Latest news with #WestBengalGovernment
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'They failed to stop Pahalgam': TMC's Kunal Ghosh targets BJP over 'provocative politics' on Murshidabad violence
NEW DELHI: TMC leader Kunal Ghosh on Wednesday accused the BJP of playing "dirty and provocative politics" over the Murshidabad violence that erupted in April. Ghosh contrasted this with the Pahalgam terror attack claiming that the "BJP couldn't stop the attack by extremists" whereas, the TMC was playing the role of a "responsible opposition". "BJP could not stop an attack by extremists in Pahalgam, but TMC and West Bengal Government are playing the role of responsible Opposition. An all-party delegation is going abroad, Abhishek Banerjee is a party of that delegation. So, in such times, what Amit Malviya and other BJP leaders are doing over Murshidabad is a dirty and provocative politics," Ghosh said. — ANI (@ANI) He praised West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and the state administration for taking swift action. "After that, CM Mamata Banerjee, Police and Administration did whatever had to be done. Criminals were caught and the process is ongoing. Compensation is being provided to families of the deceased and injured, families whose houses or shops were damaged. Government has done it." Referring to allegations that outsiders may have instigated the violence, Ghosh said, "Whether people came from outside the borders or from other places to plan all this, investigation is being done on all such indications." Speaking on the report by a three-member committee appointed by the Calcutta high court on the Murshidabad violence, Ghosh said that party "will analyse and then speak on it". The report highlighted significant lapses by local authorities in West Bengal regarding the anti-Waqf protests in Murshidabad that escalated into violence. The committee's findings revealed that the "main attack" occurred on April 11, with local police failing to take action or intervene. It also accused a local councillor of orchestrating the violence in Dhulian town. The high court, on April 17, directed the formation of a committee to assist in identifying and rehabilitating those displaced by the violence. During the unrest over the Waqf Act, a father and son, Harogobindo Das and Chandan Das, were found brutally murdered in Shamsherganj's Jafrabad area. The report, submitted by Joginder Singh, Satya Arnab Ghosal, and Saugata Chakraborty, also stressed the need for tailored rehabilitation packages for victims. It noted widespread mob violence in Murshidabad between April 8 and 12, with central forces eventually deployed to restore order. The violence sparked political controversy, with BJP accusing the attacks of targeting "Hindu families", while CM Mamata Banerjee claimed the violence was "orchestrated and planned".
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
WB govt. Staff hail court order directing State to pay 25% DA arrears
Several unions and associations of West Bengal Government employees on Friday (May 16, 2025) hailed the Supreme Court's order directing the State to pay 25% of pending dearness allowance (DA) arrears to employees. The West Bengal Government challenged a Calcutta High Court order in May 2022 that directed payment of DA, stating that DA is not a right. The matter is now being heard before the Supreme Court. Also Read | W.B. school recruitment crisis: Mamata offers aid to non-teaching staff, but protesters refuse to budge 'The Supreme Court order has recognised our demand that DA is a legally enforceable right. We have been protesting for almost 918 days now,' Bhaskar Ghosh, leader of Sangrami Joutho Manch, a collective of State Government employees' unions, told The Hindu. Mr. Ghosh said about 12 lakh employees and pensioners will benefit. The State Government Employees' Association urged the Mamata Banerjee government not to review the order and spend taxpayers' money. The Sangrami Joutho Manch has held several protests demanding DA at par with Central Government employees. Payment in three months Justices Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta issued an interim order directing West Bengal to make the payment within three months and posted the matter to be heard next in August. The West Bengal Government pays about 18% of wages as DA whereas Central Government employees receive over 55%. Senior Advocate and CPI(M) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said that the State Government's argument that DA will strain the exchequer does not have a legal basis. Mr. Bhattacharya said that the West Bengal Government has money for 'illegal works, including building temples and organising fairs but cannot pay employees of the State Government their salaries.' 'The court initially ordered payment of 50% of DA arrears. The State government said it will break the back of the Government. The Court then ordered payment of 25% arrears,' Mr. Bhattacharya said. According to unions 25% arrears will cost the State ₹10,000 crore. Leaders of opposition parties welcomed the order and criticised Mamata Banerjee. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari demanded her resignation. 'I hope Mamata Banerjee will take responsibility for denying the rights of employees for years and tender her resignation,' the BJP leader said. Describing the development as a huge victory for West Bengal Government employees, Mr. Adhikari said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government spent about ₹200 crore fighting a case against its own employees. 'Mamata Banerjee had asserted that 'DA is not a right.' Today's direction establishes that DA is indeed a right,' the LOP said.
