TMC, BJP spar over Bengal foundation day
Kolkata: Trinamool and BJP clashed on Friday over Bengal foundation day.
Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar alleged that police tried to stop a two-wheeler rally led by him from reaching Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's residence on Elgin Road.
TMC criticised BJP, saying that the saffron party attempted to force a celebration that lacked spontaneity and with which people have no association.
Centre has notified June 20 as statehood day in Bengal. Bengal govt has passed a resolution in the assembly and identified Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year's Day, for celebrating West Bengal Day.
The Friday faceoff between activists of BJP Yuva Morcha and the city police took place outside the Bhowanipore residence of Jan Sangh founding member Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, where the workers had assembled to pay their respects to the leader and then planned to reach Netaji Bhavan, a kilometre away, on two-wheelers and on foot.
Suvendu Adhikari, state leader of the opposition, earlier led a march of BJP legislators from the assembly premises to the statue of Syama Prasad Mookerjee on Red Road, about two kilometres away, and garlanded it. "This is a historic day which we must observe. On this day in 1947, the West Bengal Assembly under the leadership of Syama Prasad Mookerjee passed a resolution to remain in India," Adhikari said.
Trinamool hit back strongly.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Heliopolis: Beautiful New Senior Apartments with Two Bedrooms
Senior Apartments | Search Ads
Search Now
Undo
"The people of Bengal have already chosen their statehood day on the first day of the Bengali calendar. It's a day close to the hearts of all Bengalis. The state assembly has already endorsed it. It doesn't matter where a motley band of BJP workers gather and try to force a celebration that lacks spontaneity and with which people have no direct association," said TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh.
State parliamentary affairs minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay described it as "politically motivated", pointing out that state govt had already passed a resolution in the assembly and identified Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year's Day, for celebrating West Bengal Day. "Why is BJP suddenly so much worked up on June 20 as Paschimbanga Divas?" he asked.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
14 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Kolkata Police detain Union Minister Sukanta Majumder from meeting ‘dissident' British-Indian doctor
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President and Union Minister, Sukanta Majumdar, was detained on Friday (June 20, 2025) in Kolkata's Bhawanipore while trying to meet an NRI doctor who had protested during Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to Kellogg College in the United Kingdom earlier this year. Chaos unfolded in Bhawanipore on Friday afternoon as Mr. Majumdar tried making his way through Harish Mukherjee Road in South Kolkata's Bhawanipore to meet Dr. Rajat Subhra Banerjee at his residence. At first, Mr Majumdar's vehicle was stopped on his way. Then, from amidst a large crowd of BJP supporters and media personnel, he and Dr Rajat were detained and taken to the Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar in a police car. 'Dr. Rajat's house is located on 186C Harish Mukherjee Road, adjoining the residence of Trinamool's Abhishek Banerjee. The doctor had asked the Chief Minister certain questions during her visit to Kellogg College. Since his return to Kolkata, some mafia-like doctors and people claiming to represent the West Bengal Medical Council have been harassing him,' the Union Minister said after his detainment. The BJP legislator said that the doctor had invited him to his house for tea, and accused the police of blocking his vehicle from approaching the doctor's house and jamming the road for hours. 'Today, when I went to visit Dr. Banerjee at his residence, I was blocked by the spineless, servile Kolkata Police — acting on Mamata Banerjee's direct orders. This isn't merely disgraceful — it is a blatant attack on personal liberty and the fundamental rights guaranteed in a democracy,' Mr. Majumder later wrote on X. Dr. Rajat was released from Lalbazar hours later. After leaving the Kolkata Police headquarters, he told mediapersons that he is a British passport holder and an Overseas Citizen of India, and he would take legal action against the police for 'physically assaulting him'. 'My house is behind Abhishek Banerjee's house. That is why we were not allowed to enter. I have lived in a foreign country for 25 years, and I have not experienced something like this. I felt sick and panic-stricken when they captured me and put me in a police vehicle like I was a petty thief. I simply wanted to meet a friend,' Dr. Rajat said after his release. He alleged that he is being 'targeted' for asking the Chief Minister questions during her visit to the University of Oxford. Reacting to the developments, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that Dr. Rajat could have waited till the end of the Chief Minister's address at Kellogg College and asked his questions later, 'instead of disrupting her speech'. 'We believe in a democracy. Otherwise, I would have demanded that he be thrown out of Bengal. Interrupting a Chief Minister during her speech cannot be called dissent; it is uncivil behaviour. The doctor misbehaved; he should be socially boycotted… his friendship with Sukanta Majumder proves that these so-called protestors are raam-baam dalal (BJP-Left brokers),' Mr. Ghosh said.
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Kolkata HC stays Didi's relief to SSC staff sacked by SC
Mamata Banerjee KOLKATA: Calcutta HC Friday stayed till Sept 26 WB govt's interim relief for Group-C and Group-D employees of state-run schools who lost their jobs following a Supreme Court order on April 3. The state had announced monthly interim relief of Rs 25,000 for Group-C employees and Rs 20,000 for Group-D staff. Another section of candidates, who were waitlisted, moved HC for a stay on the scheme, arguing it "frustrated" the SC order. Justice Amrita Sinha held that the people whose jobs were terminated by the SC order could not be provided such support after the apex court had decided the issue of illegal appointments conclusively and opined that the appointments were a result of "fraud". Getting refund of money already disbursed to the beneficiaries would be a problem if the scheme was found to be in violation of law after the final hearing on a state review petition, she reasoned. HC also took note of the fact that the state welfare scheme was announced for a particular group who would not be doing any work. "Paying persons gratuitously, who are not serving the state but are either sitting at home or are engaged elsewhere, does not appeal to the court," Justice Sinha held. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pennsylvania: These Walk In Tubs Are Cheap (See Prices) Walk In Tub Discounts Learn More Undo HC stressed that the state had applied a "pick and choose" method for determining the beneficiaries of the welfare scheme. "There are two sets of candidates. One set comprises appointed candidates whose jobs were terminated and the other waitlisted candidates. Both sets are jobless now," Justice Sinha said, holding that the scheme for a particular group "intended to provide succour to the tainted terminated candidates". Justice Sinha acknowledged the state's legislative competence to draft a welfare scheme but said it should apply equally. "Whether it is proper for the state to create a class of favoured candidates out of a bigger class of unemployed candidates is a matter to be decided after hearing (all) parties."
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
15% minority housing quota not new, says Karnataka minister
Karnataka Housing and Minority Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan on Friday defended the state cabinet's decision to increase reservation for minorities in housing schemes from 10 to 15%, saying the move is based on a recommendation made in 2019 and is not a recent or arbitrary decision. Housing and Minority Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said the move is based on a recommendation made in 2019 and is not a recent or arbitrary decision (File photo) 'Decision to reserve 15% for minorities in housing schemes is not a decision taken now. The cabinet subcommittee formed in 2019 when HD Kumaraswamy was the chief minister in the coalition government had recommended it,' Khan said, responding to growing criticism from the opposition. He further clarified that the reservation percentage mirrors existing central policy. 'The central government already provides a 15% quota for minorities under housing schemes, as per the Sachar Committee report. There was a demand that the same should be given in the state. Therefore, the central model has been followed,' he said. The state cabinet approved the hike on Thursday, applying it to all housing schemes under the Urban and Rural Development Departments. The announcement sparked a sharp backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which labelled the decision 'unconstitutional' and accused the ruling Congress of communal appeasement and vote-bank politics. Khan defended the move on humanitarian grounds, pointing to the acute housing shortage faced by many minority families. 'The existing 10% reservation rate has been increased to 15. There are more poor families in the minority community and the number of homeless people has increased. Hence, there was a demand to increase the reservation rate,' he explained. He also cited a 2021 recommendation from the National Commission for Minorities, which had called for the implementation of a 15% reservation in housing schemes. 'Without understanding these factual points, the opposition parties are making unnecessary criticisms, which is not appropriate,' Khan added. Meanwhile, chief minister Siddaramaiah said his government's decision to enhance reservation for minorities under housing schemes in the state from 10 to 15% was in line with the Union government's guidelines. He termed the BJP's criticism of it as 'hypocritical and politically motivated', and asserted that his government rejects the politics of hatred and division being pushed by the opposition party. In a statement, he said this is based on the Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities (2019), which clearly directs all Central and State implementing agencies to earmark 15%of physical and financial targets for minorities wherever possible. Reacting to it, senior BJP leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa accused the Congress government of creating social divisions. 'This government is unnecessarily creating problems... But there is a limit to everything. So if they want to increase it, they should do it for everyone and all communities. This is not correct; that is why everyone is opposing it,' he said. State BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa echoed his father's concerns, taking to social media to term the move a form of religious favouritism. 'Reservation on the basis of religion is unconstitutional! @INCKarnataka in Karnataka has converted welfare into a marketplace for vote-bank politics. First, 4% quota in government contracts. Now, 15 per cent quota in housing schemes. Where does this appeasement end?' he wrote on X. He argued that the decision risks marginalising Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes by reducing their share of benefits. 'This is a dangerous attempt to institutionalise communal vote-bank politics. It not only robs SCs, STs, and OBCs of their rightful opportunities, but also sends a disturbing message that merit, backwardness, and constitutional principles are secondary to religious appeasement,' Vijayendra posted. With PTI inputs
