18 Muslim women made it to Lok Sabha since independence; 13 of them dynasts: Book
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Deccan Herald
15 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
Mamata sets stage for 'Bangaliyana vs Hindutva', asks TMC workers to launch stir against BJP's linguistic terror
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of unleashing 'linguistic terrorism' on Bengalis across the country and called for a movement to protect the language and cultural identity of the state against such onslaughts by the saffron party. With the assembly elections in West Bengal less than a year away, Mamata not only blew the poll bugle with a no-holds-barred offensive against the BJP but also set the TMC's strategy to counter the saffron party's aggressive Hindutva with an assertive Bangaliyana. As she addressed a mammoth congregation of the TMC workers at the party's annual Martyrs' Day event in Kolkata to pay homage to the 13 people killed in police firing on July 21, 1993, while demanding fair polls, the TMC supremo also warned the BJP against using the Election Commission to manipulate the electoral rolls..'Being born Bengali has become crime in BJP states': CM Mamata Banerjee amid migrant party's general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, said that he and other parliamentarians of the TMC would now speak only in Bengali in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. 'We will not kowtow before any attempt by the BJP to erase Bengali.' 'We must win more seats in the 2026 assembly polls (in West Bengal) and then march to Delhi to oust the BJP from power at the Centre,' the TMC supremo said, coining the 'Jabda Habe, Stabdha Habe' (we will trounce them, silence them) as her party's new war cry for the 2026 assembly polls, moving on from the 'khela habe (game is on)'. The TMC over the past few weeks stepped up its attacks on the governments of the BJP-ruled states for the detention of migrant workers from West Bengal by police and, in some cases, even deportation to Bangladesh, often allegedly disregarding their claim of being genuine citizens of India. Mamata, the chief minister of West Bengal since 2011, on Monday accused the BJP-led governments in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat and Delhi of harassing migrant workers from her state only because they spoke in their mother language to witness 'artificial fight' between Modi and Mamata as polls nearing: Adhir.'The BJP wants to erase our identity, language, culture and pride. But I promise you, till the time we oust them from the Centre, our fight will continue,' she said. 'In 2019, they vandalised the statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. They saw the results of that audacious act of insulting Bengali icons (in the 2021 assembly polls). Now, they have issued notifications to delete Bengali names from voter lists. In BJP-ruled states, Bengalis are being harassed and put in detention camps,' alleged the TMC supremo. 'If needed, there will be a second Bhasha Andolan (language movement) against the BJP's terrorism on the Bengali language... From July 27, a movement will start in Bengal to protest the attack on Bengalis, Bengali language and 'Bhasha Santras' (linguistic terrorism) of the BJP,' she said, adding: 'This language movement will continue till the end of the assembly polls.' The first 'Bhasha Andolan' had taken place in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1952 to protest the imposition of Urdu and sidelining of Bengali in the eastern part of Pakistan. A police crackdown had resulted in the death of at least 29 protesting students on February 21, 1952. The United Nations later declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day..'BJP is watching': Suvendu cautions police officers 'siding' with TMC.'(West) Bengal is home to nearly 1.5 crore migrants from other states. We welcome people from all over India. But look at what the BJP is doing to Bengalis (in the states ruled by it),' said Mamata. She called upon the TMC workers to be very cautious to resist attempts by the BJP and the EC to erase names of legitimate voters of West Bengal from the electoral rolls of the state and instead enroll people from other BJP-ruled states. 'The BJP and the EC are conspiring against (West) Bengal. They want to do in Bengal what they did in Bihar through SIR (Special Intensive Revision). In Bihar, they have deleted the names of 40 lakh voters. If they try it here, we will gherao them. We will never allow it,' she said.
United News of India
28 minutes ago
- United News of India
Bengal: Mamata launches statewide "Language Movement," warns of voter rights agitation
Kolkata, July 21 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today announced the launch of a statewide "language movement" starting July 26, accusing the BJP-led central government and several states ruled by the saffron outfit of targeting the Bengali culture and identity. Her announcement came during the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) annual Martyrs' Day rally, which drew a massive crowd in Kolkata and carried deep emotional and political undertones. The 21 July Martyrs' Day rally is held annually by the TMC to commemorate 13 people killed allegedly by West Bengal Police during a 1993 protest by the Youth Congress against the erstwhile Left Front government of Bengal. Led by Mamata Banerjee, then state Youth Congress president, the protest — called "Writers' Chalo Abhiyan" — demanded that voter ID cards be the sole proof for voting to curb purported widespread electoral fraud, referred to as "scientific rigging" by the opposition parties and a section of the media. Addressing the gathering, Banerjee alleged that a "systematic attack" is underway on Bengali identity, with reports of Bengali-speaking individuals being harassed and even arrested in states like Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan - all ruled by the BJP. 'Over a thousand people have been jailed just for speaking in Bengali,' Banerjee said, citing a controversial circular that she claims allows authorities to detain suspects for up to a month. 'They're afraid of Bengal's intellect and legacy,' she said passionately, invoking the state's cultural icons like Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. 'This is the land where the National Anthem was born. Why are you afraid of our language?' Banerjee called for weekly street protests every Saturday and Sunday until the next assembly elections scheduled for mid next year, urging citizens to stand up against linguistic and cultural discrimination. She also vowed to escalate the movement to the national level if needed. 'I ask everyone to go home and prepare for a larger language movement,' Banerjee said. 'There should be street protests against the continuous attacks on the Bengali language.' Intensifying her criticism of the BJP, the TMC supremo claimed Bengalis are facing cultural and linguistic discrimination in other states. 'They say you can't speak in Bengali. They want to control what people eat — fish, meat, eggs. A BJP leader even claimed that 17 lakh Rohingyas live in Bengal. In Myanmar, there are only 10 lakh Rohingyas. From where 17 lakh Rohingyas will come? ' she asked. Responding, Banerjee accused the BJP of using such claims to delete the names of Bengali voters from electoral rolls in Maharashtra, Bihar, and "possibly Bengal next". She also alleged the Centre was withholding funds and discontinuing central welfare schemes as part of a "broader attempt to hinder" the state's development. However, she emphasised that despite the bottlenecks, her government has continued to provide housing, improve infrastructure, and support all communities without waiting for central assistance The Chief Minister's speech also took aim at the Election Commission of India (ECI), which she accused of acting under political pressure in allegedly deleting Bengali names from electoral rolls. 'They are deleting names in Bihar. In Gujarat, they are striking out names of Bengali-speaking people. For every Bengali name, four outsiders are being added. This is nothing short of a 'super emergency,'' she said. Referring to the ECI's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, Banerjee warned, 'If even one voter from Bengal is removed, we will hit the streets. We will go to Delhi, and if necessary, gherao the Election Commission.' She compared the voter deletion efforts to an NRC-like exercise, claiming that minorities and Bengali-speaking people are being selectively targeted. These warnings follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent comments in Durgapur, where he accused the TMC of protecting infiltrators through a "fake documentation ecosystem." 'This isn't just a national security threat — it's a betrayal of Bengal's culture,' Modi had said, assuring that non-citizens would face legal consequences. In response, Banerjee accused the BJP of using national security as a pretext to disenfranchise legitimate Bengali voters. Adding a poignant layer to the rally, Banerjee paid emotional tribute to two Bengalis recently killed in terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir — Bitan Adhikari, a TCS engineer and civilian victim of the Pahalgam attack, and Havildar Jhantu Ali Sheikh of the Indian Army's elite 6 Para Special Forces, martyred in Udhampur. Their families present on stage were embraced by Banerjee, who emphasised the state's respect for their sacrifice. The Chief Minister used the moment to underline the emotional and political stakes of her campaign. As the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections draw near, Banerjee's rallying cry signals a combative phase in state politics, with the TMC gearing up for a sustained campaign around language, identity, and democratic rights. UNI XC SSP
The Print
29 minutes ago
- The Print
Par panel for tax exemptions on anonymous donations to NPOs, TDS refund without penalty
The 4,575 page report, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, also made suggestions for sweeping changes in the way the new Income Tax bill, 2025, was to treat income of non-profit organisations (NPOs), while commending tax department's move of replacing the dual concepts of 'previous year' and 'assessment year' with a single, unified term: 'tax year' 'The adoption of a single, consistent 'tax year' streamlines tax period references throughout the legislation, making the law more accessible and easier to understand,' the report said. The 31-member Select Committee of the Lok Sabha that examined the new Income Tax Bill, 2025, also suggested allowing taxpayers to claim TDS refund even after the ITR filing due date without paying any penal charges. The Committee has recommended changes in the Income Tax Bill, 2025, which will replace the six-decade-old Income Tax Act, 1961. New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) A Parliamentary panel, headed by BJP leader Baijayant Panda, has favoured continuing tax exemption on anonymous donations made to religious-cum-charitable trusts in the new Income Tax Bill, saying any removal would have an adverse impact on not-for-profit organisations. With regard to NPOs, the government in the new bill has exempted from tax anonymous donations received by purely religious trusts. However, such donations received by a religious trust that may also have other charitable functions, like running hospitals, and educational institutions, will be taxed as per law. Clause 337 of the Income Tax Bill, 2025, proposed a flat 30 per cent tax on anonymous donations received by all registered NPOs, with a narrow exemption extended only to those established wholly for religious purposes — a 'significant divergence' from the existing I-T Act. The existing law under Section 115BBC of the Income-tax Act, 1961, provided a more comprehensive exemption: anonymous donations were not taxed if received by any trust or institution created or established wholly for religious and charitable purposes, unless such a donation was specifically directed towards a university, educational institution, hospital, or medical institution run by that same trust or institution. 'The committee strongly urge the reintroduction of a provision analogous to the explanation found in Section 115BBC of the 1961 Act,' the report said. While the Bill's stated aim is textual simplification, the committee observe a critical omission concerning religious-cum-charitable trusts, which could have substantial adverse impacts on a large segment of India's NPO sector, it noted. Further, the Committee also opposed taxing 'receipts' of NPOs as it contravenes the principle of real income taxation under the Income Tax Act. It recommended reintroducing the term 'income' to ensure only net income of NPOs is taxed. The Committee expressed 'strong concern' and said that taxing 'receipts' would mean including capital recoveries or gross inflows, which do not necessarily represent net income of an NPO. For the purposes of taxation and accumulation, the Committee firmly believe that rules should ideally apply to net income, not gross receipts and suggested modification in Clause 335 of the proposed Bill. With regard to refund of TDS refund claims by individuals who are otherwise not required to file tax returns, the committee suggested removal of the provision in the Income Tax Bill that makes it mandatory for an assessee to file I-T returns within the due date. The committee observe that the current mandatory requirement to file a return solely for the purpose of claiming a refund could inadvertently lead to prosecution, particularly for small taxpayers whose income falls below the taxable threshold but from whom tax has been deducted at source. 'In such scenarios, the law should not compel a return merely to avoid penal provisions for non-filing. The committee, therefore, recommend to remove sub-clause (1)(ix) from Clause 263 to provide flexibility for allowing refund claims in cases where the return is not filed in due time,' it noted. Parliamentary committee reports are recommendatory in nature and the government may choose to accept them in part or in full. Commenting on the report, BDO India Partner, Tax and Regulatory Services, Preeti Sharma said the report suggests a total of 566 observations / recommendations for change. Now the Lok Sabha has to debate the recommendations and identify the changes that are required in the current Bill to make it futuristic and relevant for common taxpayers. Nangia Andersen LLP, M&A Tax Partner, Sandeep Jhunjhunwala said the Committee has suggested modernising definitions such as 'capital asset' and 'infrastructure capital company', clarifying property-related deductions, and reinforcing the 'actual payment' rule for business expenses. It has also recommended procedural safeguards such as making penalties for non-maintenance of books discretionary and permitting refund claims even where returns are not filed on time. PTI JD ANZ CS JD MR MR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
