Adani News

Tag: Kolkata

  • Death toll from Bengal reaches 81 in Odisha train accident

    Death toll from Bengal reaches 81 in Odisha train accident

    Kolkata (IANS) | According to the West Bengal government, the death toll in the Odisha train tragedy has risen to 81 from the state. Describing the figure as 62, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday evening expressed apprehension that the number may increase if more bodies are identified.

    He expressed doubt that the names of those traveling in unreserved coaches are not easily available with the Railway Department. That list has not yet reached the state government, he said. That’s why the death toll in Bengal may increase.

    On Monday, the state government put the death toll at 81.

    State government sources said that the maximum number of deaths have been reported from 31 South 24 Parganas district.

    Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has announced the formation of a six-member committee whose members will visit the families of those killed in the train accident and hand over a compensation check of Rs 2,00,000 to each family on behalf of the party.

    Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had announced that a compensation of Rs 2,00,000 to the family of each of the deceased would be over and above the Rs 5,00,000 announced by the state government.

    Political tussle has already started in the state over the Railway Board’s recommendation for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Balasore train accident.

    Rajya Sabha member of Trinamool Congress, Dr. Santanu Sen said, the credibility of central agencies like CBI has reduced a lot now. It is being used by the central government against the opposition parties. That’s why we have no faith in the CBI probe.

    BJP state president in West Bengal and party’s Lok Sabha member Sukanta Majumdar said since sabotage is suspected to be behind the accident, there is a need to get the matter probed by a central agency.

    –IANS

  • Odisha CM announces free bus service to Kolkata after Coromandel train accident

    Odisha CM announces free bus service to Kolkata after Coromandel train accident

    Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced free bus service to Kolkata from Puri, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack. The free service will start today and will continue till the restoration of normal train service on the Balasore route.

    In a tweet, the State Information and Public Relations Department said, “Hon’ble CM Sri Naveen Patnaik has announced free bus service to Kolkata from Puri Bhubaneswar & Cuttack from today. It will continue till the restoration of normal train service on the Balasore route. Daily around 50 buses provide transport service to Kolkata.”

    Earlier, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the root cause of the Coromandel train accident has been identified. The restoration process is underway. He also informed that the restoration of the track will be completed today.

    “We will try to restore the track today. All bodies have been removed. Our target is to finish the restoration work by Wednesday morning so that trains can start running on this track,” Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

    It is pertinent to note here that 288 people lost their lives in the tragic Coromandel train accident on Friday evening. 1,175 passengers were left injured.

    As per the report total of 1175 injured persons were admitted to various government and private hospitals. Out of the total, 793 have been discharged after treatment. Currently, 382 passengers are now undergoing treatment in various government and private hospitals. The condition of two of them is said to be critical.

  • Odisha government will run free bus service till Kolkata for stranded passengers in the state

    Odisha government will run free bus service till Kolkata for stranded passengers in the state

    Bhubaneswar (IANS) | The Odisha government on Sunday announced free bus service from three cities of the state to Kolkata to facilitate smooth transportation of passengers stranded in the state due to the train accident in Balasore, Odisha. Due to disruption of normal train services to Kolkata due to Bahnaga train accident, people are facing a lot of problems in reaching Kolkata.

    Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced free bus service from Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to Kolkata from Sunday for the stranded passengers in the state, the Chief Minister’s Office said. This arrangement will continue till normal train service is restored on the Balasore route.

    It may be mentioned that around 50 buses will leave for Kolkata daily from three cities of Odisha, the Chief Minister’s Office said. The entire cost will be borne from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).

    –IANS

  • Odisha train accident: Most deaths from Sundarbans areas

    Odisha train accident: Most deaths from Sundarbans areas

    Kolkata (IANS) | Most of the casualties in the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express train derailment in Odisha’s Balasore district are from West Bengal and most of them are from the Sundarbans region of South 24 Parganas district. According to preliminary reports from the state secretariat, of the total 31 casualties, who were residents of West Bengal, 19 are from South 24 Parganas district. Of those 19, 14 casualties were reported from the Sundarbans region.

    This is according to a report by the state secretariat till 12 midnight on Saturday. According to the state government report, the maximum number of injured in the accident from West Bengal was only from South 24 Parganas.

    Of the total 544 injured in the state, 105 are from South 24 Parganas.

    The total number of missing persons from the district has been recorded at 41 so far.

    A total of 30 people from South 24 Parganas have returned safely.

    A press release issued from the state secretariat also claimed that till 12 noon on Saturday, 70 ambulances and a team of 34 doctors were sent to the accident site for rescue and treatment. The West Bengal government also sent 10 buses to the spot to bring back passengers from the state. Medical relief was sent by 20 mini trucks from West Bengal, the press release said.

    Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has announced that the party will give Rs 2,00,000 to the family members of each casualty.

    This is in addition to the state government’s Rs 5,00,000 amount announced by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

  • BJP leader shot dead in broad daylight

    BJP leader shot dead in broad daylight

    Kolkata (IANS) | Local BJP leader Prashant Roy Basunia was murdered in broad daylight on Friday at Dinhata in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal. Basuniya was at his home with his mother. Then some miscreants entered inside and started threatening them. After an argument, suddenly a miscreant took out a pistol and shot Basunia at close range. A blood-soaked Basunia was rushed to a local hospital where she died a short time later.

    Speaking to media persons, Shubhendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, alleged the involvement of goons backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress behind the murder.

    The Trinamool leadership is scared as many grassroots party workers are leaving the ruling party and joining the BJP, he said. We demand a CBI inquiry into the matter.

    However, Trinamool MLA from Dinhata constituency and state minister Udayan Guha denied the allegations and said that in all likelihood Basunia became a victim of factionalism in the BJP in Coochbehar district.

    Also, I want to say that he was also on the radar of the police because of his involvement in anti-social activities, Guha said.

    However, his mother has alleged that the police unnecessarily harassed her because of her son’s association with the BJP.

    Police said efforts are on to nab those involved in the murder.

    –IANS

  • Congress, CPI(M) raised questions on calling Trinamool in the meeting of opposition parties on June 12

    Congress, CPI(M) raised questions on calling Trinamool in the meeting of opposition parties on June 12

    Kolkata (IANS) | Leaders of all major opposition parties of the country will attend an important meeting called by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 12. But the Congress and the Left Front in West Bengal have questioned the propriety of inviting the Trinamool Congress to that meeting. State Congress President in West Bengal Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury went a step ahead and claimed that whatever the outcome of the June 12 meeting, the Congress would continue to oppose the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.

    He said, our movement in West Bengal is against BJP and Trinamool Congress and it will continue. The Trinamool Congress is actually a pawn of the BJP to create a rift in the opposition alliance.

    CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty said though it is a good initiative to unite all opposition forces against the BJP, the question is whether the Trinamool Congress can be trusted.

    He said, Trinamool Congress indirectly helped BJP in the elections of President and Vice President of India. In times of crisis, the Trinamool Congress has always secretly supported Prime Minister Modi.

    CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member and Calcutta High Court senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said there is a need for a grand alliance and only those political forces which oppose the BJP should be included in it.

    The BJP will always try to destroy the opposition front from within, he said. In such a situation, involving Trinamool Congress will not be a good move. Rather, the model of mutual understanding between the Left Front and the Congress in West Bengal should be followed at the national level.

    However, Trinamool Congress leaders such as the party’s Rajya Sabha member Dr Shantanu Sen believe that the arguments of the CPI(M) and the Congress in West Bengal hold no ground as they have no relevance. He said, when the whole country regards Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the leader of the opposition, it does not matter what the leaders of the CPI(M) and the Congress in West Bengal say.

    Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, Shubhendu Adhikari said that the Congress’s opposition to the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal is just an illusion. He said, on one hand, Adhir Ranjan is talking about opposing the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, while on the other hand, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi is the chief counsel of the Trinamool Congress and the West Bengal government in the Supreme Court.

    –IANS

  • Mamta Banerjee condemned the misbehavior with the wrestlers

    Mamta Banerjee condemned the misbehavior with the wrestlers

    Kolkata (IANS) | West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday condemned the alleged manhandling of international wrestlers by the Delhi Police in the national capital. In a Twitter message, the chief minister accused the central government of acting in an autocratic manner against those who brought laurels to the country.

    They have also demanded the immediate release of the detained wrestlers.

    He said in his tweet, I strongly condemn the way Delhi Police assaulted Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers. It is shameful that our champions are treated like this. Democracy is rooted in tolerance, but autocratic forces thrive on intolerance and suppressing dissent. I demand that he be released immediately by the police. I stand with our wrestlers.

    This is the second time in a month that Banerjee has shown solidarity with the protesting wrestlers.

    Even before this, in a tweet on May 4, a day after the complaint of misbehavior by the police, he wrote, it is very shameful to hurt the honor of our daughters in this way. India stands with its daughters and I as a human being definitely stand with our wrestlers. Law is one for all. The ‘rule of the ruler’ cannot abduct one’s dignity. You can attack them but cannot break their morale. The fight is right and the fight will go on. Don’t you dare hurt our wrestlers. The country is seeing their tears and the country will not forgive you. I urge our wrestlers to stay strong. I share all my power with him.

    The protesting wrestlers are protesting demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Women players have accused him of molestation and sexual harassment.

    –IANS

  • Raj Bhavan-West Bengal Secretariat dispute will reach the court?

    Raj Bhavan-West Bengal Secretariat dispute will reach the court?

    Kolkata (IANS) | The tussle between the Raj Bhawan and the state secretariat in West Bengal is likely to head towards a legal tussle as the state education department is seeking legal advice to find a way around the recent show cause notices issued by the governor’s office to the vice-chancellors of six state universities. Is. According to state education minister Bratya Basu, though the government wanted to hold talks with the governor, the governor seemed inclined to take decisions on his own. With regard to show-cause notices to vice-chancellors, we have to see whether they have the authority to issue such notices, he added. We are first consulting legal experts to know whether such notices are valid or illegal.

    The Raj Bhavan had issued a notice on May 24 to the vice chancellors of six state universities – Kazi Nazrul University, Sidho-Kanho-Birsa University, Bidhan Chandra Agricultural University, West Bengal State University, Kalyani University and Burdwan University. It said the universities were “ignoring” the governor’s direction to submit weekly reports on matters to the Raj Bhavan.

    Earlier on April 4, the Raj Bhavan had directed the Vice Chancellors of all state universities to send a weekly report to the Raj Bhavan, in which the Vice Chancellors were also asked to take prior consent from the Raj Bhavan in all financial matters.

    However, the Office of the Special Secretary to the Governor sent a reminder to the V-CS on May 22 after none of the universities sent the weekly report.

    After not getting any response, Raj Bhavan has now issued show cause notices to the Vice Chancellors of these six universities.

    The governor is the chancellor of all state universities. The state government was opposing the governor’s decision to ask for a weekly report from the very beginning. Now that the state government is mulling legal options against the show cause notice, the Raj Bhavan-state secretariat relations seem to have taken a turn for the worse.

    –IANS

  • Kejriwal will seek support from Mamta

    Kejriwal will seek support from Mamta

    Kolkata (IANS) | Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will meet his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday and seek her support against the central government’s ordinance setting aside the Supreme Court order handing over control of administrative services in the national capital to AAP. The two chief ministers are scheduled to meet at the state secretariat in Nabanna on Tuesday afternoon. According to sources in the state unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Kejriwal may seek the support of the Trinamool Congress to stop the Centre’s ordinance in the Rajya Sabha.

    After the meeting, both the leaders are going to hold a joint press conference. AAP sources said Kejriwal has already approached leaders of opposition parties and chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states to seek their support and Tuesday’s meeting with Mamata Banerjee is part of that exercise.

    BJP’s national vice-president and party’s Lok Sabha member Dilip Ghosh, however, made fun of the meeting. He called it a futile exercise by the opposition parties to project a credible face against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    Ghosh said, in 2019, Mamata Banerjee herself tried to become the face and hence she organized a meeting of opposition party leaders in Kolkata. But after that his party lost in many constituencies in West Bengal in 2019. This time she is scared to present herself. That’s why she is holding meetings with the leaders of other opposition parties.

    Recently, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav visited Kolkata and held a meeting with Mamata Banerjee.

    After the meeting, both Banerjee and Kumar emphasized that all anti-BJP forces should act with an open mind and shed their arrogance to establish a grand-opposition alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    Earlier, Samajwadi Party leader and Leader of Opposition in Uttar Pradesh Assembly Akhilesh Yadav also met the Chief Minister in South Kolkata.

    Both Banerjee and Yadav stressed on strengthening the unity of regional parties to take on the BJP in 2024.

    –IANS

  • Two girls got married in a traditional way in a temple

    Two girls got married in a traditional way in a temple

    Kolkata (IANS) | There is a debate going on in the country about gay rights. In such a situation, Kolkata is witnessing same sex marriages. Here two girls got married in a traditional way in a temple. Though Moushumi Dutta and Moumita Majumdar got married quietly at the Bhootnath temple on Sunday midnight, they later shared the news through social media.

    The couple told the media that Dutta was already married and had two children. Dutta says that her husband used to beat her everyday, so she separated from her husband. I also have two children and their responsibility is mine.

    The couple told that both of them (Moushumi Dutta and Moumita Mazumdar) came in contact with each other through social media. Later, when they decided to marry, Majumdar willingly accepted the children of his partner (Datta).

    Currently, both of them are living in a rented accommodation in North Kolkata, and are aware of the developments regarding same-sex marriage. Dutta, expecting a favorable verdict from the Supreme Court, said whatever the outcome, she would always be with Mazumdar.

    He claimed that even though the court does not allow the certificate of same-sex marriage, no rule prevents them from living together.

    Even before this, many such marriages have taken place in Kolkata. Both Suchandra and Sree, who have been living happily together for years, are now popular faces of the LGBTQ rights movement in the city.

    –IANS