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India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Controversial BJP MLA T Raja Singh quits party amid Telangana leadership tussle
In a setback to the Telangana BJP, Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh quit the party on Monday, expressing strong disappointment over media reports that Ramchander Rao is set to be appointed as the state BJP his resignation letter addressed to Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy, Raja Singh said the decision reflects a 'betrayal' of lakhs of karyakartas who stood by the party through thick and decision has come as a shock, not just to me, but to lakhs of karyakartas, leaders, and voters who have supported the BJP. Telangana was ready for BJP to form its first government, but the wrong leadership choice has put that in jeopardy,' Raja Singh wrote. Calling out what he termed as a leadership imposed by 'individuals running the show from behind the curtain,' he alleged that personal interests had prevailed over the party's interests in Telangana. 'I cannot stay silent or pretend that all is well,' he his letter, Raja Singh clarified that while he is stepping away from the BJP, his commitment to Hindutva ideology and the service of Dharma remains unchanged. 'I will continue to raise my voice and stand with the Hindu community with even greater strength,' he it a difficult but necessary decision, he said, 'The silence of many should not be mistaken for agreement. I speak not just for myself, but for countless karyakartas and voters who today feel let down.'Raja Singh also made a direct appeal to the central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and party general secretary BL Santhosh, urging them to reconsider the current leadership situation in Telangana. 'Telangana is ready for the BJP, but we must choose the right leadership to honour that opportunity and not let it slip away,' his letter Singh signed off the letter with 'Jai Hind. Jai Shri Ram.'He has often courted controversy for his remarks. In April this year, during a Ram Navami procession in Hyderabad, he said the amended Waqf law would put an end to what he called 'land jihad' in the also used the platform to reiterate his demand for India to be declared a 'Hindu Rashtra,' claiming it was the 'demand of every Hindu.'- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Telangana
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
With Digha as Rathyatra focal point, Bengal showcases its brand of peaceful religiosity
1 2 Kolkata: Rathyatras held across Bengal on Friday with the one at Digha Jagannath temple at its epicentre showcased the non-aggressive tradition of the Hindu religion — distinct from the Ram Navami processions in Howrah and elsewhere in the state marked with the brandishing of swords and lathis. Across Bengal, the number of chariots swelled this time — from one or two to six and seven at each place — and all the rallies recorded huge footfall. This was seen not only at Digha, but at all traditional spots — Cooch Behar's Madan Mohan temple, Malda, East Midnapore's Mahishadal, Sutahata, Tamluk and Mecheda, Mahesh and Chandernagore in Hooghly, Barasat in North 24 Parganas, Maheshtala in South 24 Parganas, and of course Kolkata. The festive spirit united all, across gender and social strata, as chariots rolled down the streets. While Dona Ganguly is set to perform Odishi with her troupe in the 'Ulto Rath' mela on July 3, women in Cooch Behar danced to tunes of DJ as they scrambled to touch the ropes of the rath. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata In Mahishadal, royal family member Haraprasad Garg said the organisers were overwhelmed with the participation of women and youngsters at the event this year. "The crowd this year has broken all records. The participation of women was significant. I have come to know that some were injured in a stampede during the rathyatra," Garg said. Mahesh Jagannath Temple chief priest Piyal Adhikari endorsed the view. "The GT Road stretch close to our temple was choked as people who could not make it to Digha came to us," he said. In Bengal, where people breathe politics into every incident, men in para addas are now busy calculating which party — Trinamool or BJP — would gain out of religious processions in the state. As of now, no Chinese wall separates those participating in the Ram Navami processions and Friday's Rathyatras. In fact, there is an overlap of participants — the bottom line being they are all Hindus. It is believed that Lord Jagannath comes down from the temple during this time of the year and goes for an annual visit to his birthplace along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra. The servitors to this occasion are dalapatis, non-Brahmins who break the rigorous caste hierarchy. During his journey, Lord Jagannath halts at his maternal aunt's place and has sweet pancakes. The sweet story mingles beautifully with Bengal's culture, showcasing how Lord Jagannath was Bengal's own. Just like Lord Rama ruling the hearts of those from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, through culture and legends. The Bengal CM walked the extra mile by taking Lord Jagannath to remote villages from where people couldn't reach the yatras. Mamata Banerjee has sent a photograph of Lord Jagannath and the Lord's prasad to every household in Bengal. BJP and RSS could manage to take a few thousands from Bengal to the Ayodhya's Ram Mandir. Bengal BJP netas, who claim themselves to be the sole representatives of Hindus, have questioned religious credentials of Digha temple. Suvendu Adhikari even announced he would fetch the 'mahaprasadam' from Puri and distribute it among devotees. In other words, BJP netas couldn't ignore Digha's grand rath showcase. Former Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh had even attended the temple's opening. Interestingly, many TMC netas had taken out their own Ram Navami processions. While a section of political observers maintains that since participants are all Hindus, religious processions might consolidate sentiments and they might choose the party that has called itself the protector of Hindus. The majority, however, gives a clear advantage to Banerjee for choosing a religious motif close to hearts and taking everyone along. They believe that Lord Ram may not have much of an impact in the land of Goddess Durga, Maa Kali, and Lord Jagannath.
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
BJP slams Bengal CM for visiting
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 27 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and West Bengal Assembly Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for visiting the Jagannath temple in Digha, calling it a 'tourist spot' and asserting that Puri in Odisha is the real Dham of Lord Jagannath. While speaking to ANI, LoP Suvendu Adhikari said, 'It is a tourist spot (Digha Jagannath temple). She (Mamata Banerjee) has gone there for Dham is the real Dham of Lord Jagannath...' He further mentioned that lakhs of people are expected to participate in the processions for the Rath Yatra, just as lakhs of people participated in the Ram Navami celebration held in April, which was mired in controversy. 'At least 10,000 big processions of Rath Yatra will be taken out in every corner of West Bengal tomorrow, in which 50 lakh Hindus will participate,' he said. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the Jagannath temple in Digha to review preparations for the upcoming Rath Yatra. During her visit, she stated that the temple had become a prominent pilgrimage site. 'Lord Jagannath temple has become a major place of pilgrimage. The Rath Yatra will be held on a 1 km route from 9 am to 4 pm tomorrow. The aarti will be performed at 2.30 pm. Our ministerial team has arrived here for this,' the Chief Minister said. Announcing that the yatra for the state will start from the Digha temple, the CM said, 'I extend heartfelt greetings and best wishes to everyone in advance for Rath Yatra. I pray that, by the grace of Lord Jagannath, everyone's life may be filled with prosperity. With joy, I announce that we are starting the Rath Yatra at Digha's Jagannath Dham this time as well. Thousands of people from across the country and abroad will participate in it. I, too, will join the people in Digha this time to pull the ropes of the chariot.' The Rs 250 crore temple in Digha, constructed over 20 acres, was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 30, 2025. The temple, inspired by the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, houses the same deities. The Digha temple has been the centre of controversy multiple times, as BJP and BJD leaders, along with spiritual gurus, earlier objected to the naming of the Digha temple as 'Jagannath Dham,' arguing that the term is traditionally reserved for the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. During the festival, devotees draw the grand chariots of the three deities -- Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra, and sister goddess Subhadra -- to the Gundicha Temple, where the deities reside for a week and then return to the Jagannath Temple. The Rath Yatra ceremony is expected to attract a large crowd, making traffic management a key issue. (ANI)
Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Day after clashes on Kolkata outskirts: 40 arrested, 7 FIRs registered
At least 40 people have been arrested and seven FIRs have been registered within 24 hours of the clashes that broke out in the Rabindranagar area of Maheshtala in South 24 Parganas district, and soon spread to the adjacent Nadiyal area in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon. Five policemen, including a woman cop, were injured in the clashes that broke out over a dispute regarding the spot of a Muslim fruit vendor's cart and the planting of a Tulsi plant near a temple in the Rabindranagar area. While 28 people were arrested by police in South 24 Parganas district, 12 were arrested by the Kolkata Police. DIG (Presidency Range) Akash Magharia said, 'So far, three cases have been filed and 28 people arrested by the West Bengal Police.' Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime, Kolkata) Rupesh Kumar said: 'A total of four FIRs have been registered at the Nadiyal police station based on complaints from police personnel. Twelve people were arrested by the Kolkata Police last (Wednesday) night.' The West Bengal Police, in a statement on X, confirmed the coordinated action, saying, 'None of those who have indulged in violence will be spared.' 'The situation is now peaceful and under control. Prohibitory orders under 163 BNSS have been imposed in the Rabindranagar PS area in the interest of peace. Representatives of all political parties or groups are advised not to visit the area till 163 BNSS is in place,' it said. The authorities have also appealed for calm and urged citizens to refrain from spreading misinformation on social media. 'Those attempting to incite unrest will be dealt with strictly, in accordance with the law,' the police said. Earlier in the day, police stopped state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar from going to Maheshtala. Majumdar then went to Kalighat to protest outside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence along with supporters. He was detained, and later released. Sweety Kumari Police on Thursday said they have seized explosives in Budge Budge area, near Rabindranagar where clashes took place a day ago. Police said they arrested five people while they were carrying materials used in bomb-making and are investigating whether it was linked to the clash. Superintendent of Police (Diamond Harbour) Rahul Goswami said: 'Around 8:45 pm yesterday (Wednesday), acting on intelligence inputs, the police intercepted three bikes and recovered a large cache of explosive materials. These included substantial quantities of sodium powder, over 10 kg of aluminium powder, phosphorus dust, red sulphur, and iron dust — all used in making crude bombs.' 'Five arrests have been made in connection with the seizure', the SP said, adding one of them — Nabin Chandra Roy — has admitted, during the questioning, that he is an active RSS and BJP worker. 'On the day of Ram Navami, he was seen at the Bata More, where a verbal altercation occurred over the rally route and barricades. We have video footage where he could be seen throwing police barricades,' the SP said. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cops arrest 41, seize bomb raw materials
1 2 3 4 Kolkata: Forty-one people were arrested and a large amount of explosives were seized on Thursday, a day after the Maheshtala violence, in which 15 cops were injured, 10 from Kolkata Police and the rest from Bengal Police. While police imposed prohibitory orders in the area, they reached out to community elders, seeking to initiate confidence-building steps. With indications of "planning" involving "outsiders", police said on Thursday they were geared up for quick interventions amid inputs of a possible repetition of Wednesday's template as the 2026 assembly polls drew near. The modus operandi, they claimed, would be to "carry out a sudden act of instigation". "The aim is to instigate a community or locality and amplify it. External sources will be used," an officer. The explosives recovered were a pointer at the "intent and planning". "Around 8.45 pm on Wednesday, police recovered large amounts of sodium powder, 10 kg aluminium powder, phosphorus dust, red sulphur and iron dust, usually used to make bombs," said SP (Diamond Harbour police district) Rahul Goswami. "Five persons were arrested. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Among them, Nabin Chandra Roy said he was a worker for RSS and BJP. On Ram Navami, he was seen at the Bata More, throwing police barricades. " Additional SP (zonal) Mitunkumar Dey said, "There are three parts in our probe. We will see if cops were negligent as the incident took place near a police station. We will take action if we find the role of any Muslim fanatic —irrespective of political affiliation. The third focus is on Hindu fanatics, trying to flare up the issue." Bengal Police registered three cases and arrested 29 people. Kolkata Police filed four cases and arrested 12. Multiple raids are on in the port area, Maheshtala and Budge Budge. "The situation is now peaceful. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Rabindra Nagar PS area, where members of political parties are advised not to visit. We urge all to keep calm and ignore rumours. Those trying to cause unrest will be dealt with," said ADG (law & order) Jawed Shamim. "The cases at Nadial were based on complaints of injured cops. DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai was given three stitches," said Rupesh Kumar, JCP (crime & traffic). Bengal and KP cops patrolled the area. The few shops that opened saw limited business. People were directed not to gather on roads. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
