ABECA demands probe into Haldia energy's electoral bond purchases over tariff impact concerns
The SUCI (Communist)-backed body has urged the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission (WBERC) to examine whether the purchase of electoral bonds by Haldia Energy Limited (HEL) could result in additional financial burden on consumers.
According to the Election Commission of India's website, HEL a company under the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group purchased 395 electoral bonds worth ₹377 crore in 2019. In a letter addressed to the WBERC Chairman, ABECA alleged that it had identified several lapses in the Annual Performance Review (APR) orders of both HEL and CESC. CESC, also part of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, is the sole electricity distributor for nearly 40 lakh consumers in and around Kolkata.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
14 hours ago
- The Print
Legs hacked by Left supporters, how RS entrant Sadanandan's case played out in the courts
Sadanandan, a former SFI member, was attacked by several men in January 1994, years after he left the communist party for the RSS. Sadanandan lost both his legs in the attack near Kannur district's Thalassery. The police arrested 12 people, all of them with links to the Communist party. Eight were convicted, while four were acquitted due to the lack of evidence. Nearly a decade later, Sadanandan's nomination to Rajya Sabha is a reminder of Kerala's long history of political violence and revenge murders, most of which involve the CPIM and the BJP. Thiruvananthapuram: At a rally in the run-up to the 2016 Assembly polls, Prime Minister Modi held up the hand of the BJP candidate from Kannur's Koothuparambu constituency, C. Sadanandan Master, highlighting the 'brutality committed by the communists' in the State. According to court documents, the attackers also set off a bomb to create an atmosphere of terror in the area. Analysts say that almost three decades later, the BJP is trying to use Sadanandan's Rajya Sabha entry to highlight Kerala's history of political killings, especially in Kannur district. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his life as an epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice. 'Violence and intimidation couldn't deter his spirit towards national development. His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable,' the Prime Minister wrote on X. However, Joseph C. Mathew, a state-based political analyst, said: 'I don't think it's going to help the BJP in any way. They may try to create a parallel history and ideological base. They might have been victims of violence, but it was a local tussle and not for a larger cause,' Mathew said. Appeal for enhanced punishment turned down In 2014, Sadanandan approached the Kerala HC asking that the punishment for his attackers be increased, but the court turned it down in January this year, saying such an appeal could only be made by the state government. 'In light of the gravity of the offence committed, the sentence of seven years appears to be very light. However, the State, for reasons best known to them, has not filed an appeal,' the Kerala High Court observed while dismissing his appeal. However, the court enhanced the compensation payable by the eight convicted men from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 each. Pronouncing the verdict, the Kerala High Court said the accused as well as the Marxist party workers were maintaining a hostile attitude towards Sadanandan since he left the party. Quoting the trial court's judgment, the High Court noted that Sadanandan, 'a charismatic and efficient leader, was making his mark in the locality, and his efforts helped in spreading and strengthening the roots of his party in the area,' which the rival party could not accept. Of the accused, some had previously worked closely with Sadanandan in the party. The Principal Assistant Sessions Judge, Thalassery, sentenced the convicted to seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000. Though the convicted men approached the court challenging the verdict, their appeal was dismissed in 2013. The accused were found guilty under the charges of IPC section 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 342 (wrongful confinement), 326 (grievous hurt with dangerous weapons), and 307 (attempt to murder). 'The attack seems to have been premeditated and well planned. As noticed earlier and at the risk of repetition, it needs to be noted that not only had A1 to A8 hacked PW1 (Sadanandan) repeatedly leading to both his legs being severed, they also made sure that nobody approached PW1 to rescue/save him. This makes the offences all the more grave/severe,' the court observed. Attack and counter-attack Incidentally, Sadanandan's attack was followed by the murder of an SFI worker named K.V. Sudheesh in Kannur the same year. 'If I hadn't lost my legs, Sudheesh would not have died, that's the analysis. If you ask me if it's right, it's not when we think about humanity. But it was a normal reaction from the workers when they saw their district leader had been amputated. That might be the emotion behind Sudheesh's death,' Sadanandan later said in an interview given to local Malayalam TV channel Asianet News. As per court documents, one Janardhanan, a CPI(M) worker, was also attacked at Mattannur shortly after the attack, in which Sadanandan himself was an accused. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Kerala reported 42 political murders between 2016 and 2022. Of the total, 15 happened in 2016. Nationwide, this was the third highest after Jharkhand (92) and Bihar (85). (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: 26/11 prosecutor, ex-foreign secretary & Kerala poll violence victim: Stories of 4 Rajya Sabha nominees
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Severe hostel crunch affects thousands of students in Dharwad district
Pic: Thousands of students are deprived of a seat at government hostels in Dharwad district. (Pic for representation only) Hubballi: Dharwad, known as 'Vidyakashi' for its academic atmosphere, is facing an acute shortage of govt hostels. While 99 hostels currently exist, they are inadequate for the lakhs of students who flock here from across north Karnataka. Last year alone, over 67,000 students were denied hostel accommodation. The district administration has now proposed 44 new hostels—22 each for boys and girls—to address the gap. Gangadhar Badiger, Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), stated that the scarcity of hostels is an old issue in the district. "Existing seats are being allotted only on the recommendation of elected representatives," he alleged. Shashikala Meti, Secretary, AIDSO, Dharwad district, observed that girls are major victims of the situation. "Denial of seats for girls is discouraging them from getting a better education. Many of them are travelling from distant towns and villages by changing 2-3 buses. There has been a common opinion that girls can travel by bus utilising the Shakti scheme," she analysed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cách giao dịch ETH/USD mà không cần nắm giữ Ether IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Sources in the district administration said that last year 35,255 students applied for hostel seats. "Currently, 15,285 seats are allotted in the existing 99 hostels. However, the number of colleges, including PU, polytechnic, degree, vocational, and universities, is 245, and 99,174 students were admitted there in 2024-25. As many as 18,910 students were denied seat in hostels. This year, the number may go up by 30%," they added. Deputy commissioner Divya Prabhu GRJ said that a detailed proposal is submitted to the govt and they are waiting for the sanction of additional hostels.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
As political parties condemn attack on Maratha leader Pravin Gaikwad, Sambhaji Brigade plans ‘befitting reply'
A day after activists blackened the face of Maratha leader Pravin Gaikwad, who is the chief of the Sambhaji Brigade in Maharashtra, the outfit said it would give a 'befitting reply' to the attack. Political parties, including the BJP, have condemned the incident. Activists of the Shivdharma Foundation, which has opposed the name of Sambhaji Brigade claiming that it made an ekeri ullekh (singular reference) to Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, allegedly carried out the attack led by BJP worker and Hindutva activist Deepak Sitaram Kate in Solapur's Akkalkot. They demanded that the outfit be renamed as Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Brigade. 'We will be giving a befitting reply to attack on Pravin dada,' said Manoj Akhare, who is the state president of Sambhaji Brigade's political wing. 'They have started it, we will end it… Sambhaji Brigade will respond in its own style,' Gaikwad said soon after the attack. The outfit is holding a meeting of its members in the Shivajinagar area on Monday afternoon to decide the future course of action. 'We are all agitated about what happened yesterday. Pravin dada is sober, polite and a down-to-earth leader. He has always taken along all sections of the society. He has never said anything that would hurt anyone's sentiments. Yet he was attacked in the most brutal manner, said Lahu Landge, working president of the Maratha Seva Sangh. 'Today, we will be deciding on a befitting reply to those who perpetrated this act,' Landge added. Known to be close to Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Gaikwad is the state president of Sambhaji Brigade's social wing Maratha Seva Sangh. On Sunday, he blamed the state government for the attack and claimed that it was a part of a 'big conspiracy' to kill him while comparing the attackers with the killers of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Communist leader Govind Pansare and journalist Gauri Lankesh. BJP distances itself from attacker; NCP(SP), AAP condemn incident While the alleged attacker is reportedly a BJP member, the party has distanced itself from him. Former BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, 'We strongly condemn the attack. The BJP has no relation with the attacker.' Reacting to the incident, Baramati MP and NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule said in a social media post, 'I strongly protest the attack on Sambhaji Brigade state chief Pravindada Gaikwad. He has played a pivotal role in grooming budding industrialists. He strongly believes in the ideology of Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar. He has exposed the wrongdoings of several people. This has angered certain elements which resorted to attacking and manhandling him.' Sule said that when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was insulted by people like former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Rahul Solapurkar, Prashant Koratkar and so on, these attackers remained silent. 'These attackers are not Shiv premi or Shiv bhakts, they are goons. They have a perverted mindset,' she said. Sule added that the state government should investigate and find out the perpetrators behind the attack on Gaikwad. 'There is a need to expose the masterminds behind this brutal attack,' she said. The government is trying to muzzle progressive voices and the attack on thinkers like Gaikwad is a part of that chain, Sule stated. 'The state government should immediately put these perverts behind bars. MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) should be imposed on them,' she said, while extending support to Gaikwad. Mukund Kirdat, spokesperson for the Pune unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said, 'We strongly condemn the attack on Pravin dada Gaikwad in Akkalkot. Certain elements are trying to deliberately spread hatred among the masses in Maharashtra. They want to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state. Maharashtra's communal harmony is in danger as those who indulged in breaking parties are protecting such perverted mindsets.' Kirdat said Gaikwad has been relentlessly working to encourage youngsters to become industrialists. 'When he is working for the society and today's youngsters, certain elements are trying to create impediments in his path. But we are sure that people like Pravin dada will continue to carry forward their good work, unmindful of such attacks,' he said. 'Dastardly attack,' says Congress Congress spokesperson Gopal Tiwari also strongly condemned the 'dastardly attack' on Gaikwad. 'The way he was attacked, anything could have happened. They dragged him out of the car and smeared dangerous black oil on his face. He could have suffocated… Luckily, a few volunteers saved his life. Otherwise, the attackers had dangerous intentions. The police should immediately arrest them and charge them under strong sections. They should also probe the mastermind behind this. It seems there was a bigger conspiracy,' Tiwari said. Tiwari said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the Home Minister, should take moral responsibility over the incident and resign. 'When such a big event was taking place in Akkalkot, why were the police missing? Why was no security ensured? This is a failure of the state's law and order machinery. As state home minister, Fadnavis should take up moral responsibility and quit. Such negligence by the police has the potential to disturb the law and order situation in Maharashtra. The Maratha community is not going to remain idle, and the repercussions of the attack will be felt state-wide,' he said. Rahul Dambale of the Republican Yuva Morcha said , 'I have known Pravin dada Gaikwad since 2000. He belongs to the royal family of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad. He explained to the people and the world the true history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. 'It is this ideology professed by people like Pravin dada Gaikwad which has ensured that Maharashtra has remained violence-free,' he said.
