India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
Kolkata, Jul 9 (PTI) Reports of violence were received from various pockets of West Bengal after Left-wing activists, supporting a countrywide general strike called by 10 central trade unions on Wednesday, clashed with police and TMC supporters in multiple districts, even as additional security forces were deployed to ensure normal life. The strike was called against "liberalisation, price rise of essentials, joblessness, increase in contractual work and other issues". Reinforcing its stand of zero-tolerance towards bandhs, the West Bengal police came down heavily on strike supporters, forcefully removing them from spaces where they attempted disruption of public life. Despite those measures, strike sponsors blocked roads and railway tracks in various parts of the state and tried to force a shutdown of shops and establishments in some pockets in their efforts to enforce the strike which evoked partial response in the state. Banking services, in both public and private sectors, were largely affected across Bengal. DYFI and CPI(M) workers scuffled with police in Ganguly Bagan area in south Kolkata as they tried to block the thoroughfare, holding rush hour traffic to ransom, and threatened shopkeepers to down shutters. The protestors also burnt effigies and set alight tyres posing risk of a roadside fire, which the police quickly doused. Police detained some strike supporters, including SFI leader Srijan Bhattacharya, who alleged that police used force to remove them when they were holding peaceful protests. "The Mamata Banerjee police has sold itself to the TMC which, in turn, has sold its soul to the BJP. This strike was called against BJP's policies and look how the TMC government launched its crackdown on us. They won't even allow us to hold a peaceful rally in support of the strike," Bhattacharya alleged. At the College Street crossing in the northern part of the city, SFI supporters clashed with police after the men in uniform tried to remove a road block and detain some protestors. The scuffle turned nasty during attempts made by the bandh supporters to forcefully snatch the detainees from prison vans and escort them out of police grips. At Domjur in the adjacent city of Howrah, police and RAF opened a lathi charge on bandh supporters who tried to stop buses and trucks from plying on roads. On Hill Cart Road in the north Bengal town of Siliguri, police removed supporters of the strike when they tried to resort to blockades. In a scuffle that ensued, TV cameras caught a bandh supporter removing the cap of a police officer with a blow. Cameras also caught the IC of the Banshihari police station in the Buniadpur area of Dakshin Dinajpur district slapping a local CPI-M leader, Majidur Rahaman, during a verbal spat. CITU workers clashed and were subsequently chased by their INTTUC counterparts of the Trinamool Congress trade union wing in the Tufangunj town of Cooch Behar, leading to tension in the area. In Birbhum's Kirnahar, Left and TMC workers clashed, allegedly in front of police, when the former group took out a rally in support of the strike. Three CPI-M supporters were reportedly injured and admitted to a local hospital.. Not far away in Rampurhat, police removed a Left blockade put up on NH 10 following which the protestors moved to the Rampurhat Railway Station with the intent of blocking railway tracks. They were stopped by the railway police force, leading to a fresh spate of scuffle between the two sides. Supporters of the strike, which began at 6 am, tried to block train movement at Diamond Harbour in the Sealdah South section and Shyamnagar in the North Section of Eastern Railways' Sealdah division. Reports of blockade of railway tracks were also received from Barrackpore, Konnagar, Durgapur, Lalgola, Uluberia and Belgharia stations later in the day. The Bengal government made additional transport arrangements and security deployment to ensure that normal life was not impacted during the strike. Police contingents were posted at important places to ensure the smooth movement of traffic. Lashing out against police action on strike supporters, senior CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty said, "The Trinamool is trying to prove that it is more BJP than the BJP itself. It is only a matter of time that people's anger will override this autocratic regime." "The Congress has supported this strike," said party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, adding that "the TMC is only brokering the politics of BJP in this state. "Let Mamata Banerjee point out which of the demands for which this strike was called are illogical or wrong," he added. "What the Left is doing in the name of bandh is nothing more than hooliganism and the police are taking action against these rowdies. This is not a spontaneous strike of people, but one that is forced upon them," responded TMC leader Debangshu Bhattacharya. "The only Left-run government in the country in Kerala has also issued notification against the strike along the same lines the Bengal government has. And the strike supporters expect Mamata Banerjee, who has taken a consistent stand against strikes since 2011, to allow them to run amok on the streets?" he questioned. According to West Bengal CITU president Anadi Sahu, 10 central trade unions called for the general strike against "liberalisation, price rise of essentials, joblessness, increase in contractual work and other issues". PTI AMR ACD SMY RG
New Delhi, Dec 4 (PTI) "On the face of it you are a corrupt person. Crores of rupees were recovered from your premises," the Supreme Court on Wednesday told former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, held in an alleged cash-for-job scam in the state. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, which reserved its verdict on the bail plea of Chatterjee, questioned the enforcement directorate (ED) over his continued incarceration saying he cannot be kept inside for an indefinite period. "On the face of it you are a corrupt person. Crores of Rupees were recovered from your premises. Wha ...Read More >
Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha and Union minister JP Nadda on Thursday said that the Chair should not be questioned or criticised about admissibility, calling it contempt of the House and Chairman. He also condemned Mallikarjun Kharge for criticising the Chair in a press conference the day before, calling it wrong. "The Chair cannot be questioned with regard to admissibility or for any other purposes. The Chairman's ruling cannot be questioned or criticised; to do so is contempt of the Hous ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 12 (ANI): The National President of Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) on Thursday criticised the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra over the violence in Parbhani city, alleging that the unrest was a result of the state government's negligence and an insult to the Constitution. Speaking to ANI, Azad announced plans to launch a protest against the violence. "The negligence of the state government and the way the Constitution of India was insulted have caused this outrage. On the instructions of the government, the police lathi-charged supporters of Baba Saheb Am ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Dec 18 (PTI) Ahead of BJD's 28th foundation day on December 26, its chief Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday urged members to remain dedicated to serving the people of Odisha, while the party announced a mass demonstration in Bhubaneswar on January 6 to highlight the price rise of essential commodities and other issues. Patnaik asked party supporters to "raise voice against the BJP government's 'anti-people' policies" and also highlight the impact of high inflation, which hits the poor and middle class. "The party leaders and workers need to create awareness among people on the state B ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: In a new twist to the prevailing potato crisis in Odisha, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Thursday blamed the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "playing dirty politics over the tuber" to defame the BJP government in the state. Speaking to the media today, Patra alleged that an artificial scarcity of potatoes has been created to defame the state government. Stating that he was clueless about the politics by West Bengal Chief Minister, he said, "I fail to understand why Mamata Banerjee first stopped the supply of potatoes to Odisha and later a ...Read More >
Lalu Yadav was reacting to Nitish Kumar's plans to launch the Mahila Samwad Yatra, an initiative aimed at directly engaging with women in Bihar. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday stoked controversy after passing a sexist remark at Nitish Kumar's upcoming women's rally, saying that the Bihar Chief Minister was attending it to "ogle at women." Yadav was reacting to Kumar's plans to launch the Mahila Samwad Yatra, an initiative aimed at directly engaging with women in Bihar. "Nain sekne ja ra ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala University Senate campus here on Tuesday witnessed dramatic scenes as activists of the Student's Federation of India (SFI), the students' wing of the ruling CPI(M), staged a protest against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan while he was attending a seminar. The ruling CPI(M) and the SFI have been at loggerheads with Governor Khan over various issues for some time. Despite the intense security laid by police, the SFI activists forcefully opened the closed gates of the campus and ran towards the Senate Hall where Khan was participating in the seminar. Though the police ...Read More >
Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 14 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday took a potshot at Lok Sabha LoP (Leader of Opposition) Rahul Gandhi over a tussle between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections saying that they (Congress) make friends in the morning and fight at night. Vijayvargiya further said that now whether these people abuse or praise was not important and the public knew everything. "Sometimes they (Congress) shake hands and sometimes they break each other's hands. It is their culture (sanskaar ...Read More >
Kolkata: Reaffirming Trinamool Congress's support for the Union government on matters of external affairs, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday said her party was not boycotting the multi-party diplomatic mission aimed at countering Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and would send its representatives once a formal request is received. "It is not that no one from Trinamool is going. The Centre informed the parliamentary party about joining the delegation. However, we have not received any news from the party. It must be remembered that the parliamentary party only decides about the session of Parl ...Read More >
Guwahati: A group of intellectuals and prominent citizens met the officials of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala and demanded the immediate release of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Bangladesh. Various other organisations also organised protest rallies and demonstrations against the arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. The intellectuals under the banner of 'Forum for Protection of Minorities in Bangladesh' urged the Bangladesh caretaker government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to make all efforts to protect the minorities in Bangla ...Read More >
The Supreme Court halted new temple-mosque legal battles. The court will review the 1991 law impacting religious site status. This law froze the status of religious sites as of August 15, 1947. Several cases, including Gyanvapi and Shahi Idgah, challenge this law. The law's validity is being questioned. The court's decision impacts ongoing and future disputes.In its ruling on the keenly-watched Place of Worship Act case, the Supreme Court said on December 12 that no new Mandir-Masjid suits are to ...Read More >
Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 12 (PTI) Tensions flared in the Karnataka Assembly on Thursday as BJP MLAs barged into Speaker U T Khader's chamber, expressing strong objections to his handling of the proceedings. The confrontation came amidst heated debates over the recent police lathi charge on Panchamasali Lingayat protesters, with the ruling Congress and opposition BJP trading accusations. The issue arose when Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar, himself a leader of the Panchamasali Lingayat community, criticized the decision of previous BJP government to scrap the 4 per cent Muslim reservati ...Read More >
New Delhi: The opposition INDIA bloc formed to take on the BJP led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is struggling with internal rift with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah acknowledging the growing discontent among the alliance partners and asking Congress to justify its leadership role instead of taking it for granted. Suggesting the Congress to raise the issue of raise the issue of restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir, Abdullah said the leadership "has to be earned" and cannot be taken for granted. "By virtue of being the single largest party in Parliament, and als ...Read More >
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress on Wednesday distanced itself from statements made by party MP Shatrughan Sinha, who said non-vegetarian food should be banned, and that the Uniform Civil Code is good but should only be implemented after consultations with all parties. The party also chose to describe MP and actor Rachna Banerjee's praise for the Kumbh Mela as her "personal opinion." Sinha, the two-time Asansol MP, speaking to ANI, said, "At first glance, whatever happened in Uttarakhand is commendable. The Uniform Civil Code should definitely be there. I believe there should be an all-party meeti ...Read More >
The Sena UBT chief spokesperson was reacting to Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad's comment that West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee should be allowed to lead the INDIA bloc. Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said that his party was open to discuss if someone outside of the Congress party should lead the Opposition INDIA bloc. Speaking in New Delhi Delhi, Raut said that all the constituents of the INDIA bloc are willing to have a discuss ...Read More >
Guwahati, Dec 12: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the "One Nation, One Election" bill, a landmark proposal aimed at synchronising elections across the country. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, currently on a visit to Odisha, hailed the move as a significant step toward "minimising disruptions" to developmental work caused by frequent election cycles. Speaking to the press during a visit to Jagannath Temple in Puri, Sarma asserted the rationale behind the initiative, stating, "Recently, we held Lok Sabha elections, and now legislative elections are around the corner in Assam. ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Local CPM leader Madhu Mullassery, who was expelled from the party for walking out of its area conference at Mangalapuram in Thiruvananthapuram district, joined the BJP on Wednesday. The former CPM leader accepted the party membership from state president K Surendran. BJP leaders including District Treasurer Balamurali and local leaders, played a key role in facilitating his transition to the BJP despite attempts by Congress leaders to contact him, reported Manorama Online. CPM District Secretary V Joy alleged that Mullassery had already decided to join the BJP. Joy also ...Read More >
Kolkata, Dec 12 (VOICE) BJP leader Rahul Sinha on Thursday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of not genuinely wanting the INDIA bloc to succeed, amid ongoing speculations about her leadership aspirations within the Opposition alliance. Sinha's remarks came after Mamata Banerjee expressed her willingness to lead the INDIA bloc, receiving backing from some alliance leaders. Following this, Mamata thanked her 'supporters', stating that she is "indebted" to their faith in her and wishes for the alliance's success. Reacting to her statements, Sinha accused Mamata of harbouring pe ...Read More >
A severe cold wave, comparable to the intensity of summer heat, is expected to sweep across West Bengal. How long will these frigid conditions persist? A severe winter is approaching, with temperatures expected to drop sharply across West Bengal. The Meteorological Department has forecast a cold wave from December 13 to 15, marking the onset of intense winter conditions. Dry weather is likely to persist until December 18, accompanied by northerly winds sweeping across the state. Light fog is ex ...Read More >
Kolkata: BJP on Saturday criticised urban development minister Firhad Hakim over a video where the Kolkata mayor is purportedly heard making a comment on minorities. Hakim had made the comment while addressing an educational conference recently. Hakim said BJP was using his quote out of context and he was only referring to the gulf between the educated and the uneducated. "As education spreads, the gulf will be bridged and there will be one identity," said Hakim. Saying that he would never play ...Read More >
Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at multiple locations in West Bengal in connection with irregularities in the medical admissions in the state under the non-resident Indian (NRI) quota. The irregularities in medical admissions come after a major recruitment scam in Bengal in 2022, where former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and his close aide were arrested. The raids and search operations were conducted in multiple locations in the state. ED reportedly started the investigation based on a complaint filed in the Electronic Complex Police Station under Bidhannagar ...Read More >
INDIA bloc MPs, donning black jackets with slogans like "Modi Adani Ek Hai", protested at Parliament demanding a joint probe into the Adani issue. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused PM Modi of evading discussion on the "Adani mega scam" while defending Adani's alleged corruption. Rahul Gandhi asserted that Modi won't investigate Adani as it would be like investigating himself.Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Thursday said the country's people want the "Adani mega scam" to be discussed in Parliame ...Read More >
NDIA bloc leaders, who submitted a notice of no-confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday, blamed the chair for not allowing them to speak in the Rajya Sabha. The leaders held a joint press conference labelling several charges against the chairman. "His behaviour (RS chairman) has damaged the dignity of the country. He has brought such a situation in the history of parliamentary democracy that we had to bring this notice for the resolution (of no confidence ...Read More >
Ranchi, Feb 5 (PTI) The Hemant Soren government on Wednesday said the state has received investment proposals to the tune of Rs 26,000 crore, having the potential of generating 15,000 jobs, during 'Advantage Jharkhand' programme held as part of Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) in Kolkata. Soren, along with his wife and MLA Kalpana, attended the eighth edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) at the invitation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "Investors have come up with investment proposals to the tune of Rs 26,000 crore in Jharkhand during 'Advantage Jharkhand' ...Read More >
Belagavi, Dec 12 (UNI) The Karnataka BJP on Thursday accused the Congress state government of secretly relocating protesters injured during a lathi charge to prevent opposition leaders from meeting them. Speaking to reporters here, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said BJP leaders had planned to visit the injured protesters in hospital. However, the victims were moved to an undisclosed location. "This government is acting like Hitler by not allowing us to meet the injured. We don't even know where they have been taken," he said. The lathi charge occurred during a protest by the Panchamasal ...Read More >
RJD's hold over Yadav votes in Bihar is not as strong as the Samajwadi Party has in Uttar Pradesh. The disputes between Bihar's main opposition party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and its ally Congress have come out in the open after their alliance Mahagathbandhan (MGB) lost all four assembly seats in the November bypoll. While RJD's support for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to lead the opposition's INDI Alliance and Congress' refusal to it became a bone of contention at the national ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 17 (UNI) The Opposition on Tuesday strongly opposed the introduction of the One Nation One Election Bill in the Lok Sabha, calling it as an attack on the Constitution and the federalism of the country and demanded that it must be withdrawn immediately. Objecting to the introduction of the Bill, Congress member Manish Tewari said, "The Bills moved by the Law and Justice Minister is assault on the basic structure of the Constitution and are beyond the legislative competence of this house. Therefore they need to be opposed and the introduction of the Bills need to be stopped," he ...Read More >
The Palakkad bypoll has turned into a fierce triangular contest with key defections adding to the excitement. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan campaigned for former Congress leader P Sarin, now contesting as an Independent for the LDF, while BJP’s C Krishnakumar faces a tough challenge. Sarin, a former Congress digital strategist, switched parties after being snubbed for the Congress ticket. Meanwhile, BJP leader Sandeep Varier defected to Congress, further intensifying the race. With the election crucial for UDF, NDA, and LDF's momentum heading into the 2026 Kerala assembly elections, all eyes are ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 11 (ANI): Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday targeted the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), asking whether the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party will have the courage to support the opposition's motion seeking the removal of the Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. "Will Jagan party have the courage to support the opposition's motion on the Rajya Sabha Chairman issue, or will he stay loyal to Modi and Shah while making empty statements?" Manickam Tagore said in a post on X. Also Read | Myntra Refund Scam: How Fraudsters ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day Thursday afternoon amid ruckus as the treasury and opposition benches trades charges over no-trust notice against Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, and the BJP's allegations of the Congress leadership's "connections" with billionaire investor George Soros. The House witnessed two adjournments in the day before that. The first was during the Zero Hour in the pre-lunch sitting when Chairman Dhankhar rejected six notices to adjourn the scheduled business of the day and take up matters mentioned in the notices. As several oppos ...Read More >