Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a rally in West Bengal.The Election Commission on Monday imposed a 24-hour ban on campaigning by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her “highly insinuating” and “provocative remarks” that the poll regulating body described as having “serious potential” to lead to a breakdown of law and order during elections. Protesting against this order, Banerjee has decided to sit on a dharna on Tuesday, Trinamool Congress sources said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Monday asserted that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will have no impact on the Gorkhas, and accused the ruling TMC in West Bengal of misleading the people of the hills. Addressing public after a roadshow in Kalimpong, Shah said as long as Narendra Modi-led BJP government is there at the Centre, Gorkhas will not be harmed. “NRC has not yet been implemented, but whenever it is done, not a single Gorkha will be asked to leave,” PTI quoted him as saying.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in West Bengal’s Bardhaman district ahead of the fifth phase of polls, asked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not to disrespect the central forces guarding people at polling booths by levelling baseless allegations. This comes a day after Banerjee had accused of the CISF of killing four people in Cooch Behar district during the fourth phase of polling, terming the incident as a “genocide”.
The Prime Minister also hit out at the Trinamool, saying it has been eliminated in the first four phases and is hence angry at everyone around. Modi added that the people of Bengal have chosen real change as opposed to Mamata Banerjee’s syndicate and cut-money rule.
The Election Commission on Monday clamped a 24-hour campaigning ban on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her comments on central security forces and a statement which allegedly had religious overtones.
Terming her remarks as “highly insinuating” and “provocative”, the poll regulating body, in its order said, “Commission hereby condemns such statements potent with serious law and order problems across the state (s) and sternly warns Mamata Banerjee and advises her to desist from using such statements while making public utterances during the period when Model Code of Conduct is in force.” Read more
Reacting to the ban, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien said, "EC stands for 'extremely compromised'." He also called it a black day in the democracy of India, reported PTI.
Mamata Banerjee to sit on a dharna tomorrow to protest against EC's ban on her campaigning, Trinamool sources said.
The Election Commission on Monday imposed a 24-hour ban on campaigning by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her “highly insinuating” and “provocative remarks” that the poll regulating body described as having “serious potential” to lead to a breakdown of law and order during elections.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in an apparent jibe at state BJPleaders, said on Monday that those threatening of more Cooch Behar-like
killings should be banned politically.
She wondered what kind of human beings are politicians who say that there will be more Sitalkuchi-like incidents and that the death toll should have been higher.
Four people were killed in CISF firing after they “attempted to snatch the rifles of the central forces” while voting was underway in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district in the fourth phase on Saturday, sparking a political storm in the state. Read more
"Didi has never said to have peaceful elections...People of West Bengal can understand her intention. She knows that a huge number of votes are cast for BJP. This is why she is against high voting percentage," PM Modi said in West Bengal. "Didi knows it's her goons who are creating violence so she doesn't speak of action against them. How will she do it? This is happening under her nose. I want to thank you for your love & want to assure you that I'll repay your love with interest," he added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Monday that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will have no impact on the Gorkhas, and accused the ruling TMC in West Bengal of spreading lies to create fear among the people of the hills. Shah, during an address after a roadshow in Kalimpong, said as long as the Narendra Modi-led BJP government is there at the Centre, no Gorkha will be harmed. "NRC has not yet been implemented, but whenever it is done, not a single Gorkha will be asked to leave," the senior BJP leader said. --PTI
"Didi's appeasement politics hurt Matuas, Namsudras. Citizenship and justice to refugees is our public commitment," said Narendra Modi during an election campaign in Bengal.
Kalimpong suffered for years. In 1986, CPM oppressed you and over 1,200 Gorkhas lost lives. You were not given justice. When Didi came, she took lives of several Gorkhas as well. You were never given justice. Choose the BJP this time and we'll form an SIT and send those responsible behind bars, sayd Amit Shah
Misinformation being spread that if NRC will be brought, Gorkhas will be ousted. NRC hasn't been brought yet. But even if it's introduced, not one Gorkha will be left out. The TMC only spreads lies: Amit Shah in Kalimpong. (ANI)
Tormenting 'Ma', looting 'Mati' (motherland) and bloodshed of 'Manush' (people) is reality of Didi's "Ma, Mati, Manush" slogal. Mamata clean bowled in Nandigram, people of Bengal have asked Didi's entire team to leave the field: Modi. (PTI)
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah holds a roadshow in North Bengal's Kalimpong ahead of the fifth phase of the polls. (ANI)
During these elections, we also lost Shobha Mazumdar. The cruelty with which she was beaten by TMC goons is a picture we can never forget: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bardhaman. (ANI)
Abuse me all you want. But don't insult Bengal's dignity and tradition. Bengal won't tolerate your arrogance, and tolabaaz and cut money culture because people want 'asol poribartan' now: Narendra Modi. That brave police officer, who had come to Bengal on duty two days ago, was beaten to death. When his mother saw his body, she also succumbed. Didi, is that officer's mother not a mother for you? No mother in Bengal knew how harsh and ruthless you are: Modi (ANI)
Didi's people abuse Bengal's SC community and call them beggars. Baba Sahab's soul would be hurt by hearing such bitter words. Didi calls herself 'Royal Bengal Tiger'. Such comments on SCs cannot be given by any TMC leader without Didi's will: PM Modi in Bardhaman. (ANI)
Didi's bitterness and anger are increasing daily. You have eliminated TMC in just 4 phases of polls. You have hit so many fours and sixes that BJP has already scored a century. Those who were thinking of playing "khela" with you had to face "khela" themselves: PM Modi (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Bardhaman where will address a public rally shortly. (ANI)
The political mercury is rising in Bengal and the BJP has parachuted its strongest campaigners — Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah — to Bengal to hold consecutive rallies in the state on the same day. While the Prime Minister will hold three public rallies in south Bengal, the Union Home Minister will be camping in north Bengal, addressing two rallies and leading two roadshows on Monday.
Once upon a time, Dipak Das was the admin of 1,124 WhatsApp groups. That was during the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. Today, in the middle of Assembly polls in West Bengal, the BJP’s social media convenor in Cooch Behar is the admin of 2,209 groups and a member of 3,500 in all. Over two days last week, in the run-up to voting in Cooch Behar for the fourth phase, The Indian Express tracked the smartphones of several BJP and TMC workers to know what’s streaming. It found a surge of videos, messages and “news items” — some spin, some splice and a lot of slant to suit the narrative.
The speed and scale of this operation illustrate the online campaign in play — from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches to Banerjee’s injured foot. The Indian Express was given access to smartphones of a dozen BJP workers intermittently across April 6 and 7, and accessed 126 WhatsApp messages. (Read Ravik Bhattacharya and Amitava Chakraborty's report)
Congress in Kerala has appointed a committee to look into how a huge quantity of unused posters of its candidate was found at a scrap shop here, with a top leader saying they would examine if senior partymen had a role in it.
Nearly 50 kg of unused posters of Veena S Nair, a candidate from Vattiyurkavu in the city, was found at a scrap shop here a few days ago, after which the District Congress Committee initiated a probe.
"It's shocking that such a huge quantity of posters were found at a scrap shop. The KPCC has appointed a committee to probe the matter. We will look into whether any senior leaders had any role in this," Kerala Congress chief Mullappally Ramachandran told reporters. (PTI)
The Trinamool Congress on Sunday said its workers staged thousands of demonstrations across West Bengal in protest against the killing of four people in firing by CISF personnel during polling in the fourth phase.
At least 11,700 demonstrations were held in south and north Bengal where TMC activists wore black badges and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Shah, naming him as the conspirator of the incident, senior party leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said here.
In Kolkata, TMC leader and minister Sashi Panja led protest rallies in the Esplanade area, as participants lit candles and converged in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue.
Similar demonstrations were also held in Taldangra in Bankura, Canning in South 24 Parganas and in Hooghly district, TMC sources said. (PTI)
West Bengal registered 79.90 percent polling during the fourth phase of assembly elections held in 44 constituencies spread across five districts, state chief electoral officer Ariz Aftab said on Sunday.
The highest turnout of 84.76 per cent was registered in Cooch Behar district while it was 82.54 per cent in Alipurduar during the polling held on Saturday, he said.
While in Hooghly the turnout was recorded at 79.75 per cent, it was 77.25 per cent in South Parganas and 77.24 per cent in Howrah, the CEO said.
Elections were held in 15,940 polling stations in nine seats in Howrah district, 11 in South 24 Parganas, five in Alipurduar, nine in Coochbehar and ten in Hooghly. (PTI)
Intellectuals, politicians and people from different walks of life take part in a march in Kolkata on Sunday to protest against four people being shot dead by the central forces during the fourth phase of polls in the state. (Express photos by Shashi Ghosh)
The BJP on Sunday urged the Election Commission to take action against a Trinamool Congress leader and her party's leadership for allegedly making disparaging remarks against scheduled castes by likening them to beggars.
In a memorandum to the poll watchdog, a BJP delegation said TMC leader Sujata Mondal Khan had targeted the SC community for its support to the BJP and accused her of making insulting remarks against its members.
The party delegation, which included Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and party general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam, told the EC that Khan's remarks were in violation of the Model Code of Conduct, Indian Penal Code and also the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“This is neither the first time, nor is it a one-off statement. It reflects a certain mindset in the AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) and follows a pattern set by Mamata Banerjee, where she has consistently attempted to polarise the elections on the basis of religion or caste and going to the extreme fringes by raising the bogey of 'outsider', thereby challenging and negating the very foundations of the Indian Constitution,” the BJP said. (PTI)
West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh Sunday said that there will be similar incidents like the one that happened in Cooch Behar’s Sitalkuchi during the fourth phase of polling for the Assembly if “dustu chelera” (bad boys) do not behave in the coming election phases.
Ghosh also demanded a case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for instigating the people against security forces on poll duty in Bengal, adding that she should not be allowed to campaign in the state any more.
“From where have the ‘dustu chele’ (bad boys) come? The ones who received bullets in Cooch Behar’s Sitalkuchi yesterday. These bad boys will not remain in Bengal. This is only the beginning. Those who think that the CISF carry guns just for show are mistaken. If anyone takes law into his own hands, he will receive a befitting reply. Central forces will be deployed in booths and no one will be allowed to threaten them. If things go out of hand, there will be more Sitalkuchi-like incidents in many places. So beware,” said Ghosh at a public meeting at Baranagar in North 24 Parganas district. Read full report by Santanu Chowdhury
Asserting that Saturdays firing by the CISF in Cooch Behar, which claimed four lives, would prove to be a "turning point" in Bengal polls, Bimal Gurung, the chief of one of the two GJM factions, claimed that the BJP would face the wrath of voters in the remaining four phases of polling in the northern part of the state.
Gurung, in an interview with PTI, reaffirmed that “statehood is a dream nurtured by every Gorkha” living in the hills, while also noting that the TMC's pitch for a “permanent political solution” and the overall development of Darjeeling and its adjoining areas sounds “very encouraging”.
Lashing out at the BJP for "deceiving the Gorkha jaati for 12 years with fake promises", Gurung, who deserted the NDA and joined hands with the TMC in October last year, said he will teach the saffron camp a "lesson for life", with Mamata Banerjee by his side. (PTI)
Congress alleges that its Manikchak candidate Md Mottakin Alam was attacked during campaigning in Malda by supporters from TMC, a charge denied by the ruling party. (PTI)
Congress party’s Srivilliputhur constituency candidate in the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, P S W Madhava Rao, died on Sunday due to Covid-related complications, his family said.
Rao was 63 years old and is survived by his only daughter. He died at a private hospital in Madurai this morning where he was admitted on March 20 for treatment, Rao’s son-in-law, K Rajiv told PTI.
Congress party secretary and Tamil Nadu in charge Sanjay Dutt tweeted saying he was deeply pained to learn about the demise of Rao due to COVID-19 complications. Read more
Speaking in Basirhat Dakshin, Union Home Minister Amit Shah further says, “Earlier, Didi encouraged youngsters and women (in Sitalkuchi) to come forward and gherao central forces. You said that and left on your wheelchair. But because of you, four people died there. On the same morning, a BJP worker also died in the constituency.” (ANI)
Speaking at an event in Basirhat Dakshin, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, “I have come here to make one request. Didi has ruled for 10 years. Would it look good to give her a small farewell? So, you should give her a farewell by giving 200 seats to BJP.”
He adds, “Didi is repeatedly saying Amit Shah must resign. Didi, when people will ask me to resign, then I will. But you must prepare as you will have to resign on May 2.” (ANI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to address two public rallies in Goalpokhar and Naxalbari in West Bengal on April 14. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee holds a roadshow in Bardhaman.
Mamata’s advice to gherao central forces instigated people to attack CISF in Sitalkuchi, says Amit Shah. He adds, “It is unfortunate to see appeasement politics even in case of deaths.” (PTI)
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah held a roadshow in Ranaghat Dakshin amid the West Bengal Assembly polls.
Describing the incident of firing in Cooch Behar as a "genocide", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said the Election Commission has restricted the entry of politicians in the district for 72 hours as it seeks to "suppress facts".
The TMC supremo, while addressing a press meet here, claimed that central forces "sprayed bullets aiming at the torso of the victims" in Sitalkuchi area, when the fourth phase of polling was underway in the state.
"There was genocide at Sitalkuchi. I would like to visit Sitalkuchi by April 14. The EC is trying to suppress facts by restricting entry in Cooch Behar. We have an incompetent home minister and an incompetent central government," Banerjee said. (PTI)
Speaking about the recent incident of violence in Cooch Behar, where four villagers were shot dead by CISF personnel, Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Except for this one incident (Sitalkuchi), elections in West Bengal have been conducted peacefully so far. I promise that after BJP comes to power here political and poll-related violence will end in Bengal." (ANI)
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Jalpaiguri: "They (BJP-ruled Centre) know they have lost in 4 phases (of Assembly polls) so now they are using guns. We will take revenge for these bullets in form of ballots"
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah held a roadshow in Nadia district's Santipur today.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spoke to the families of the four villagers who were shot dead by CISF personnel at a polling booth in Cooch Behar, over a video call during her press conference in Siliguri on Sunday.
Questioning the version that central forces fired on voters "in self-defence" in Cooch Behar district killing four persons, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that her government will initiate a CID probe into the incident. Banerjee said that there is no video footage or any other proof to substantiate the claims of the central forces.
Four persons were killed as central forces opened fire allegedly after coming under attack from locals, who "attempted to snatch their rifles" near a booth in Sitalkuchi constituency in North Bengal when polling was underway. According to official sources, the preliminary report submitted by the EC's special police observer Vivek Dubey said that a huge mob of around 350-400 people had gheraoed the central forces, following which they fired in "self-defence". (PTI)
The BJP on Saturday released an audio clip in which Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) poll strategist Prashant Kishor is purportedly heard saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is as popular as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal.
In response, Kishor dared the Opposition party to release the entire clip of his conversation on social media platform Clubhouse, and reiterated that the saffron party would not win more than 100 Assembly seats in the ongoing elections. The Indian Express did not independently verify the authenticity of the audio clip.
In the clip, a person purported to be Kishor is heard saying, “Modi is hugely popular in Bengal, and there is no doubt about it. He is equally popular like Mamata Banerjee.” Read the report here.
Union minister Babul Supriyo and Left Front leader Sujan Chakraborty were among several candidates who visited polling booths in their assembly constituencies to keep an eye on ballot rigging during the fourth phase of voting for 44 seats on Saturday. MP Supriyo is contesting from Tollyganj on a BJP ticket and Chakraborty from Jadavpur.
After allegations of TMC workers barring the entry of his booth agent into polling booth no 176, Supriyo left his guest house at 7am and reached the site. From there, he went to Brahmapur where he chased some “proxy voters” and caught one of them. He claimed that a young woman was carrying a voter ID card of a 66-year-old person named Ramjan Bibi. “This is TMC’s handiwork. They are trying to capture the booth or rig votes… Now, the people of West Bengal have understood their (TMC’s) tricks, and they will not successful to win the election. And I am confident to win it.” Read the full report.
A pall of gloom descended on Jorpatki village in Cooch Behar district’s Sitalkuchi area on Saturday after Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel shot dead four villagers while polling was underway in the fourth phase of the Assembly elections.
According to an eyewitness, the security personnel fired shots after being surrounded by villagers incensed by a rumour that the CISF men had assaulted a 12-year-old boy.
At Amtali school, villager Soffiuddin Mian said, “We heard that a team of central forces beat up 12-year-old Mrinal Haq. After that, everyone in the village got angry. Men and women all gathered at the polling station. There was pushing and shoving. A huge crowd gheraoed the central forces. I ran out of the school ground and then I heard gunshots. There are 950 voters in this booth and I am one of them.” Read the full report here.
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