His convoy ‘attacked', Bengal BJP chief accuses Mamata of ‘orchestrating violence'
Union Minister and West Bengal state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Thursday said that shoes, bricks and stones were hurled at his convoy by a group of people in Budge Budge area of South 24 Parganas district while he was on his way to meet party workers.
Accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee of 'orchestrating' the attack, Majumdar said 'an emergency-like situation is prevailing in the state'.
'Opposition leaders like me are being stopped from visiting areas rocked by group clashes. Hindus are being attacked by jihadi elements in places like Maheshtala and Murshidabad, and police remain mute spectators at the behest of the ruling party. When we visit the areas to express solidarity with Hindus, we are attacked by rowdies sheltered by the TMC. If this is not 'emergency-like situation', in what way can it be described,' the Union minister posted on X.
Calling the West Bengal Police 'spineless', the BJP leader specifically pointed to an officer of Diamond Harbour, alleging that police were mere 'puppets, deployed to shield the criminals' and mastered the 'Bhaipo Model' — a veiled reference to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. Majumdar said he would be sending a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
According to reports, Majumdar's received a hostile reception in Budge Budge as a group of people shouted slogans like 'go back,' 'dangabaz' (riot-monger), and 'chorer party' (party of thieves).
Meanwhile, TMC spokesperson said the protest against the BJP leader was 'justified' and 'reflected public anger against BJP's policies'.
People are incensed and infuriated as the BJP has blocked the release of funds for the rural job guarantee scheme (MGNREGS) in Bengal and have seen through the BJP's gameplan to create communal rifts and polarise communities,' he said.
Minister Shashi Panja condemned Majumdar's remarks, saying: 'How dare Sukanta Majumdar call women jihadis just because they were demanding their rightful and pending MGNREGA dues? Modi's leaders have repeatedly insulted women.'
Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics.
With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences.
Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Dayanidhi says Brother Seized Group Control ‘Fraudulently'
A simmering rift in the Maran family that owns the Sun Group is out in the open, said people with knowledge of the matter. DMK lawmaker and former Union minister Dayanidhi Maran has sent a legal notice to older brother Kalanithi Maran , who is chairman and managing director of the ₹24,000-crore Sun TV Network , accusing him of fraudulently seizing control of the company through a disputed share allotment in 2003. He has demanded restoration of the company's shareholding structure to its pre-September 2003 status, when the Maran family and that of the late M Karunanidhi owned equal shares in the company. Karunanidhi, who died in 2011, was head of the DMK and chief minister of Tamil Nadu. His son MK Stalin is current chief minister. If the dispute goes to court, it will pit Kalanithi against his brother and the Karunanidhi family, with control of the media giant at stake. As the dominant channel in Tamil Nadu, Sun TV is highly influential and regarded as having benefited from its proximity to the ruling party. In the notice, sent through his lawyer K Suresh, Dayanidhi alleges that his brother allotted 1.2 million equity shares to himself on September 15, 2003, without proper valuation, shareholder approval or board resolutions. At face value, the shares were priced at Rs 10 each, but the younger Maran claims they were worth approximately Rs 3,500 crore at the time, as Sun TV was a cash-rich and profitable entity. The timing of the alleged transaction coincided with the death of the brothers' father, former Union minister Murasoli Maran. Dayanidhi's contention is that Kalanithi used this opportunity to gain 60% control in the company—up from zero—without informing or consulting the other key stakeholder, MK Dayalu, wife of Karunanidhi, who was representing the family. Murasoli Maran was Karunanidhi's nephew. The Maran brothers didn't respond to queries. Lawyer Suresh did not offer any comment. As per the legal notice, Kalanithi's shareholding increased to 60%, while the shareholding of other legitimate stakeholders was diluted to 20% each. Dayanidhi claims the allegedly fraudulent allotment allowed Kalanithi to earn over Rs 5,926 crore in dividends till 2023, and Rs 455 crore in 2024 alone, apart from additional gains from bonus share allotments. He further accused Kalanithi and his wife, Kaveri, along with other associates, of misusing these 'proceeds of crime' to acquire valuable businesses and assets, including Sun Direct TV, Kal Radios, Sun Pictures, South Asian FM and the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad. Investments were allegedly also made in domestic and international mutual funds and REITs (real estate investment trusts) worth over Rs 8,500 crore. Dayanidhi has demanded that all shares, assets and financial benefits obtained since 2003 be returned to the original shareholders within seven days, failing which he will initiate civil, criminal and regulatory proceedings. The younger brother also plans to escalate the matter to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), the ministry of information & broadcasting, as well as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), seeking cancellation of broadcasting licences and ownership rights to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Dayanidhi further alleged illegal transfer of shares from their deceased father to their mother — and subsequently to Kalanithi —without the legal heir's consent; misuse of initial public offer filings through misleading disclosures, and complicity of auditors and company officials in facilitating the fraud. The MP also claimed that the two families incorporated Kungumam Publications in 1978 with both families having an equal shareholding. He also said the intention behind founding all the companies by the original promoters was to have 50% stakes in each of the businesses for both families. Kalanithi started the Tamil Sun TV channel in 1993 and built it into a sprawling media giant, encompassing multiple TV channels in south Indian languages as well as a film production house, taking advantage of connections with the state establishment, industry watchers said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
PM's three-state tour: Modi to launch key projects in Bihar and Odisha- What's on his agenda?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will start his two-day visit to three states from Friday. The tour will encompass development project inaugurations in Bihar and Odisha, along with leading a mass yoga session on the International Day of Yoga . His schedule includes visits to Siwan, Bihar, and Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Friday, where he will address public gatherings, according to an official statement. The occasion marks one year of the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha, where PM Modi will preside over a state-level commemorative function. At Siwan, he will launch the Vaishali-Deoria railway line project valued above Rs 400 crore and initiate a new train service on this route. Enhancing north Bihar's connectivity, he will introduce the Vande Bharat Express service connecting Patliputra to Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah. Supporting his "Make in India, Make for the World" initiative, Modi will dispatch an advanced locomotive manufactured at the Marhowra plant to the Republic of Guinea, marking the facility's first export. "They are equipped with high-horsepower engines, advanced AC propulsion system, microprocessor-based control systems, ergonomic cab designs and incorporate technologies like regenerative braking," the statement said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo For Ganga's preservation, he will inaugurate six sewage treatment plants (STPs) under Namami Gange, worth over Rs 1,800 crore. The Prime Minister will initiate various water supply and power infrastructure projects, whilst distributing the first instalment of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) to more than 53,600 recipients. He will present house keys to select beneficiaries during the "Grih Pravesh" ceremony for over 6,600 completed dwellings. With Bihar's assembly elections approaching, the BJP-JD(U) coalition aims to maintain its position against the opposition INDIA alliance led by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). In Odisha, development projects worth over Rs 18,600 crore will be launched. These initiatives span drinking water, irrigation, agricultural infrastructure, health facilities, rural roads, bridges, national highways and railway expansion. Boudh district will receive its first railway connection, as Modi inaugurates new train services to the region. He will launch 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) programme, advancing sustainable urban transport. The Prime Minister will unveil Odisha's Vision Document, focusing on 2036, marking Odisha's centenary as India's first linguistic state, and 2047, India's independence centenary. His agenda includes recognising women achievers from the state. For the 11th International Day of Yoga, Modi will lead national celebrations from Visakhapatnam. He will conduct the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) session at Visakhapatnam's beachfront with approximately five lakh participants, guiding the nation's synchronised yoga demonstration. Concurrent yoga events will occur at over 3.5 lakh locations nationwide. This year features special competitions including family yoga and youth-centred activities under Yoga Unplugged on MyGov and MyBharat platforms. The theme "Yoga for One Earth, One Health" emphasises human-planetary health connections, reflecting the universal wellness concept rooted in "Sarve Santu Niramaya". Since 2015, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) accepted India's proposal for June 21 as International Day of Yoga, Modi has led celebrations from various locations including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mysuru, New York (UN headquarters) and Srinagar.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
5 Assembly bypolls in 4 states largely peaceful; Nilambur sees 73% turnout
Bypolls were held in five Assembly segments across Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat and Kerala on Thursday, with the Nilambur seat in Kerala registering a voter turnout of 73.26% and Ludhiana West in Punjab recording a polling percentage of 51.33%. The bypolls to the Assembly seats of Kadi in Gujarat's Mehsana district and Visavadar in Junagadh were peaceful and recorded around 57.90% and 56.89% turnout, respectively, on Thursday, said a release from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. Kadi bypoll was necessitated following the death of BJP MLA Karshan Solanki in February this year. The seat is reserved for the SC communities and a total of eight candidates were in the fray. The BJP fielded Rajendra Chavda and the Congress picked a former MLA from the same seat, Ramesh Chavda. AAP nominated Jagdish Chavda. In Visavadar seat, bypoll was necessitated after AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani resigned in December 2023 and later joined the BJP. In the polls, however, the party fielded former Junagadh district president and local cooperative leader, Kirit Patel against AAP's senior leader Gopal Italia and Congress's Nitin Ranpariya. The bypolls in Ludhiana West saw the lowest turnout since 2007 at 51.33%, as polling remained largely peaceful in this urban constituency of Punjab, barring a few incidents. In 2007, the polling was 58.92%, while the highest turnout was recorded in 2012 at 69.66%. The bypoll was necessitated after AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi died in January this year. In West Bengal, Kaliganj bypoll recorded a turnout of 69.85% amid peaceful voting. However, the Election Commission has sought a report from the presiding officer after taking cognisance of reports that the BJP candidate for Kaliganj seat, Ashish Ghosh, made a vulgar gesture after casting his vote Thursday The EC has also sought the CCTV footage of the booth. Meanwhile, both the BJP and the Congress accused the ruling TMC of 'terrorising' polling agents of their parties. The poll panel deployed 14 companies of central forces for the bypolls in the seat. In the fray are Congress candidate Kabil Uddin Sheikh, backed by the Left Front, TMC's Alifa Ahmed, apart from BJP's Ghosh. The bypoll was necessitated due to the demise of Alifa Ahmed's father Nasiruddin Ahamed in February this year. Voting in the Nilambur bypoll in Kerala saw a steady turnout during the day, but slowed down towards evening and crossed the 70% mark at 5 pm. The turnout was 73.26% according to the latest figures by the EC. In the 2021 assembly polls, the turnout was 75.20%. Among the 10 candidates, the key contenders are ruling LDF pick M Swaraj, Aryadan Shoukath (Congress-led UDF), TMC state convener and independent candidate P V Anvar, and Mohan George of the BJP-led NDA. The bypoll was necessitated following Anvar's resignation as MLA from Nilambur. Counting of votes is on June 23. With PTI inputs
