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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pune law student arrest: BJP leaders criticise Kolkata Police, flag lack of action ‘against TMC leaders when they abuse Sanatan Dharma'
Bengal BJP leaders criticised the Kolkata Police for their 'proactiveness' in arresting law student Sharmishta Panoli over her purported communal post. Panoli was arrested in Gurgaon by the Kolkata Police on Friday, brought to the Bengal capital on transit remand, and produced at the Alipore police court on Saturday. She has been remanded in jail custody till June 13. Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said, 'TMC MP Mahua Moitra had said such disgraceful things against Goddess Kali, was any action taken against her even after 200 FIRs were filed? Their MP, Sayani Ghosh, had posted about Maha Dev. Was any action taken? So many FIRs against Firhad Hakim, was any action taken?' Adhikari further said, 'Action is only taken against Sanatanis. I do not want to comment on what the girl (Panoli) has said, but the TMC is trying to appease a particular community for vote bank politics.' Bengal BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar posted on social media, 'Sharmistha Panoli, 22, law student, arrested for a now-deleted video and a public apology. No riots. No unrest. Yet Mamata Banerjee's police acted overnight — not for justice, but for appeasement. But when TMC leaders insult Sanatan Dharma… mock Maha Kumbh, and push communal poison — there's no FIR, no arrest, no apology. This is not justice. This is vote-bank vendetta.' Sharmistha Panoli, a student of Symbiosis International University, Pune, has a sizeable social media following – almost 85,000 followers on X and 90,000 on Instagram. Following the backlash over her purported controversial post, Panoli had posted on X, 'I do hereby tender my unconditional apology. Whatever was put are my personal feelings and I never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody, so if anybody is hurt, I'm sorry for the same. I expect co-operation and understanding. Henceforth, I will be cautious in my public post. Again, please accept my apologies.' Maharashtra cabinet minister Nitesh Rane has demanded the release of Panoli. He posted, 'Ramgiri Maharaj speaks the truth.. it's a problem.. Sharmistha speaks the truth.. apologises… deletes the posts.. it's still a problem.. but when Sanatan Dharma is attacked every day by the WB TMC leaders.. there is no apology.. why? Then the secular kids come out to give lectures…' Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram has also extended support to Panoli. He posted on X, 'These interstate arrests for social media posts (unless it's clearly demonstrated that it has led to a law & order situation) is blatantly a misuse of police powers.' Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, too, came out in Panoli's support and urged the police to 'act justly'. 'Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching,' he said, adding that such swift action is not taken when TMC MPs 'mock Sanatana Dharma'. Meanwhile, defending the actions of the Kolkata Police, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose told The Indian Express, 'Free speech doesn't allow hate speech. She (Panoli) has directly abused a religion. The Kolkata Police were acting on a warrant which they are duty-bound to execute. The notice was served, the family was absconding, the Kolkata Police just did their duty.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Shah arrives in Kol, to address party workers' rally today
Kolkata: Union home minister Amit Shah, who arrived in Bengal on Saturday night on a two-day visit, held a meeting with the key state functionaries. Shah, who reached at 10.10pm, is expected to address BJP functionaries at a meet on Sunday. Former BJP Bengal president Dilip Ghosh, whose absence was noticed at PM Narendra Modi's Alipurduar rally, is not likely to be present at Sunday's meet. Two days after Modi asked party workers to take up the "big responsibility" of "deciding the future of Bengal", Shah is likely to touch upon issues that will define BJP's campaign in the months to come. In tune with the tempo set by the PM in Alipurduar, Bengal BJP netas have named Shah's Sunday meet as "Vijay Sankalpa Karyakarta Sammelan". "Party workers are enthusiastic and eagerly looking forward to listening to Shah. Bengal is at a crucial juncture as recruitment scams and violence in Malda and Murshidabad have disillusioned people about Trinamool," said Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Indranil Khan. Shah will begin his day with the inauguration of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Rajarhat. He is scheduled to attend the party functionary's rally at Netaji Indoor Stadium and then visit Swami Vivekananda's residence before leaving Kolkata. While 15,000 karyakartas — including representatives from mandals across the state — have been invited to attend Shah's rally, Ghosh's name is not on the list. Ghosh said: "I don't attend meetings of top leaders unless I am invited. There is a culture in politics to follow top leaders wherever they go. That is not correct. I work with ground-level workers and meet them when they want to meet me." Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, however, said that Ghosh's presence is decided by the party brass in Delhi. "Dilip Ghosh is our party leader and the party will only decide on inviting him," he said.
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
বাংলায় আদৌ বিকল্প বিজেপি? মোদীর পর রাজ্যে শাহ, বঙ্গ দখলের মরিয়া চেষ্টা? Zee 24 Ghanta 24 Ghanta, Zee News
Videos Bengal BJP | বাংলায় আদৌ বিকল্প বিজেপি? মোদীর পর রাজ্যে শাহ, বঙ্গ দখলের মরিয়া চেষ্টা? | Zee 24 Ghanta Is BJP really a viable alternative in Bengal Shah visits state after Modi desperate bid to capture Bengal Is BJP really a viable alternative in Bengal Shah visits state after Modi desperate bid to capture Bengal | Updated: May 31, 2025, 07:10 PM IST Advertisement Is BJP really a viable alternative in Bengal Shah visits state after Modi desperate bid to capture Bengal
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
PM in Bengal today, 1st visit after Op Sindoor
Kolkata: A day ahead of his first visit to Bengal after , PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday upped the ante in the political battle against Trinamool, saying that while the people of Bengal had appreciated NDA govt's schemes, they were tired of TMC's corruption and poor administration. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now From Sikkim, Modi is expected to reach Alipurduar after 1pm on Thursday. "I will be addressing a BJP, West Bengal public meeting in Alipurduar tomorrow afternoon. Over the last decade, the various schemes of the NDA Govt have been greatly appreciated by the people of West Bengal," the PM wrote on X, adding, "At the same time, they are tired of the corruption and poor administration of the TMC." The PM will lay the foundation stone for a Rs 1,010-crore city gas distribution project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar. The project, once complete, will provide piped natural gas to households and commercial establishments. "It is always a delight to be among the people of West Bengal. At a programme in Alipurduar in the afternoon tomorrow, 29th May, the foundation stone for City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts will be laid," Modi wrote on X. According to sources, the project, once functional, will provide piped natural gas to more than 2.5 Lakh households, over 100 commercial establishments and industries. It will also provide CNG to vehicular traffic by establishing around 19 CNG stations. The project will also provide jobs to many, said the PM. "After the party meeting in Alipurduar, the PM will leave for Patna," said Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar. Bengal BJP netas expect Modi to blow the assembly poll bugle on Thursday. MP Manoj Tigga, who monitored progress of the arrangement work on Wednesday, said, "There is a proposal for an airport at Hasimara. But Centre has to integrate that through the UDAN scheme. We need 37 acres for the airport and the state has to make arrangements for that. If land is available, Hasimara airport will soon be a reality. We are also hopeful of getting a stadium and a super specialty hospital in Alipurduar. "
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
From BJP Huddle To Vivekananda Event, How Amit Shah Plans To Sound Bengal Poll Bugle On June 1
Last Updated: There is a growing sense among a section of the BJP leadership that they have not been able to encash the political Catch-22 situation the TMC has been in for the last one year News18 has learnt that Amit Shah may pay a visit to the house of Swami Vivekananda. (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah is all set to sound the poll bugle for the upcoming West Bengal assembly election slated next year in a political huddle at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium on June 1. Sources say it was Shah who insisted on the meeting to bring clarity to not just the top state leadership but down to the Mandal presidents on what the next few months will be like and what will be their role in the grand scheme of things. There are almost 1,300 BJP Mandals in West Bengal. While the new Mandal presidents have been invited, the entire district and state leadership has been asked to be present on June 1. There is a growing sense among a section of the BJP leadership that they have not been able to encash the political Catch-22 situation the ruling Trinamool Congress has been in for the last one year. Be it allegations during Sandeshkhali or the mass protest over a doctor's rape and murder and now an ongoing protest by agitating teachers who have lost their jobs following a recent Supreme Court order—Shah is expected to handhold the state unit towards success. Ahead of Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, the state BJP was in a similar state of disarray when Shah stepped in to monitor their work daily from Delhi and the rest is history. 'Having listened to him in many such meetings, I expect him to enthuse to leadership. I would not be surprised if Amit-ji raises Murshidabad and Operation Sindoor on June 1. Many would also want to know about the future of Dilip Da (Ghosh) whose recent hobnobbing with Mamata Banerjee hasn't gone down well with any of us and even he (Shah) knows that. So, his speech will put a lot of things into perspective," a Bengal BJP national executive member told News18. Sources in the know suggest that after the organisation meeting, Shah is set to take part in a 'religious event". News18 has learnt that Shah may pay a visit to the house of Swami Vivekananda, a Bengali icon whose teachings the BJP and its ideological parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) often invoke to align with their vision of cultural nationalism and Hindutva. It is learnt that BJP MP Locket Chatterjee, who is in the race to become the next Bengal BJP chief, is overseeing the event. Many saints are also likely to join in the event. First Published: May 28, 2025, 10:18 IST
