Latest news with #Malakar
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Former Congress MLA Shankar Malakar joins Trinamool, hits out at Grand Old Party
In a major blow to Congress in West Bengal, former Congress MLA Shankar Malakar has joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Malakar, an influential figure among the Scheduled Caste community in the North Bengal region, formally joined the TMC in the presence of senior leaders Subrata Bakshi and Aroop Biswas."I have decided to join the TMC as this is the only party which is fighting against the BJP and its communal politics in Bengal. Congress can't defeat BJP in Bengal and there is no future of Pradesh Congress in Bengal." Malakar said, explaining his decision to switch parties. He expressed dissatisfaction with the Congress, stating that the party lacks direction and grassroots connect in the move is seen as a strategic win for the TMC, which has historically struggled to gain ground in north Bengal. His experience and deep community ties are expected to help the party strengthen its organisational presence in the region. "I will work closely with the leadership to strengthen the organisation in north Bengal," Malakar said. Political observers view his switch as a calculated move by the TMC to bolster its presence among Scheduled Caste communities. Malakar's entry into the TMC comes after former Union minister John Barla joined the party last month, potentially expanding its footprint among tea garden workers and Adivasi communities."The TMC's growth in north Bengal has been slow, but with the right strategy and connection with the people, Malakar and Barla's induction can turn the tide," said political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty. Must Watch
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Street dancer heckled for singing ‘Allah ke bande' at Tripura temple, CPI(M) seeks action
AGARTALA: A street dancer was allegedly heckled for singing Kailash Kher's 'Allah ke bande' at the famous Tripurasundari temple in Tripura's Gomati district, sparking political outrage. The opposition CPI(M) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, demanding swift action from the state government and accusing it of fostering an atmosphere of intolerance. The video of the incident that went viral on social media on Sunday shows the street dancer, Shanu Malakar, is purportedly being threatened by another person (not seen in the video) and questioned him for his choice of song on the temple premises, saying that praise of Allah could not be done at a temple. In the video, Malakar is seen replying that he does street dance performances to raise funds for donations to the poor. In reference to the video, CPIM politburo member and leader of opposition Jitendra Chaudhury said, 'A youth, Sanu Malakar, a local singer who also earns money through his street dance performances and displaying physical acrobatics, was seen, in a social media video, singing the song which is devotional as well to appeal for humanity. A person threatened him in front of a huge gathering and questioned him why he uttered Allah. I appeal to the state government and the police to step in at the earliest.' He further said that the person who threatened Malakar did so by declaring that this is 'Hindustan", claiming that those who worship Allah or follow that faith are 'jihadis", and asserting that such songs have no place on Indian soil. Asserting that every Indian has constitutionally approved right to express their opinions through devotional songs of any religion, be it Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Buddhist, Chaudhury said the state government and police didn't take any action against the perpetrators till now. 'We often see that several people were arrested with different charges after the Pahalgam terror attack, and harassing them for 10-12 days... Why has no arrest been made here?' Chaudhury asked. Reacting to the incident, BJP state spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said, 'It's natural that neither Azaan can be performed in temples nor Durga Puja can be performed in mosques.' A senior police officer stated, 'We have seen the video as well, but so far, no one has come forward to lodge a complaint.' Last year, the Gomati district magistrate served a notice prohibiting shooting of any such dance, music videos, reels and posting on social media after netizens raise objections against objectionable dance performances by social media influencers in Tripurasundari temple.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Artists protest harassment of content creator at Tripura Sundari Temple
Agartala: Artists and the cultural community in Agartala staged a protest march on Tuesday, condemning the harassment of content creator on the premises. Malakar was allegedly confronted by a group of self-styled on Monday over his use of the song Allah Ke Bande Hasde during his performance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A video of the incident, widely circulated on social media, triggered public outrage and strong support for Malakar. The confrontation reportedly began when a spectator, identified as Tushar Kanti Shil, objected to the song's reference to a deity from another religion. The situation quickly escalated into a heated verbal altercation, with reports suggesting Malakar was physically assaulted. Despite conflicting witness accounts regarding the nature of the altercation, the footage sparked widespread criticism of the aggressors and an outpouring of support for Malakar, who is known for using his performances to raise funds for the underprivileged. On the day of the incident, he was reportedly performing to support an elderly woman in need. The public backlash prompted BJP MLA and BJP Yuva Morcha president Sushanta Deb to personally intervene, offering words of encouragement to Malakar. "You are doing commendable work for society. Do not let such incidents shake your resolve. I stand with you," Deb assured him. The cultural community called for legal action against those responsible and urged the administration, particularly the chief minister, to ensure that artists and creative individuals can perform freely, without intimidation. "We demand strict action against the perpetrators to send a strong message to society," the protesters said. Agartala: Artists and the cultural community in Agartala staged a protest march on Tuesday, condemning the harassment of content creator Sanu Malakar on the Tripura Sundari temple premises. Malakar was allegedly confronted by a group of self-styled Hindutva activists on Monday over his use of the song Allah Ke Bande Hasde during his performance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A video of the incident, widely circulated on social media, triggered public outrage and strong support for Malakar. The confrontation reportedly began when a spectator, identified as Tushar Kanti Shil, objected to the song's reference to a deity from another religion. The situation quickly escalated into a heated verbal altercation, with reports suggesting Malakar was physically assaulted. Despite conflicting witness accounts regarding the nature of the altercation, the footage sparked widespread criticism of the aggressors and an outpouring of support for Malakar, who is known for using his performances to raise funds for the underprivileged. On the day of the incident, he was reportedly performing to support an elderly woman in need. The public backlash prompted BJP MLA and BJP Yuva Morcha president Sushanta Deb to personally intervene, offering words of encouragement to Malakar. "You are doing commendable work for society. Do not let such incidents shake your resolve. I stand with you," Deb assured him. The cultural community called for legal action against those responsible and urged the administration, particularly the chief minister, to ensure that artists and creative individuals can perform freely, without intimidation. "We demand strict action against the perpetrators to send a strong message to society," the protesters said.
