a lie: "'Rahul aka 'arajak tatva' (anarchic element) has now become Rahul aka 'vidhwansak' (destroyer). He wants to destroy the Constitution of India and Indian democracy." He also accused the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha of being "immature" and starting a war against constitutional institutions by threatening ECI officials.


India Today
20 minutes ago
- India Today
Took care of ghost of Balakot: Air Force chief on evidence of Op Sindoor success
In a veiled attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, on Saturday said Operation Sindoor had given India's defence forces the chance to show clear proof of the damage it inflicted - something it could not do after the 2019 Balakot strike. He said Operation Sindoor had finally 'taken care of that ghost'.advertisementAir Chief Marshal Singh's remarks come amid Opposition leaders seeking clarification over Operation Sindoor. Leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, have questioned the government's handling of the mission, sought clarity on the number of terrorists killed, and alleged political directives limited the Air Force's week, Rahul Gandhi said in Parliament that pilots were sent in 'without allowing them to neutralise' Pakistan's air defence systems, calling it a case of 'tying their hands behind their backs'. Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Saturday laid out evidence of the damage India inflicted on Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.'In Balakot, we could not get anything from inside, and it became a big issue trying to tell our own people, unfortunately, as to what we had been able to achieve,' he said at an event in Bengaluru. 'We had intelligence of what had gone on inside a very clear picture that there had been huge damage, that so many terrorists had been neutralised. But we could not convince our own people. So I'm very happy that this time we were able to tell the world what we have achieved.'Operation Sindoor, which involved high-intensity strikes over 80 to 90 hours, achieved 'so much damage' that Pakistan sought talks to halt the conflict, Air Chief Marshal Singh said. 'They came forward and sent a message to our DGMO that they wanted to talk. This was accepted on our side.'Backing the government's decision to pause the operation, Singh said, 'People got down to their egos in the war. Our objective was very clear – to teach terrorists a lesson so they think twice before doing anything. Once we achieved that, we should have looked for all windows of opportunity to stop. Some people very close to me said, 'Aur maarna tha'. But can we continue to be at war? Why should we be at war when we can stop it?'Singh also detailed the Air Force's offensive capability during the operation, noting that none of Pakistan's aircraft came close to India's air defence range. 'That night we didn't have any hold bar. We would stretch resources to give him the indication that we can attack deep inside, at will. Bholari, an AEW&C hangar, was attacked and we have a very clear hint there was an aircraft in sight when this attack took place,' he to the Air Chief Marshal's statement, BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the Opposition of undermining the forces. 'Imagine — our brave armed forces risk their lives in #OperationSindoor, deliver a crushing blow to terror, and yet face doubt from within the country. The Opposition and Rahul Gandhi in particular owe an apology,' he said in a post on Balakot strike of February 2019 followed the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. While the government maintained that a large number of terrorists were killed, Opposition leaders at the time sought proof, with some citing conflicting media reports.- EndsMust Watch


The Hindu
20 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Filed breach of privilege complaint against Jharkhand officials: Nishikant Dubey after FIR against him
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Saturday (August 9, 2025) said he has filed a complaint with the Lok Sabha Speaker, alleging breach of privilege by Jharkhand officials, including the chief secretary and the DGP, after an FIR was registered against him for "hurting religious sentiments". The Jharkhand Police on Friday (August 8, 2025) said it has registered an FIR against BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Manoj Tiwari and others for "forcibly" entering the sanctum sanctorum of the Baba Baidyanath Temple in Deoghar on August 2 and hurting religious sentiments. "Fifty-one cases lodged against me. I have filed a case of privilege under Article 105 of the Constitution against the chief secretary, director general of police, Deoghar deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Jharkhand," Mr. Dubey posted on X. The FIR was lodged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as per a complaint by temple priest Kartik Nath Thakur for 'forcibly entering the inner shrine on August 2 between 8.45 p.m. and 9 p.m.' despite a restriction on VIP or VVIP entry during the holy month of 'Shravan' in view of a large number of devotees. "I am the trustee of Baba Baidyanath Dham as a member of Parliament, as per the law. I am in a higher position than the priest. On what basis was the FIR lodged?" he asked while speaking to reporters in Deoghar. Dubey claimed that he went to Baba Baidyanath Dham Police Station so that the police personnel could arrest him, but they refused to do so.