Category Archives: States

Yogyashree scheme to include more students. The scheme was so long applicable to the SC and ST categories.

June 12, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

SNS, 11 June 2024 : The state government will include boys and girls belonging to the general category, minorities and OBC in its Yogyashree scheme that provides free coaching to students sitting for engineering and medical courses.

The scheme was so long applicable to the SC and ST categories.

In 2024, those who had received training in Yogyashree scheme, got 23 ranks, including 13 IIT seats in JEE Advanced, 75 ranks in JEE (Main),. Seventy five students had cracked JEE (Main) and 432 cracked WBJEE and 110 ranks in NEET.

The state government has increased the number of centres to 50 and 2000 aspirants will receive the coaching. The coaching will be given from students studying in Class XI onwards.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee in her X handle wrote: “We are proud that our Yogyashree scheme which we started to provide free-of-cost training to SC/ST students of the state for admission in engineering and medical courses has been yielding increasingly greater and greater benefits for our SC/ST boys and girls. Now, we shall include the boys and girls of minority, OBC and general categories also in this scheme.”

She said this would benefit the students coming from economically-challenged backgrounds immensely.

She emphasised this scheme would bring out engineers and doctors in large numbers from the weaker section of the society.

“Let our boys and girls from the weaker sections be engineers and doctors in larger numbers. We shall now include students of Minority, OBC, and General categories in this scheme. Kudos to them!,” she further posted.

The state’s budget also revealed an enhancement in financial assistance under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme. General category households will now receive Rs 1,000, while SC/ST households are set to receive Rs 1,200.

Additionally, SC/ST women will been titled to Rs 1,200, and others will receive Rs 1,000 under the Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme, effective from April 2024.

The West Bengal government on Tuesday said its ‘Yogyashree’ scheme for students will now include beneficiaries from the minority, OBC and general categories. The scheme was launched in January to provide free-of-cost training to SC and ST students of the state for engineering and medical courses.

“In consideration of the value of this critical training support to our disadvantaged boys and girls, we have increased the number of centres in the state now to 50, and number of our supported trainees to 2,000, and the training will be given from Class XI onwards for better preparation,” the Chief Minister said.

“Let our boys and girls from the weaker sections be engineers and doctors in larger numbers,” she added.

Economy, West Bengal

WB announces 4% DA hike for state govt employees with effect from Apr 1

June 12, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Bengal’s Chief Secy said that the government of West Bengal increased the Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief by 4 percent in the state. The government notification was released on Tuesday

ANI, 11 June 2024 : The government of West Bengal increased the Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief by 4 percent in the state. The government notification was released on Tuesday.

The order comes into effect from April 1, 2024.

In a letter dated June 11, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of West Bengal Dr Manoj Pant said that Governor CV Ananda Bose was pleased to enhance of the rate of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief.

Dr Manoj Pant said, “The Governor has been pleased to decide that enhancement of rate of Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief in respect of the employees and Pensioners / Family Pensioners respectively of the State Government and Government aided Educational Institutions, Statutory Bodies, Government Undertakings, Panchayats including Panchayat Karmee, Municipal Corporations / Municipalities, Local Bodies etc. and Daily Rate of Wages for the daily rated workers as was allowed vide in Finance Department Memorandum No.1090-F(P2) dated March 1, 2024 shall be effective from April 1 instead of May 1.

National, West Bengal

Centre releases Rs 1.39 lakh crore as tax devolution to states to boost development: West Bengal receives Rs 10,513.46 crore

June 11, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

IANS, Kolkata, June 11, 2024 : West Bengal was the fourth highest recipient state in the latest instalment of tax devolution released in the last phase as per the figures released by the Union Finance Ministry on Tuesday.Of the total Rs 1,39,750 crore of the latest instalment released, West Bengal has got a share of Rs 10,513.46 crore, which is fourth highest after Uttar Pradesh Rs 25,069.88 crore, Bihar at 14.056.12 crore and Madhya Pradesh at Rs 10,970.44 crore.

As per the statement by the Union Finance Ministry, with the latest release, a total of Rs 2,79,500 crore had been devolved to the different states till June 10 for the current financial year of 2024-25.

Economic analysts believe that the fresh figures released for West Bengal immediately after the BJP-led NDA came to power at the Centre for the third consecutive term are expected to silence the ruling Trinamool Congress for some time about their constant allegations against the Union government of not releasing Central funds for the state under various heads, including tax devolution instalments.

In fact, in almost all the pre-election campaign rallies Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said that despite collecting crores of rupees as tax from West Bengal, the Union government had been reluctant in releasing its due shares to the state government.

However, economic analysts point out that the state-wise release of tax devolution instalments in the last phase shows that the amount going to the kitty of West Bengal is much higher than the BJP-ruled states like Assam, Gujarat and Rajasthan among others.

In fact, at a meeting with the newly elected party MPs on June 8, CM Mamata Banerjee outlined the roadmap for Trinamool Congress on the floor of the 18th Lok Sabha, where she made it clear that one of the three key issues to be highlighted by the party in the coming days within the two Houses of Parliament will be non-release of Central funds to the state government under various heads.

PIB release state- It has been decided that apart from the regular release of the devolution amount for the month of June 2024, one additional instalment will be released. This release cumulatively amounts to Rs. 1,39,750 crore in the current month. This will enable State Governments to accelerate development and capital spending.

The Interim Budget 2024-25 has a provision of Rs. 12,19,783 crore towards devolution of taxes to States.

With this release, the total amount devolved (for FY 2024-25) to States till 10 June 2024 is Rs. 2,79,500 crore.

Sl.No. Sate Tax Devolved on 10th June, 2024

1 Andhra Pradesh 5655.72

2 Arunachal Pradesh 2455.44

3 Assam 4371.38

4 Bihar 14056.12

5 Chhattisgarh 4761.30

6 Goa 539.42

7 Gujarat 4860.56

8 Haryana 1527.48

9 Himachal 1159.92

10 Jharkhand 4621.58

11 Karnataka 5096.72

12 Kerala 2690.20

13 Madhya Pradesh 10970.44

14 Maharashtra 8828.08

15 Manipur 1000.60

16 Meghalaya 1071.90

17 Mizoram 698.78

18 Nagaland 795.20

19 Odisha 6327.92

20 Punjab 2525.32

21 Rajasthan 8421.38

22 Sikkim 542.22

23 Tamil Nadu 5700.44

24 Telangana 2937.58

25 Tripura 989.44

26 Uttar Pradesh 25069.88

27 Uttarakhand 1562.44

28 West Bengal 10513.46

Regional, Sikkim

Prem Singh Tamang sworn in for second term as Sikkim CM

June 11, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

PSikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Photo: IANS)

SNS | Gangtok | June 10, 2024 : Prem Singh Tamang, the president of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM), was on Monday sworn in as the Chief Minister of Sikkim for the second consecutive term.

This follows his party’s overwhelming victory in the recent assembly elections, where the SKM secured 31 out of 32 seats. The swearing-in ceremony, held at Paljor Stadium, was conducted by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and witnessed by a large crowd.

Tamang, 56, who successfully led the SKM to this decisive win, was also elected unanimously as the leader of the legislature party during a meeting on June 2.

Alongside him, a council of ministers consisting of 12 members, including the Chief Minister, was also sworn in.

To ensure the security of the event, the state government ordered the closure of all educational institutions in and around Gangtok on Monday.

Additionally, a half-day holiday was declared for all government offices and public sector undertakings (PSUs) located in the vicinity.

“In view of the swearing-in ceremony of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Designate and the Council of Ministers Designate…the state government hereby declares, 10th June, 2024 as a half working day till 12 noon, for all government offices and PSUs located in and around Gangtok,” Chief Secretary V B Pathak announced in a circular issued by the Home Department.

Tamang’s leadership has been pivotal for the SKM. Under his guidance, the party not only triumphed in the assembly elections but also secured the lone Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim.

He contested and won from both the Rhenock and Soreng-Chakung constituencies, showcasing his strong political influence and popularity.

The SKM’s victory marks a significant shift in Sikkim’s political landscape, further diminishing the influence of the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which ruled the state for 25 consecutive years until 2019.

The SDF managed to win only one seat in the recent elections, highlighting the extent of SKM’s dominance.

Prem Singh Tamang has promised to continue working towards the development and prosperity of Sikkim.

His administration aims to address various issues facing the state, including improving infrastructure, healthcare, and education, while maintaining the cultural heritage and environmental sustainability of Sikkim.

Politics, Regional, Sikkim

No representatives from Gorkha community in Narendra Modi’s ministry, hills frown

June 10, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Echoing the sentiment of the BJP allies in Darjeeling, Neeraj Zimba, Darjeeling MLA and secretary-general of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), said that it was now long overdue that a Gorkha community member be represented in the Union ministry

Sikkim MP Indra Hang Subba, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista: File picture

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 10.06.24 : Discontentment brewed in Darjeeling hills and across the Gorkha diaspora in the country as no representative from the community found a place in Narendra Modi’s ministry announced on Sunday.

The BJP’s Raju Bista was re-elected as the Darjeeling MP in the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls.

“The Gorkhas have been voting for the BJP since 2009 despite the BJP not having fulfilled any of its promises to the community. Our representative should be included in the ministry without us even demanding it,” said Zimba, who successfully contested the Assembly polls on a BJP ticket twice.

In the past, the BJP had promised a tribal status to 11 Gorkha communities and a permanent political solution (PPS) for the region. Although the BJP did not define PPS, most in the hills perceive it as statehood.

Both the tribal and PPS promises remain unfulfilled.

“Our representation in the Union ministry is long overdue now. We cannot always be taken for granted. Our Darjeeling MP Raju Bista won with one of the highest margins in Bengal and a better margin than our Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Zimba.

In 2019, Bista won by a margin of over 4 lakh. This year, the margin was 1.78 lakh. Modi won his Varanasi seat by a 1.52 lakhs this time.

The demand for a ministry for a Gorkha representative has come up strongly this year as the community has been increasingly feeling betrayed by the BJP for failing to address the community’s concerns. The drop in victory margin of Bista this year is an indicator, said an observer.

Not just Zimba and BJP allies, but even other hill leaders not directly linked with the BJP have sought a ministerial berth for Darjeeling MP Raju Bista.

“The BJP owes a debt to Darjeeling…. It is only fair that Raju Bista be included in the ministry,” said Binay Tamang, a well-known face in Darjeeling politics.

In this Lok Sabha, the Gorkha community is also represented by Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) MP Indra Hang Subba. The SKM is an NDA constituent.

However, the pitch is more for Bista, as Darjeeling is considered to be the epicentre for Indian Gorkhas in all aspects, from cultural to political.

In the previous Modi government, three BJP MPs from north Bengal were included in the cabinet as junior ministers — Nisith Pramanik, John Barla and Debasree Chaudhuri. None of them is an MP this time.Courtesy & source- The Telegraph

Crime, Northeast

NIA arrests jailed Kuki “insurgent” in Bishnupur civilians killing case in Manipur

June 10, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

PTI, New Delhi, Jun 9, 2024 : The NIA has arrested a militant currently lodged in an Assam jail for his alleged involvement in the killing of four civilians in Manipur’s Bishnupur district earlier this year, the probe agency said in a statement on Sunday.

Lunminsei Kipgen alias Langinmang alias Mang alias Levi, a resident of Manipur, was arrested on Saturday by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Central Jail, Lokhra, in Guwahati under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act, it said.

He is the first accused to be arrested for the gruesome killings on January 18, when armed assailants brutally murdered four civilians near the water treatment plant at Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou, Bishnupur, the NIA statement said.

“The NIA on Saturday arrested one person, currently in Guwahati jail in another case, in connection with the killing of four civilians in Manipur’s Bishnupur district,” it added.

The assailants had opened indiscriminate fire from sophisticated weapons, leading to the civilians’ deaths, the probe agency said.

The NIA, which had registered a case on February 9, found during the investigation that Lunminsei Kipgen was actively involved in the attack, which was part of the ongoing ethnic unrest and violence in the northeastern state.

Previously a cadre of the Kuki militant outfit KNF(P), he joined another Kuki militant organisation — the United Kuki National Army — during the current spate of violence and participated in the killings, it added.

Northeast

Manipur: Situation ‘tense’ but ‘under control’ in violence-hit Jiribam

June 10, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

PTI, IMPHAL, JUNE 9, 2024 : The situation in Manipur’s Jiribam district remained “tense” but under control on Sunday, after suspected militants torched two police outposts and at least 70 houses in a fresh bout of violence in the state, police said.

Additional security forces have been deployed in the affected areas following the incident on Saturday, they said.

“The situation is tense but under control in the wake of violent disturbances that broke out in Jiribam district in which miscreants torched two police pickets, a forest beat office… and several houses belonging to both Meitei and Kuki communities, the Manipur Police said in a statement.

More than 70 houses were set on fire in Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal and Begra villages, a senior police officer said.

Police is also actively monitoring social media updates, which may incite communal feelings amongst the communities and requests general public to refrain from spreading unfounded/unverified information,” it said.

Violence broke out in Jiribam in the ethnic strife-torn state on Thursday evening, after suspected militants killed a 59-year-old man.

The person, identified as Soibam Saratkumar Singh, went missing after he had gone to his farm on June 6 and later, his body was found with wounds made by a sharp object, an official had said.

Meanwhile, an irate mob stopped a truck at Sorok Atingbi Khunou late on Saturday and reportedly torched essential commodities it was carrying, a police officer said.

A contingent of more than 70 state police commandos was airlifted from Imphal to Jiribam to assist security personnel in their operations against militants, he said.

Around 239 Meitei people, mostly women and children, have been evacuated from peripheral areas of Jiribam on Friday, and moved to a newly set up relief camp at a multi-sports complex in the district, officials added.

The state government has also transferred Jiribam SP A Ghanashyam Sharma to the post of additional director of the Manipur Police Training College, according to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms.

The transfer order was issued hours after police outposts of Jiri Mukh and Choto Bekra, and the Goakhal forest beat office were set afire on Saturday morning, they said.

Reacting to the incidents of fresh violence, newly elected Congress MP from the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, urged the Manipur government to protect the lives and properties of the people of Jiribam.

Jiribam, which has a diverse ethnic composition of Meiteis, Muslims, Nagas, Kukis and non-Manipuris, had so far remained unaffected by the ethnic strife that has been raging in the northeastern state since May last year.

The ethnic conflict between Imphal valley-based Meiteis and hill-based Kukis has led to the deaths of over 200 people, and rendered thousands of people homeless.

National, Politics, West Bengal

Only 2 from Bengal – Thakur retained, Sukanta makes debut CAA push gives Matua leader Shantanu Thakur second term

June 10, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

PTI, Kolkata, Jun 9, 2024 : Shantanu Thakur, a second-time BJP MP from West Bengal’s Bangaon Lok Sabha constituency and a leading figure of the backward Matua community in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, was inducted into the Union cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Thakur has been a strong advocate of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) since 2019, asserting it would grant “legal citizenship” to members of the Matua community.

He sought to alleviate confusion among the Matuas regarding the submission of applications for citizenship under the CAA, weathering all opposition attacks from the TMC and other parties.

He further claimed that while Aadhaar cards do not grant constitutional citizenship upon the Matuas, the CAA would rectify this.

Thakur consistently highlighted the importance of the CAA, stating that no opposition leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, could safeguard the community in the event of an NRC exercise in the future.

The Matuas, originally from East Pakistan, are a marginalised Hindu community that migrated to India during the Partition and after the creation of Bangladesh due to religious persecution.

Thakur first became a member of the Lok Sabha from Bongaon constituency in 2019.

He had been at odds with family member and rival Matua community leader Mamatabala Thakur, who was elected from the seat in the 2015 byelections, but was defeated by Shantanu in 2019.

Shantanu Thakur, the second son of former West Bengal minister and TMC leader Manjul Krishna Thakur, entered politics in 2015 when he unsuccessfully contested the Bangaon Lok Sabha bypolls from the BJP, finishing third.

The 42-year-old was successful in his second attempt in 2019 and wrested the seat again in 2024.

Appointed as the MoS for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways by Modi in 2021, Thakur told reporters, “Since taking on this responsibility, I have done my best to harness the vast network of navigable waterways and worked towards developing and utilizing the infrastructure and true potential of the ports in the east, including Bengal.”

He added, “As a loyal worker of the party, I am ready to fulfill any responsibility entrusted to me to the best of my ability. I am thankful to the BJP and my leader Narendra Modi for everything. I will discharge my responsibilities to the best of my ability.”

Despite the BJP’s tally decreasing to 12 amid a poor performance by party stalwarts like former Union minister Nisith Pramanik and Dilip Ghosh, who were defeated by their TMC counterparts, Thakur retained his seat with a margin of 73,693 votes.

Despite strong campaigns by the TMC against Thakur, questioning his nationality, the president of the All India Matua Mahasangha received the majority’s backing in his constituency.

Crime, West Bengal

‘Free phone recharge’: Cops warn of fake alert

June 8, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

‘Beware of the website http://westbengalfreerecharge. blogspot.com claiming free mobile recharges. This is a Cyber Fraud’

TT, Calcutta, 08.06.24: Kolkata Police have issued an advisory against a fake link that says chief minister Mamata Banerjee has initiated a scheme of free mobile recharge of ₹239.

In reality, the link leads those who click on it into a gaming site.

The police have alerted citizens through their social media handles mentioning that it is a cyber fraud. “Beware of the website http://westbengalfreerecharge. blogspot.com claiming free mobile recharges. This is a Cyber Fraud. Do not click on the link or you might face financial loss. Stay vigilant! Legal action is being taken against miscreants circulating such messages.”

The fake free-charge offer was circulated through WhatsApp and text messages. It mentioned that under the initiative of Mamata Banerjee, one can get a phone recharge of ₹239 for 28 days free by clicking on a link.

A senior police officer in Lalbazar said they came across several people who received these messages.

“We don’t yet know of anyone who has been cheated or defrauded through it till now. We wanted everyone to know that this is a fraud link and one must not click on it,” said the officer.

Another officer said by clicking on the link, a new screen appears and on clicking “OK” the screen is diverted to a page which ultimately leads to a gaming site.

“We have not come across anyone who has clicked on the gaming site or incurred any loss. But it is certainly not a mobile recharge site,” said the second officer.

A probe has been launched to find out the creators of the link and those who circulated it on social media.

A cyber crime cell officer said it was never advisable to click on unknown links even if they offered a discount or freebie.

Politics, West Bengal

Hint at bid by five BJP MPs to join TMC ahead of swearing-in ceremony for 18th Lok Sabha

June 8, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Besides the victors, there are ‘many’ among 30 defeated BJP candidates in Bengal who have been attempting back-channel parleys for induction into Trinamool, said the sources

Meghdeep Bhattacharyya, TT, Calcutta, 08.06.24 : The supreme leadership of the Trinamool Congress, according to sources, is considering the prudence in allowing in two or three of “at least five” of the BJP’s 12 MPs from Bengal, who are in touch with Mamata Banerjee’s party with hopes of switching sides before any of those elected to the 18th Lok Sabha is sworn in.

Besides the victors, there are “many” among 30 defeated BJP candidates in Bengal who have been attempting back-channel parleys for induction into Trinamool, said the sources.

“Two, if not three, of the BJP’s 12 Lok Sabha members from Bengal might actually be allowed in even before anybody is sworn in as an MP this time,” said a source in the senior leadership of Trinamool, aware of deliberations currently underway in the topmost tiers of Bengal’s ruling party.

The swearing-in is likely to take place by mid-June, which is in about a week.

“There are at least five of the 12 who want to jump ship, but a couple of them are waiting to see if they are offered Union cabinet berths by their national leadership, in order to keep them from leaving,” the source added.

If Mamata and Abhishek Banerjee ultimately allow it, the BJP’s national tally would sink to the 230s, from the current 240, and make Narendra Modi — about to be sworn in as a much weakened Prime Minister for his third term — even more dependent on unreliable allies of the NDA to stay ahead of the majority mark of 272 in the Lower House.

Nitish Kumar’s JDU (12 MPs) and N. Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP (16 MPs) are constituents of the NDA whose current tally is 293. The JDU and the TDP had left the NDA before.

“Mind you, there are more than 10 MPs of NDA allies who are already in touch with various INDIA partners in several other states, similarly exploring possibilities of defection,” said a source in Trinamool aware of discussions within the INDIA space in Delhi over the past 72 hours.

“Trinamool is confident of winning bypolls, if necessary. But not everyone is. Such MPs are looking to make use of a grey area in the defection rules, which leave scope for convoluted litigation instead of immediate resignation if the defections take place between the election victory and the swearing-in,” the source said.

With 29 of Bengal’s 42 Lok Sabha members, Trinamool is already the third-largest force in INDIA, after the Congress and the SP which has 37 MPs.

“Kalighat (home of the aunt and the nephew) is considering this only for the sake of the further weakening of the BJP, and not just nationally. In Bengal, they are in the very real danger of slipping to nine or seven MPs even before the monsoon is able to arrive properly,” said a reelected Trinamool MP.

He said there was no reliable indication yet on what would be done with the defeated BJP candidates who wanted to defect, but a handful of them might be accepted on the basis of their usefulness. “Because the top two are looking to strengthen our position ahead of 2026 (the Bengal Assembly elections), and some of them will change equations locally, for Assembly seats,” added the MP.

The BJP state leadership responded with sarcasm to the reports on the possibility of the party’s MPs defecting to Trinamool.

“Trinamool got the number wrong. Instead of saying two or three, they should have said all BJP MPs are yearning to switch to Trinamool,” said BJP’s chief spokesperson for Bengal, Samik Bhattacharya, also a Rajya Sabha member currently in Delhi.

Politics, West Bengal

TMC glare on underperformers, meeting today on accountability with eye on 2026 Assembly polls

June 8, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

A source said the meeting, scheduled at 3pm at Mamata Banerjee’s residence, 30B Harish Chatterjee Street, will take place in the presence of the party’s national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee

Snehamoy Chakraborty, TT, Calcutta, 08.06.24 : Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee will meet the party’s 42 Lok Sabha candidates — both victorious and vanquished — and district presidents and coordinators at her Kalighat residence on Saturday to brief them on the party’s strategies inside and outside Parliament.

A source said the meeting, scheduled at 3pm at Mamata’s residence, 30B Harish Chatterjee Street, will take place in the presence of the party’s national general secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee.

Abhishek has begun playing a larger role at the all-India level after the Lok Sabha polls in which Trinamool bagged 29 of the 42 parliamentary seats in Bengal.

“Apart from congratulating the new MPs and complimenting the defeated candidates for putting up a good fight, Didi and Abhishek are likely to give directions to the party leaders for the future course of action. As the party will begin preparations for the next Assembly elections without wasting time, the meeting will be very important,” said a TMC source.

A senior TMC leader said that Abhishek wants to change the existing practice of political activism by the TMC leadership only ahead of the polls.

Abhishek considers that the battle with the BJP, which has a robust election machinery, cannot be won unless a system is put in place in which Trinamool leaders remain active 24/7 through the year.

“The party wants to keep its leaders active throughout the year…. Political activities will certainly increase during the election period, but there will be no leisure window,” the leader said.

Sources in the TMC’s election management team said that the party has already taken note of the detailed poll outcome, which has revealed that it was ahead in 192 Assembly segments, which was 21 less than the actual number of Assembly seats it had bagged in the 2021 polls.

A senior TMC leader said that though the party is in a celebratory mood after the June 4 results, its leadership is not taking this statistic — the lower number of leads in Assembly segments — lightly.

Abhishek, who met with leaders in most districts before this crucial Lok Sabha election, had warned that if they failed to give a lead to the Lok Sabha nominees from their areas, they would lose their posts.

He had also mentioned in a few review meetings of the election committees that those MLAs who do not manage to give a lead from their constituency, would not be given poll tickets in the 2026 Assembly polls.

He proposed the same strategy for public representatives in rural and civic bodies.

“In Purulia, the Trinamool candidate, Santiram Mahato, was defeated by a margin of 17,000 votes. In Purulia town, Trinamool trailed by over 20,000 votes. The chairman of the Purulia municipality has to accept responsibility for this defeat,” a TMC leader explained.

Amid the buzz on whether the party would take action against its leaders for failing to provide leads in their respective segments, some heads have already begun rolling.

On Friday, the chief and deputy chiefs of four gram panchayats in Hooghly’s Chinsurah submitted their resignations to the local BDO, a party source said.

Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Cal HC allows affected people to submit poll violence plaints with DGP

June 8, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

MP, 7 June 2024, Kolkata: Expressing concern over alleged post-poll violence in certain areas of Bengal following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday issued a directive allowing affected people to submit complaints to the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) via e-mail.

The order came following a petition in the high court seeking direction to police to ensure protection to opposition party workers in the wake of alleged post-poll violence in some places of the state following the elections.

The court cautioned that if the state machinery fails to protect the lives and property of the citizens, appropriate orders will be passed on the next date of hearing.

The division bench presided by Justice Kausik Chanda said the matter will be taken up for hearing again after 10 days.

The bench, also directed that complaints can be e-mailed to the DGP by persons allegedly affected by incidents of post-poll violence, apart from the normal process under the CrPC.

It directed that in the event the complaints disclose any cognizable offence, the DGP will immediately direct the police station concerned to register an FIR under relevant provisions of law.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/cal-hc-allows-affected-people-to-submit-poll-violence-plaints-with-dgp-567065

Politics, West Bengal

Daggers drawn in Bengal BJP after poll debacle as seniors allege inexperienced leaders calling shots

June 8, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

PTI, Kolkata, Jun 6, 2024 : Several West Bengal BJP leaders have blamed the dismal performance of the party in the Lok Sabha polls in the state on “inexperienced leaders” ruling the roost and hinted at “conspiracy” behind the loss of seats where winning chances were high.

The Trinamool Congress led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee swept the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, winning 29 of the 42 seats in the state. The BJP’s tally, on the other hand, dropped to 12 from 18 in 2019.

The outcome has raised questions regarding the party’s campaign strategy, organisational effectiveness, and narrative coherence.

“When those without any proper political experience of fighting elections call the shots in the organisation, this is the result that you get. There has to be some sort of accountability of the state leaders who decided everything in this election,” newly elected BJP MP Saumitra Khan told reporters.

Khan managed to hold on to his Bishnupur seat by a slender margin. The state unit also struggled to reach double digits, winning several seats by narrow margins.

Former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh, who lost from the Bardhaman-Durgapur seat to TMC’s Kirti Azad by nearly 1.38 lakh votes, hinted at a “conspiracy” to ensure his defeat.

“A conspiracy was hatched to ensure that I got defeated or why else would I be sent to Bardhaman-Durgapur. It seems the party had sent me to Bardhaman-Durgapur from Medinipur to ensure that I lost the elections,” he said.

Ghosh, while speaking to a Bengali news channel, said there has been no proper introspection in the party after the 2021 assembly poll debacle.

“No one was held accountable for the loss in 2021. If there is no course correction or introspection even now, this debacle will be repeated in 2026. In the last few years, the party did not have any growth in West Bengal; rather its support base has eroded in the last five years,” he said.

Ghosh, former MP from the Medinipur constituency, was relocated to Bardhaman-Durgapur, a seat where the battle against TMC was perceptively tough, where he replaced outgoing MP SS Ahluwalia.

The latter, in turn, was moved to Asansol. The party’s sitting MLA from Asansol Dakshin, Agnimitra Paul, replaced Ghosh at Medinipur. All three BJP candidates were trounced by their TMC counterparts in the recently concluded polls.

Former BJP MP from Hooghly Locket Chatterjee, who failed to win the seat for the second consecutive time, sought a proper introspection in the party.

West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, although agreed that there is a need for introspection, said the party has increased its vote share by one per cent as compared to the 2021 assembly polls.

“It is not that the party is not moving ahead. Our vote share has increased when compared to the 2021 assembly elections, although it has gone down when compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls,” he said.

The Trinamool Congress registered a 45.77 per cent vote share in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, up by more than two per cent from the 43.7 per cent vote share it received in 2019.

The BJP, on the other hand, registered a vote share of 38.73 per cent in the state this time which, unlike what the pollsters had predicted, was down by over two per cent as compared to the 40.6 per cent votes it received five years ago.

The TMC alleged that the saffron camp has realised that it could not fight the Mamata Banerjee-led party in the state.

“It is good that they have at least realised that they can never fight Mamata Banerjee in the state. I hope they will convey this message to their central leadership,” TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said.

Economy, West Bengal

State government to send letters to vehicle owners asking them to clear pending dues

June 7, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

Those who don’t comply can find their vehicle’s registration locked for non-payment and will not be able to ply on roads

Kinsuk Basu, TT, Calcutta, 07.06.24 : The state government has decided to send letters to individual vehicle owners asking them to clear their pending dues and taxes.

All regional transport offices under the transport department have been asked to prepare a list of tax defaulters and send out letters to the vehicle owners, officials in the department said.

The trigger: the state government wants to explore all possible avenues to improve revenue collection, and transport is among the departments tapped.

Letters to the defaulters would be sent by post and the process would begin soon, officials said.

The letters will specify a time limit within which the dues should be cleared. Those who don’t comply can find their vehicle’s registration locked for non-payment and will not be able to ply on the roads, officials said.

“The regional transport officials have been tasked with the job of shortlisting tax defaulters from the list of registered vehicle owners under their respective jurisdictions,” a transport department official said.

“The data would be culled from the Vahan software that has the names of all registered vehicle owners and an update of their taxes either paid or pending to date.”

The list would include those with their dues pending for the last two years and extend to those who have not paid the taxes for over a decade. While the tax component for commercial vehicles includes permit fees and certificate of fitness, individual car owners have to pay road tax, depending on the time frame they have opted, between five years and a lifetime.

Officials said they have observed that many individual car owners are oblivious to the deadline for paying road tax. By the time they realise, the payable amount becomes so big that many choose to sit on it before disposing of the old vehicles.

“The road tax component for individual car owners is 5.5 per cent of the recorded base value of the vehicle. A year’s delay invites another 5.5 per cent as penalty. Over a few years, this figure can snowball into a significant amount,” the official said.

Transport department officials at the regional transport offices have observed that several cars that are over a dozen years old are no longer in use and their owners are not keen on clearing the pending road tax dues.

Some of them have said they want to either scrap the vehicle or replace it with a new one.

The state government has decided that such owners would be asked to pay up irrespective of whether they are using the vehicles or not.

“It is the government’s revenue and the owners are liable to clear the dues of the state government as law-abiding citizens,” the official said.

Between January and March this year, the transport department had undertaken a similar exercise when letters were sent to 39,600 owners asking them to clear their pending taxes. Officials said they collected over Rs 150 crores from the drive.

Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Calcutta HC expresses concern over post-poll violence allegations in Bengal, issues directive to submit complaints to DGP

June 7, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

The order came following a petition in the high court seeking direction to police to ensure protection to Opposition party workers in the wake of alleged post-poll violence in some places of the state following the elections

PTI, Calcutta, 06.06.24 : Expressing concern over alleged post-poll violence in certain areas of West Bengal following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections, the Calcutta High Court on Thursday issued a directive allowing affected people to submit complaints to the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) via email.

Stating that similar allegations had come up after the 2021 assembly elections, the court asked whether incidents of post-poll violence happened in any other state.

Expressing dismay at reports of post-poll violence following the general elections, the court emphasised the state’s responsibility to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

A division bench comprising justices Kausik Chanda and Apurba Sinha Roy directed that complaints can be sent to the DGP by email by persons who are allegedly affected by incidents of post-poll violence.If the complaint indicated a cognizable offence, the DGP would forward it to the relevant local police station for FIR registration.

The petitioner claimed that affected individuals were hesitant to visit local police stations to file complaints.

The court instructed the DGP to provide a report within 10 days detailing the number of complaints received, FIRs registered, and actions taken.

State counsels argued that the incidents mentioned by the petitioner might not be directly linked to the elections.

Following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha election process, the Election Commission decided to maintain a substantial presence of central forces in the state for some more time.

In August 2021, a five-judge bench of the high court had ordered a CBI probe into all cases of alleged murder and crimes against women, including rape or attempted rape, related to post-election violence in West Bengal following the state assembly elections. PTI AMR RBT NN The bench, in response to PILs seeking an independent probe into alleged violence following the assembly elections, had also ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three IPS officers of the West Bengal cadre to oversee investigations into all other cases.

Regional, West Bengal

Proposal for building 11 new jumbo sheds sent to govt

June 7, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

MP, 7 June 2024, Alipurduar: A proposal for the construction of 11 new Pilkhanas (elephant rest sheds) for Kunki (trained captive elephants) has been sent to the state Forest department by the Jaldapara National Park division.

Once the green signal is given by the state Forest department, the concrete-made, tin-roofed Pilkhanas will be constructed. According to the Forest department, a total of 11 points have been selected deep in the forest, adjacent to the beat offices, range offices and the watchtowers in Jaldapara National Park.

Many of the old Pilkhanas have been destroyed by storms and rainwater. Then there are Pilkhanas where more than two elephants cannot be housed at a time in Jaldapara.

The Pilkhanas that are to be constructed this time will be big enough to house three elephants each. Similarly, it will be possible to keep six elephants together in the larger Pilkhanas. This will ensure that elephants and mahouts do not face any problems during storms and rain. Being made of concrete will make each shed last longer.
Holong in the Jaldapara National Park has the largest Pilkhana in the state. This time, every small and large Pilkhana will be modeled after the Holong Pilkhana. Currently, there are a record 87 elephants in Jaldapara to protect the park, especially the one-horned rhinos.

There are about 10 small and medium-sized Pilkhanas in Jaldapara National Park. This number is not adequate.

If 11 more Pilkhanas are built, it will greatly benefit forest workers, mahouts and Patawalas (elephant caretakers). After the construction of the 11 Pilkhanas, additional Pilkhanas will be built in the next phase.
Navjeet De, Assistant Wildlife Warden of Jaldapara National Park, stated: “We have already sent proposals for a total of 11 new Pilkhanas. Once the proposal is approved, the work will commence in a step-by-step manner.

If each shed is made of concrete, there is almost no chance of damage. Also, each shed will have facilities to house more elephants.”

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/proposal-for-building-11-new-jumbo-sheds-sent-to-govt-566903

Politics, West Bengal

Dilip Ghosh’s oblique statement sparks speculations on inner-party factions in Bengal BJP

June 7, 2024 Kalimpong News Leave a comment

PTI, Kolkata, Jun 6, 2024 : At a time when fissures within the BJP West Bengal unit have started to show in the wake of the party’s ‘disappointing’ performance in the parliamentary polls in the state, a social media post of veteran leader Dilip Ghosh sparked speculations on whether the ‘old-versus-new’ debate is about to get reignited.

Ghosh on Thursday posted on X a quotation of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee: “Keep one thing in mind, even one old Karyakarta of the party should not be neglected. If necessary, let ten new Karyakartas get separated. Because the old workers are the guarantee of our victory. Trusting new Karyakartas too quickly is not advisable.”

The post came in the wake of Ghosh’s shocking defeat from the Bardhaman-Durgapur seat in the hands of TMC’s Kirti Azad by nearly 1.38 lakh votes.

Ghosh also told reporters that it was now established that sending him to contest from his old constituency to a new one was “a mistake”.

While the BJP had publicly proclaimed its target of winning 30 Lok Sabha constituencies or more from Bengal this time, it had to ultimately settle for 12 seats, six less than its 2019 tally.

Ghosh, former party state president and MP from the Medinipur constituency, was relocated to Bardhaman-Durgapur, a seat where the battle against TMC was perceptively tough, where he replaced outgoing MP SS Ahluwalia. The latter, in turn, was moved to Asansol. The party’s sitting MLA from Asansol Dakshin, Agnimitra Paul, replaced Ghosh at Medinipur.

All three BJP candidates were trounced by their TMC counterparts in the recently-concluded polls.

The reshuffle of candidates, though finalised by the party’s central election committee, is widely believed to have been brought about at the instance of the state’s leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who jumped ship from the TMC ahead of the 2021 state polls.

Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Ghosh said, “It’s established now that the decision to send me to fight from Durgapur was a mistake.”

“The party trusted me with the job of winning from Durgapur, which I failed. We will look into what went wrong. But I had come to this party empty-handed and the fortunes have turned a full circle with me getting empty-handed once more. Let’s see where things go from here,” he told the media elsewhere.

Ghosh, a leader with strong RSS roots, who had earlier shied away from questioning the party’s decision to change his seat and maintained he did his best to overcome the fresh challenge, sounded out of sync with his previous statements for the first time.

Speaking on the development, senior TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said, “I have always considered Dilip Ghosh a true BJP man. It’s unfortunate for him that his party failed to make a proper assessment of his qualities. It’s good for us since we defeated him but he deserved better from his party.”

Banerjee added, in tangential reference to Adhikari, that he was “certain” that the saffron party under its current state leadership would wither away during the 2026 state polls.

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