Latest news with #Adhikari
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Bengal BJP questions 'overnight action' of Kolkata Police in Sharmishta Panoli case
Kolkata: The BJP's Bengal unit on Sunday questioned the "overnight" action of Kolkata Police against Sharmistha Panoli, a law student, accused of hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community, and called the move a vote-bank vendetta. West Bengal BJP president and Union Minister of State, Sukanta Majumdar, questioned why Panoli was arrested for a now-deleted video. Panoli had tendered a public apology even though her video did not trigger any communal unrest or riot," MoS Majumdar said. "No riots. No unrest. Yet Mamata Banerjee's police acted overnight, not for justice, but for appeasement. But when TMC leaders insult Sanatan Dharma, call Jai Shri Ram a gaali, mock Maha Kumbh, and push communal poison - there's no FIR, no arrest, no apology. This is not justice. This is a vote-bank vendetta," said Majumdar. Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, posted on his official X handle why the city police had earlier ignored comments by Trinamool Congress leaders that had hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus. Adhikari questioned the hyperactivity of Kolkata in the matter of Panoli for making a personal comment in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, where Hindus were targeted selectively, which she later deleted and even apologised for. In his argument, Adhikari highlighted three such comments namely West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's "Maha Kumbh is Mrityu Kumbh", Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra's "Kali to me is a meat-eating, alcohol-accepting Goddess' and Kolkata Mayor and West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim's "Those who are not born in Islam are unfortunate. We have to bring them under the fold of Islam, and we should spread Islam among non-Muslims by endorsing Dawat-e-Islam". According to him, why do Kolkata Police choose to remain silent and inactive when idols of Hindu deities are vandalised in West Bengal or when there are events of stone pelting on Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti processions? "DG@WBPolice, where have you locked up your spine when Anubrata Mondal threatens your subordinate's wife and mother with rape?," Adhikari's statement read. He had also assured that the BJP would provide Panoli with the necessary legal support in the matter. "I would like to assure everyone that the nationalist lawyers are taking up Sharmistha's matter and the best legal defence will be provided to her, and I hope that she will be free from the clutches of the vile and vicious Mamata Police," his statement read. An FIR was registered against Panoli at Garden Reach Police Station on May 15, for posting an Instagram Video, where she made some comments on Operation Sindoor that had reportedly hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community. In the face of strong criticisms, she deleted that video and also tendered a public apology for the matter. However, based on the FIR registered, the police first sent her a notice, which failed since she had gone into hiding at Gurugram by then. Thereafter, an arrest warrant was issued against her, and finally, she was arrested in Gurugram. The 22-year-old student was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurugram in Haryana on Saturday morning and was brought back to Kolkata on transit remand on the same day. Panoli was presented at the city court in Kolkata on Saturday afternoon, and after a detailed hearing in the matter, she was remanded to judicial custody till June 13.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari expresses concern over situation of Matuas and Sanatanis in Bangladesh
Suvendu Adhikari voiced concerns to the Bangladesh High Commission regarding alleged attacks on Matuas and Sanatanis in Bangladesh, emphasizing their ties to Indian residents. He also urged the Election Commission to hold separate West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026, citing a 'terror' environment allegedly created by the Trinamool Congress, further criticizing rising electricity tariffs and water meter installations. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari , on Friday expressed concerns over Matuas and Sanatanis in Bangladesh, who are allegedly attacked and with other MLAs, reached Bangladesh High Commission , to express his concern and informed the Bangladesh High Commissioner about the also said that he has met Bangladesh High Commission, voicing about the torture on the Matua and other Sanatani Vaishnavites in several villages in Bengladesh.'I am not concerned about the internal issues and situation of Bangladesh. I care about the Matua community and the Sanatanis who are tortured there. Many of them are relatives of people who are in India. We have genuine concern about them,' Adhikari were a major vote bank for Left Front, then Trinamool and now BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised in Matua headquarter Thakurnagar that CAA will be community, with more than one crore voters in the state, is spread over Nadia, Coochebehar, North and South 24 Parganas districts bordering Adhikari also urged the Election Commission to conduct West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 separately and not to club it with other states, alleging about the existence environment of 'terror" created by the ruling Trinamool said that miscreants had attacked several BJP workers and supporters while they were heading towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Alipurduar on Thursday. Incidentally,Trinamool goons allegedly vandalised 34 vehicles and injured 22 BJP workers stopping them from reaching the PM's rally, Adhikari claimed. Several buses were vandalized and front glasses broken."The language used by Trinamool leaders against the Prime Minister is unacceptable and undemocratic. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to conduct free and fair elections in West Bengal," Adhikari said. He requested the EC not to club the state's polls with Assam, Bihar or Bengal is scheduled to go to the polls in 2026. In the last 2021 assembly polls, though BJP had set a target of more than 200 seats, the saffron party got 77 criticized the state government over rising electricity tariffs and water meters installed at various locations.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari hits out at 'tukde tukde gang', calls for strict laws
Nadia (West Bengal) [India], May 28 (ANI): BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said that the 'tukde tukde gang' and Pakistan sympathisers remain active in the country, calling for strict laws to curb them. While attending the Tiranga Yatra, Adhikari praised the people of Nadia for supporting the armed forces and boosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's confidence. Speaking to ANI, Adhikari said, 'People of Nadia are praising our armed forces and boosting the confidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi... The tukde tukde gang is still active in the country. Pakistan lovers are also here. They need to be taught a lesson, and strict laws should be enforced...' The Tiranga Yatra drew widespread public attention, covering major roads and landmarks across West Bengal. Residents lined the streets to cheer and wave flags, creating a vibrant and emotional atmosphere. Earlier, Adhikari told ANI, 'The Tiranga Yatra is being carried out nationwide. In West Bengal, we have been conducting the yatra. The yatra is witnessing a large turnout. We are proud of our armed forces for their valour and bravery. They have attacked 100 km inside Pakistan. Pakistan is not a country but 'Jungistan' - all the dreaded terrorists have one address, Pakistan.' India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the ghastly April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack that claimed 26 civilian lives, after which Pakistan resorted to shelling on civilian and military establishments here. Indian armed forces retaliated and destroyed 11 of the 13 air bases of Pakistan on the night of May 9 and 10. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had launched the 'Tiranga Yatra' on May 13, which continued until May 23. The yatra was aimed at honouring the courage of Indian soldiers and raising awareness among citizens about the recent success of Operation Sindoor. It also paid tribute to the nation's armed forces for their role in the operation. The rally formed part of a broader nationwide campaign to celebrate national pride and self-respect. (ANI)
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Fake voters': BJP asks Election Commission to remove dist admin from electoral process
Ahead of next year's Assembly elections in West Bengal, the BJP on Monday asked the Election Commission to immediately remove the district administration and civic volunteers from the electoral process, alleging that they have been involved in enrolling fake voters, including Bangladesh nationals, in the electoral rolls in exchange for money. Addressing mediapersons here, Leader of Opposition in Assembly and Nandigram MLA, Suvendu Adhikari, also demanded a CBI probe into the matter. Adhikari, who led a delegation of 40 BJP leaders to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office in Kolkata, alleged that Rohingyas were being added to the voter list in Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district for a bribe of Rs 10,000 per name. 'This is not an isolated incident in one district. Similar activities are being carried out across several districts. The administration acting under the instructions of the TMC leadership is being used to include fake names in the voter rolls,' the BJP MLA alleged. In a letter to the CEO, Adhikari wrote: 'An FIR was registered on May 18 at Kakdwip Assembly constituency… after malpractices of the inclusion of Bangladeshi foreigners in the voter list in connivance with the officers and staff of the state government was found.' 'We demand a CBI investigation into the Kakdwip fake voter case. The state police and administration are completely compromised,' he said. Calling the issue a matter of national concern, Adhikari urged the Election Commission to act independently and ensure free and fair elections. 'Unlike the previous two occasions in 2016 and 2021, I will not allow the Trinamool Congress to win through manipulation and fake voters this time,' he said. Adhikari also cited the recent clashes in Murshidabad to allege that police and the state administration did not respond to the calls of help of the victims. Citing a report by a Calcutta High Court-appointed committee, Adhikari alleged that police personnel in Dhulian and Samserganj remained unresponsive to distress calls from Hindu residents during the violence. 'If this is the conduct of the state police, how can they be trusted to conduct elections? That's why we are demanding that state police not be used during the election process,' he said. 'Keeping in view of the situation where the state machinery played the role of aggressor and persecutor, how can we expect the free and fair election by this state administration. The civic police are agents of the ruling party without any accountability and ethics as they are appointed by the ruling party without any exam or recruitment process,' the BJP leader alleged. Adhikari further alleged that the state government was preparing to transfer police officers in a manner that would benefit the ruling party ahead of the 2026 assembly polls, and urged the Election Commission to monitor the process closely. Reacting to Adhikari's allegations, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed them as 'baseless and politically motivated'. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, 'These are completely unfounded claims. If Rohingyas have managed to sneak into West Bengal, who is responsible for guarding the international border? It is the Border Security Force (BSF), which functions under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.' He questioned why the BJP, instead of holding the central government accountable, was blaming the state government. 'BSF is the first line of defence at the border. If there has been a failure, it is their lapse. The BJP should first question the MHA and their own central agencies before levelling allegations against us,' Ghosh added. —With PTI Inputs
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bar district administration, civic volunteers from Bengal poll process: BJP
The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) demanding that the district administration and civic volunteers be kept away from the electoral process. Mr. Adhikari and a delegation of around 20 BJP MLAs visited the CEO's office on Monday (May 26, 2025). Assembly elections in West Bengal are scheduled in 2026, and the visit to the CEO's office carries a great deal of political significance. Mr. Adhikari said that 'fair elections' are a prerequisite for democracy in West Bengal and urged the CEO to change the existing Standard Operating Procedure relating to elections. Referring to a Calcutta High Court report on the recent violence at Murshidabad, in which the committee said that police did not respond to calls, the LOP said that the same is true for elections during which the police do not take calls. Mr. Adhikari said the entire police set up of the state should be transferred during elections. He also highlighted the suspension of Arun Gorain, assistant system manager of the Kakdwip subdivision in the South 24 Parganas district, for alleged gross misconduct by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and said the incident was a big scam. Influencing officers 'After the malpractice was reported in the media, the State has been trying to hush up the anomaly in preparation of the voter list. It is not a solitary incident, the practice is rampant, with members of the ruling party in West Bengal influencing officers who are entrusted with conducting free and fair elections,' the BJP leader's memorandum said. Also read: Suvendu Adhikari targets WB Government over OBC reservation He also demanded that electoral malpractices should be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) since ECI is a central government agency. Mr. Adhikari also highlighted recent remarks by Trinamool Congress MLA from Kakdwip, Maturam Pakhira, in which he alleged that officials are including names in the voter list for monetary gain. Earlier in February this year, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the BJP leadership, with the blessings of the ECI, included fake voters in the electoral rolls. Ms. Banerjee directed her party leaders to conduct door to door surveys of voter lists. The CEO had refuted the allegations. After weeks of frantic activity by the Trinamool leadership, the party has gone slow on door to door surveys of voter lists. Bypolls to five assembly seats in four states, including Kaliganj in West Bengal, will be held on June 19, the Election Commission announced on May 25. Election to the Kaliganj Assembly seat in West Bengal has been necessitated due to the death of sitting assembly member Nasiruddin Ahamed.
