Trinamool burning midnight oil for opposition unity against SIR in different states
Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee said this in his address at the virtual meeting of all the INDIA bloc allies on Saturday, sources in Trinamool Congress said.
In his address, party sources said, Banerjee said, "40 lakh voters were added between the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the Maharashtra Assembly elections to ensure the BJP's victory."
"Our general secretary pointed out that after playing the same tricks now in Bihar, the next target is West Bengal, which is going for Assembly elections next year. He pointed out that an orchestrated attempt is underway to delete the names of genuine voters in West Bengal from the voters' list. Thereafter, he stressed the unity of the INDIA bloc allies to raise a cohesive opposition to the special intensive review," said a senior leader of the party.
According to him, in the meeting, Banerjee also suggested that all the INDIA bloc allies should raise questions regarding the recent Pahalgam incident of tourists being killed by terrorists.
"Banerjee argued that when it was clear that intelligence failure was the main reason behind the ghastly massacre, why the Union government extended the tenure of the Director of the Intelligence Bureau," the Trinamool Congress leader said.
He also stressed that all the INDIA bloc allies should raise the question on the floor of the Parliament on "why Indians had to depend on US President Donald Trump's social media account to get updates on the tensions between India and Pakistan in the post-Pahalgam scenario".
He also said that the opposition allies should raise the question of "why Pegasus software is being used against the opposition when the same could have been used to curb terrorism".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
40 minutes ago
- NDTV
PM Modi To Visit UK, Maldives From July 23-26
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a four-day visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from Wednesday to shore up overall bilateral ties and formalise the landmark India-UK free trade deal that is set to pave the way for doubling two-way trade by 2030 from current USD 60 billion. PM Modi will first travel to the UK on a two-day trip and then will visit the Maldives primarily to grace the island nation's Independence Day celebrations as "guest of honour", according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The prime minister's visit to the Maldives from July 25 to 26 is seen as important as it marks a significant reset of bilateral ties that had come under severe strain after Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, became president in November 2023. In the first leg of his trip, PM Modi will visit the UK from July 23 to 24 to hold wide-ranging talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the MEA said on Sunday. India and the UK are expected to formally sign the free trade deal during PM Modi's visit to London, people familiar with the matter said, adding the British side has completed the administrative process for inking of the pact. In May, India and the UK sealed the free trade agreement (FTA) that is expected to benefit 99 per cent Indian exports from tariff and will make it easier for British firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India besides boosting the overall trade basket. Along with the FTA -- the biggest the UK has done since leaving the European Union -- the two sides also sealed a double contribution convention. It provides for exemption for employers of Indian workers from paying social security contributions in the UK. The trade deal, firmed up after three years of negotiations, is expected to ensure comprehensive market access for Indian goods across all sectors and India will gain from tariff elimination on about 99 per cent of tariff lines (product categories) covering almost 100 per cent of the trade values, according to officials. A British readout had said Indian tariffs will be slashed, locking in reductions on 90 per cent of tariff lines, with 85 per cent of these becoming fully tariff-free within a decade. The FTA is set to double bilateral trade by 2030 from the current level of USD 60 billion, the officials said. PM Modi will hold wide ranging discussions with PM Starmer on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations besides exchanging views on issues of regional and global importance, the MEA said, announcing the two-nation trip. It will be PM Modi's fourth visit to the UK. The MEA said he is also expected to call on King Charles III. "During the visit, the two sides will also review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties," the MEA said in a statement. From London, Modi will travel to the Maldives primarily to grace the island nation's 60th anniversary of its Independence on July 26. It will be Modi's third visit to the Maldives, and the first visit by an Indian head of state or government since Muizzu assumed office in November 2023. PM Modi and President Muizzu will hold discussions on issues of mutual interest and take stock of the progress in the implementation of the India-Maldives joint vision for a 'Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership'. The joint vision was adopted during Muizzu's visit to India in October last year. "The visit reflects the importance India attaches to its maritime neighbour, Maldives, which continues to hold a special place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)," the MEA said. It said the visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to further deepen and strengthen the close bilateral relationship. PTI MPB KVK KVK
United News of India
42 minutes ago
- United News of India
PM Modi to visit UK and the Maldives next week
New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay official visits to the United Kingdom and the Maldives next week and hold discussions with the two countries' leaders on issues of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs said today. PM Modi will undertake his fourth visit to the United Kingdom July 23-24 at the invitation of his UK counterpart Keith Starmer, the MEA said in a statement here. During the two-day visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold wide-ranging discussions with Starmer on the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance. PM Modi is also expected to call on the UK King Charles III. During the visit, the two sides will also review the progress of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with a specific focus on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties. In the second leg of his trip, PM Modi will visit the Maldives July 25–26 on the invitation of the President of the Republic of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. This will be the Indian Prime Minister's third visit to Maldives, and the first visit by a Head of Government to Maldives during Muizzu's Presidency, the MEA said. The Prime Minister will be the 'Guest of Honour' at the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Independence of the Maldives on July 26. During the two-day visit, PM Modi will meet Muizzu and discuss issues of mutual interest. The two leaders will also take stock of the progress in the implementation of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a 'Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership', adopted during the State Visit of the President of Maldives to India in October 2024. The visit reflects the importance India attaches to its maritime neighbour, Maldives, which continues to hold a special place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, the MEA said. The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to further deepen and strengthen the close bilateral relationship, it added. UNI SSP ARN
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Like CPM, BJP bars people from voting: Mamata
Kolkata: Like in the past, now did not let anyone vote, CM on Sunday, on the eve of the Martyrs' Day rally. While Banerjee did not explicitly refer to EC's special intensive revision in Bihar, she criticised "torture" of Bengali-speakers in BJP-governed states. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Addressing Trinamool netas and workers at Esplanade, Banerjee said: "The democracy that you see in Bengal today did not exist earlier. In Kolkata, all buildings were shut during CPM's tenure so that people were unable to vote. We held a massive protest. CPM did not have the power to stop us, so they opened fire. Thirteen people died, and over 200 were injured." The CM added: "The demand was simple — no ID card, no vote. Based on the report of an observer who was sent here, this 'no ID, no vote' rule was implemented, and people got back their right to vote. We struggled a lot for that." "In 'double-engine' states, BJP does not allow people to vote. As for CPM, we have already exposed and defeated them. Yet, they are still making big speeches on social media," she said. On Bengali-speaking migrants in other states being labelled 'Bangladeshi', the CM said: "They torture people from Bengal just for speaking in Bengali. We respect people of all states." Questioning opposition to the July 21 rally, Banerjee said: "For 33 years, we have been holding this programme here because many people sacrificed their lives at this very place. We organise this one event here each year. Even that bothers some people. What happens to their concerns when they hold Nabanna Abhiyan without police permission?" Large posters of the CM were put up across roads leading to Victoria House, and gates constructed on the way to Esplanade. Cameras fixed below the dais captured footage of supporters arriving. Trinamool netas from districts started dropping in by the afternoon. Banerjee came to the venue around 6pm, and the crowd started shouting "Didi, Didi". She waved as 'Joy Bangla' slogans filled the air and shook hands with a few supporters. The 100-metre stretch on Central Avenue from Dorina crossing to Chandni Chowk metro station was dotted with FAM4TMC members dressed in yellow T-shirts and caps carrying posters and flags demanding a PM from Bengal. They raised the slogan 'Bolchhe Banglar Janata, Pradhanmantri Mamata' while streaming live on social media.
