Not fighting Muslims, plurality must be saved, says new Bengal BJP prez Samik
2
Kolkata: BJP "isn't fighting Muslims... and the state's plurality needs to be saved", Samik Bhattacharya said on Thursday after taking over as the party's new state president.
"There is a conscious effort to divide Bengal on basis of religion.
The minority community should understand that we are not fighting against them. We are fighting against the forces that shove stones in their boys' hands.
We want to replace stones with books. We want to replace the swords in their hands with pens," Bhattacharya said in his first speech after being unanimously elected state BJP's president.
Bhattacharya's line contrasts sharply with the shrill anti-Muslim pitch adopted by his BJP colleague and assembly opposition leader, Suvendu Adhikari, and comes after his party's abject defeat in the Kaliganj assembly bypoll.
Kaliganj is a Muslim-majority constituency in Nadia. BJP was the only party that saw its vote share dip (from 31% in 2021 to 28.2% now), prompting Trinamool to emphasise how BJP had failed to hold on to even its majority-community votes.
You Can Also Check:
Kolkata AQI
|
Weather in Kolkata
|
Bank Holidays in Kolkata
|
Public Holidays in Kolkata
It remains to be seen whether Bhattacharya's colleagues in the party keep up their anti-Muslim pitch even as he takes a conciliatory approach, which would indicate the party has hit on a good cop-bad cop strategy with Bengal's 2.5 crore-odd Muslim voters.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
"Look at Bengal's villages. Morchhe Musalman, marchhe Musalman (Muslims are killing and Muslims are dying). Who is responsible for this situation? Those who do not like the BJP may not vote for us. But they should accept that 90% of the people killed in the last three years have been Muslims," he said.
"The BJP wants visarjan and Muharram processions to walk side by side without any malice against each other. We do not want riots.
We want the minority youth to know Bengal through the eyes of Syed Mujtaba Ali and Kazi Nazrul Islam, not terrorists. We want to save Bengal's plurality," Bhattacharya said, harping on communal amity with the entire Bengal BJP leadership and former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on the dais.
"Bengal's voters know that only the BJP can defeat the Trinamool. The binary, created in 2019 Lok Sabha, was intact even in Kaliganj. The Trinamool will have to go now," he said, adding: "People have rejected Mamata Banerjee and want investment and jobs. People will have the last word this time."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
From Free Power to EVs: Punjab's power demand set to soar to 1.26 LMU by 2036.
With box attached in CCI Chandigarh: Electricity demand in Punjab is projected to soar to 1,26,347 million units (MU) by financial year 2036, driven by industrial expansion, increased household consumption, and a sharp rise in electric vehicle (EV) adoption. A new study urges the state to undergo a major energy transition — cutting dependence on fossil fuels, ramping up renewables, and upgrading infrastructure — to avoid power shortages and environmental setbacks. State's industrial ambition are still tied to old-school energy. The report, 'Punjab Roadmap 2036: Clean Energy Transition', published by the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), projects a 68% increase from the state's current demand of 75,316 MU in FY 2025. Peak power demand is expected to rise from 16,058 MW in 2025 to 27,040 MW by 2036. Punjab has already experienced power deficits in FY 2022 and 2023 — 404 MU and 330 MU respectively — following a post-Covid industrial revival and the rollout of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt's 300-unit free power scheme for households. Despite having an installed generation capacity of 14,861 MW, the state heavily depends on thermal power, which accounts for 56% of its energy mix. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Solar and wind make up just 18%, while hydro contributes 23%. Nuclear and other non-conventional sources remain marginal. The study calls for capacity additions of 26,372 MW by the 2036 fiscal, including 7,451 MW of energy storage through pumped hydro and battery systems to handle the intermittency of renewable energy sources. Electric vehicles are expected to further reshape Punjab's energy landscape. From just 75 EVs registered in 2017, the number rose to 25,492 in 2023, and is projected to reach 51 lakh by 2036. EV adoption is forecast to push electricity demand up by 9,087 MU. By 2030, EVs are expected to account for 30% of all new vehicle registrations, rising to 60% by FY 2036. The roadmap calls for grid infrastructure upgrades to accommodate this shift, along with public and private EV charging networks. Renewable shift, nuclear support To reduce dependence on fossil fuels, the report recommends a 67% renewable energy share by 2036 under a 'clean energy scenario', up from 46% in the 'business-as-usual' model. This shift could cut carbon emissions by 41%, reduce power purchase costs by 7.7%, and eliminate the need for about 7% of new power plants. The state is also advised to procure 2,637 MW of nuclear power to ensure consistent supply, during peak demand periods or low renewable output particularly. Land, rooftop solar, & farming Punjab's reliance on agriculture and its limited availability of non-fertile land pose challenges for large-scale renewable projects. To address this, the report urges the identification of barren or unused land for solar and wind farms. As of April 2025, the state had only 454 MW of installed rooftop solar capacity — far below potential. The roadmap suggests accelerating rooftop solar programmes, deploying smart meters, and enforcing Energy Conservation Building Codes. In the agriculture sector, the study recommends replacing 22% of inefficient irrigation pump sets with energy-efficient, star-rated alternatives by 2036, supported by a buy-back and subsidy scheme. Solarisation of pump sets is also highlighted as a key strategy to reduce the state's energy burden. Officials say the clean energy path requires higher initial investment but promises long-term economic, environmental, and energy security benefits. Punjab's energy transformation, experts say, will depend not only on technology and investment — but on political will and public participation to power the shift toward a cleaner, more resilient grid. For in the end, it's not just wires and will, but politics, people, and the power bill. box Two Pathways, One Decision The study outlines two scenarios for Punjab's energy future:- >> Business-as-Usual | 46% renewables, 54% fossil fuels, with demand reaching 1,26,347 MU and emissions at 41 MtCO2 >> Clean Energy Scenario | 67% renewables, 33% fossil fuels, with demand moderated to 1,22,271 MU and emissions cut to 30 MtCO2 — a 4% annual decline box Key Recommendations >> Identify non-fertile land for solar/wind projects >> Invest in 7,451 MW of energy storage (pumped hydro + battery) >> Procure 2,637 MW of nuclear energy >> Scale rooftop solar, smart metering, and green building codes >> Introduce green finance, buy-back of inefficient farm pumps MSID:: 122251659 413 |
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Russia pounds Kyiv with largest drone attack, hours after Trump-Putin call
KYIV: Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, killing one person, injuring at least 23 and damaging buildings across the capital hours after US President Trump spoke to Russia's Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday. Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine's Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles. Families huddled in underground metro stations for shelter and acrid smoke hung over the city centre. Kyiv's military administration chief said on Friday afternoon a body had been found in the wreckage of one of the strike sites. Outside a high-rise apartment block damaged by a drone, residents stood around surveying the scene as the clean-up job began. Some cried. Others looked on silently. "I woke up to the sound of explosions, first the Shahed drones started buzzing, and then the explosions began," said 40-year-old resident Maria Hilchenko. "Then people started screaming outside. The explosions from the Shaheds kept coming." Shahed drones are an Iranian design, a variant of which is now manufactured in Russia. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Let boAt bring the cinema home Boat Buy Now Undo President Zelensky called the attack "deliberately massive and cynical", noting the first sirens blared as news came in of Putin and Trump's call. Later on Friday Zelensky spoke to Trump and the pair agreed to work on increasing Kyiv's capability to "defend the sky". He added they discussed joint defence production, as well as joint purchases and investments. The US has paused some deliveries of missiles amid concerns about low stockpiles. US outlet Axios reported, citing unnamed sources, that the call lasted around 40 min, and that Trump told Zelensky he would check what US weapons due to be sent to Ukraine, if any, had been put on hold. Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv's 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed. Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said a Chinese component had been found in one of the Shahed drones attacking Kyiv. Russian airstrikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks. Russia's defence ministry said drone factories, a military airfield and an oil refinery were among targets it struck in Kyiv with what it called high-precision weapons. Ukraine did not give details. Trump said that the call with Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, and the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict's "root causes". The decision by Washington to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes. Germany said it is in talks on buying Patriot air defence systems to bridge the gap. (This is a Reuters story)
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
HC dismisses Hindu side plea seeking use of ‘disputed structure' in place of Mathura's ‘Shahi Idgah mosque'
1 2 Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court on Friday dismissed an application moved by the Hindu side seeking court direction that in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah title dispute case, the word 'disputed structure' be used at the place of 'Shahi Idgah mosque'. Earlier, during the court proceedings, an application was moved in original suit no. 13 of 2023 with prayer to direct the stenographer concerned to use word 'disputed structure' in place of order 'Shahi Idgah Mosque' in the entire further proceedings of this original suit along with other connected matters. The application was supported by an affidavit of advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh. Subsequently, the written objection was filed on behalf of Muslim side, who are defendants in the suit. The Hindu side had submitted before the court that the Shahi Idgah mosque in Mathura was constructed on the exact site that is "historically recognized" as the original birthplace of Lord Krishna, one of the most revered deities in Hinduism. The site holds immense religious significance for Hindus, as it is widely believed to be the precise location where Lord Krishna was born. However, on the other hand, it was submitted on behalf of the Muslim side that the present application has been filed with an intent to abuse the process of law. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 안구건조 걱정 없이 안전하게 강남아이원스안과 지금 신청하기 Undo According to them, the mosque has been in existence for the last over 400 years and its existence is sought to be undermined by the present application, which is not permissible under law. The trial of the suit is yet to commence. Allowing the present application will amount to pre-determination that Shahi Masjid Idgah is not a mosque, at an early stage, in the suit. While dismissing the application on Friday, Justice Ram Manohar Narain Mishra observed, "A bare perusal of the pleading of the parties in the suit reveals that there is dispute between the parties with regard to the site where Shahi Masjid Idgah is existing. Parties have claimed their respective title over suit property. Therefore, it may be termed as property in dispute." "In pleadings of the parties also, the structure in question is referred as Shahi Masjid Idgah and at this stage, where hearing of the suits is yet to commence and even issues have not been framed, it is neither desirable nor expedient to issue any direction to stenographer, as prayed by the applicants, to refer Shahi Masjid Idgah in judgments and orders as 'disputed structure'. There is no dispute with regard to identity of property in suit, therefore, the prayer made in the application cannot be granted at this stage," the court further said.
