New Delhi:

The discussion on Budget 2024 in Lok Sabha today witnessed a sharp exchange between Speaker Om Birla and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, when the latter claimed that the House did not discuss the three farm laws that were later rolled back and the Chair stressed that it did.

Mr Banerjee, MP from West Bengal’s Diamond Harbour and the Number 2 in the Mamata Banerjee-led party, said in his speech that the Centre got the agricultural bills passed “without any consultation with farmers, farmer organisations or Opposition parties”.

The Speaker intervened: “Let’s set the record straight, this House discussed the issue for five-and-a-half hours.” When Mr Banerjee stressed that no discussion took place, Mr Birla said, firmly, “When the Speaker speaks, he speaks right. You correct yourself.” The Trinamool MP stuck to his guns, prompting the Speaker to say, “When I speak, I don’t speak wrong.”

Earlier, Mr Banerjee’s address targeted the Narendra Modi government over the Budget and drew a response from the treasury benches, especially BJP MPs from Bengal.

The Trinamool general secretary said the Budget lacked “clarity of vision” and was aimed at satisfying BJP coalition partners rather than providing any relief to the country’s 140 crore people.

“This is a budget planned by two individuals to keep another two in good faith,” he said, adding that it was “planned by two, executed for two”. Mr Banerjee said the “anti-people” budget was crafted to “bribe two political parties and buy time before the government implodes”.

The Trinamool MP was referring to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and JDU leader Nitish Kumar, whose support gave the BJP the required numbers to form the government after its score dropped in this general election. Opposition parties have argued that Budget 2024 was generous for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, ruled by the BJP’s key allies, but other states got nothing substantial.

Earlier today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slammed the Trinamool’s criticism of the Budget. “Yesterday, the TMC questioned the Budget, saying nothing has been given to Bengal. Let me highlight the fact that several schemes given by the Prime Minister in the last 10 years have not even been implemented in West Bengal. And you have the audacity to ask me now?” she said in Rajya Sabha.

In response, Mr Banerjee threw a challenge, daring the Finance Minister to release a white paper on how much money the Centre has given to Bengal after BJP’s defeat in the 2021 state polls.

The Trinamool MP said the Centre has withheld MGNREGA funds and lakhs of houses sanctioned under the PM Awas Yojana in Bengal are waiting central funds.

Mr Banerjee said that money that should have been used to build homes is “allocated to purchase aircraft worth Rs 8000 crore and construct palatial buildings as part of Central Vista project worth Rs 20,000 crore while poor people of this country still endure homelessness”.

At one point, Mr Birla said members must avoid commenting on those who are not members of Lok Sabha. This drew strong remarks from the Trinamool members, prompting the Speaker to respond sternly.

“I want to clarify, the Chair said we should not comment on those who are not members of this House. I want to ask you, is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a member of this House? Why did they comment? Please maintain the respect of your Chair and make them apologise. Then I will continue, you have to intervene,” he said.

The Speaker replied, “You can continue if you want, I have removed her name from the record, you cannot give directions to me.” At the end of Mr Banerjee’s speech, the Speaker appealed to all members to avoid making remarks on the Chair.

Kolkata:

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday underwent a minor surgery on his back at a Kolkata-based hospital and his condition is stated to be stable, authorities of the medical establishment said.

The 37-year-old Diamond Harbour MP, who is also the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was admitted to the hospital in the morning, they said.

“Abhishek Banerjee underwent a surgical procedure and he is now hemodynamically stable,” an official of the hospital said.

The official said that Abhishek Banerjee underwent a minor plastic surgery on his back.

“It was not something very serious… if all goes well, we may consider discharging him this evening itself,” the official told PTI.

Abhishek Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary and de facto number two in the party, on Wednesday said he would be taking a hiatus from organisational work for some pressing medical reasons.

“In light of some pressing medical reasons, I will be taking a short hiatus from the organisation. This time off will be an opportunity for me to humbly explore and understand the needs of our people and community. I trust that the government of West Bengal will act swiftly and leave no stone unturned to ensure justice for those in need,” he said in a post on X.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee said his party was keen on an alliance with the Congress, and because of that he went to meet Rahul Gandhi at his home at 6 am.

Mr Banerjee, the nephew of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her heir apparent, claimed that TMC candidates are the true representatives of the INDIA bloc in West Bengal.

“Had I not been serious, I would not have rushed to Rahul Gandhi’s residence in Delhi at 6 am. We were willing to have an alliance with the Congress in Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, and despite state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Choudhury’s barbs at our party for months, we did not react for a long time,” he said.

“We gave Congress time till December but we could not wait indefinitely since we had to make preparations. Till December 31, 2023, not a single spokesperson of our party, including Mamata Banerjee, reacted to what Adhir Choudhury was saying,” he added.

Abhishek Banerjee, the MP from Diamond Harbour, said the seat-sharing talks failed because of the state Congress’s belligerence.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Murshidabad:

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that 10 top BJP leaders are keen on switching over to his party, prompting an immediate denial by the saffron party.

While conducting a road show in a Murshidabad Lok Sabha constituency, Mr Banerjee said the party will open its doors at the right moment and the “BJP will be wiped out of the state.” 

“The BJP is trying to get into the game of breaking parties, but they can’t win in it. They poached two of our MPs, and we replied by taking two of their MPs, Arjun Singh and Babul Supriyo. Recently, by using Enforcement Directorate raids, they inducted Tapas Ray. At least 10 top leaders of the BJP are in the queue to join the Trinamool,” he said.

Reacting to Mr Banerjee’s claim, BJP Spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said after the elections are over, “Trinamool will disintegrate like a pack of cards.” 

“These are nothing but political rhetoric out of frustration of losing in West Bengal. Once the Lok Sabha polls are over, the Trinamool will disintegrate like a pack of cards,” he said.

Former Union minister Babul Supriyo, party MP Arjun Singh and eight legislators, including national vice-president Mukul Roy, have switched to the Trinamool Congress since the 2021 assembly polls.

The Trinamool Congress came to power for the third consecutive term in the state in 2021 by winning 213 of the 292 assembly seats, while the BJP bagged 77. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday asserted that the future of the INDIA bloc depends, to a large extent, on the performance of his party in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing an election rally at Raghunathganj in Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency, where polling will be held on May 7, the TMC national general secretary asserted that BJP will be “astonished” to see the results on June 4, and a “democratic and secular government” will be established in Delhi.

“The future of the INDIA bloc depends to a large extent on how the TMC performs in West Bengal… BJP will be astonished to see the results (of Lok Sabha polls) on June 4. A democratic and secular government will be established in Delhi,” he said.

Coming down heavily on the Congress and CPI(M), its INDIA bloc allies at the national level, the Diamond Harbour MP claimed that when Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi were seeking the support of the Trinamool Congress for the formation of the opposition alliance, the parties’ West Bengal leaders were “effusively abusing” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“I distinctly remember that when Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, in Mumbai, were seeking the support of the Trinamool Congress for strengthening the INDIA bloc, West Bengal Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and CPI (M)’s Mohammad Salim were speaking against Mamata Banerjee and the TMC. It is clear that both Congress and CPI (M) are working together to strengthen the hands of the BJP in the state,” he alleged.

“Mamata Banerjee wanted a seat-sharing agreement to take on the BJP in states where regional parties are strong enough to do that. But every moment, Adhir Chowdhury abuses the TMC. People have identified who the real traitor is,” he said.

He charged the Congress and the CPI(M) with not raising voices on issues such as price rise, CAA or NRC, and working as “B-team” of the BJP.

“Is it not true that the Mamata Banerjee government gives out financial doles under Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which helps women run households? But has the Congress or the CPI (M) ever spoken against rising prices? It is clear they are working as the B-team of the BJP. They have also not uttered a single word against the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) or NRC (National Register of Citizens). It is up to the people whom to vote for so that BJP is taught a lesson,” he said.

Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the BJP has “unleashed” Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Income Tax Department on the TMC.

“Even the helicopter on which I was supposed to fly was searched by I-T officials. A few days ago, a sinister plot to make an attempt on my life was thwarted due to timely intervention of Kolkata Police. But I am not scared,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

The arrest of two Trinamool Congress leaders by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a 2022 blast case has sparked a heated exchange between the Mamata Banerjee-led party and the BJP. While the Trinamool has alleged an “alliance” between the BJP and the NIA, the main opposition in Bengal has dared the ruling party to prove its allegations.

The NIA on Saturday arrested two people in Purba Medinipur district’s Bhupatinagar in connection with a blast in 2022 that killed three people. The central agency team faced stiff resistance from a crowd when they arrested Balai Charan Maity and Manobrata Jana after searches at five locations, the NIA said. An NIA team member suffered minor injuries in the face-off and a vehicle was damaged, the agency added.

“Manobrata Jana, and the other arrested accused, identified as Balai Charan Marty, were found to have conspired to manufacture and explode crude bombs to spread terror,” the NIA statement said.

The matter was earlier investigated by Bengal Police before the NIA took over the probe last year following an order by the Calcutta High Court.

Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee took to X today to hit out at the BJP over the arrests. “Experience the unfolding alliance between the @NIA_India and @BJP4Bengal, orchestrating conspiracies against Trinamool leaders and the Model Code of Conduct. While this collusion persists, the ECI stands by, conspicuously silent, neglecting its duty to ensure fair play,” Mr Banerjee said.

Experience the unfolding ALLIANCE BETWEEN the @NIA_India and @BJP4Bengal , ORCHESTRATING CONSPIRACIES AGAINST TRINAMOOL leaders amid the Model Code of Conduct. While this collusion persists, the ECI stands by, conspicuously silent, neglecting its duty to ensure fair play.

https://t.co/ROKRSVgGXG

— Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) April 7, 2024

Earlier, Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh alleged that Bengal BJP leader Jitendra Tiwary, who was earlier with Trinamool, met an NIA officer on March 26 and handed over a list of Trinamool leaders “to be arrested ahead of the Lok Sabha elections”.

“I dare this leader to either refute my allegations with substantial proof of his movement on that day or we will come up with his call records and CCTV footage evidence after 48 hours,” Mr Ghosh said.

Bengal minister and Trinamool leader Chandrima Bhattacharya said the NIA has dug up the 2022 case just before the polls and found involvement of Trinamool leaders. “It shows the deep-rooted conspiracy against TMC by BJP using central agencies,” she added.

Trinamool has demanded an FIR against NIA officer Dhanram Singh and his removal from Bengal.

Mr Tiwari, a former Mayor of Asansol, has told a TV channel that the Trinamool is “spreading lies” as it finds the “ground slipping under its feet” due to allegations of corruption and atrocities against villagers.

“If TMC leader Kunal Ghosh fails to come up with evidence that me or any of our leaders had been involved in influencing NIA probe or meeting any of their officials, I will file a defamation case against him,” he added.

BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya has said Trinamool’s allegations point to its “desperation”. “TMC is trying to divert attention from the total breakdown of constitutional principles in its rule,” he said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Banerjee accused the NIA team of assaulting villagers. On the injuries suffered by an NIA team member, she said it was “self-defence” by villagers. The central agency team, she said, barged into several homes over an incident of “bursting crackers”.

Bengal police have, meanwhile, filed a molestation case against the NIA team on the basis of a complaint by the family members of those arrested. 

Kolkata:

Claiming that “Modi ki guarantee” has “zero warranty”, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday labelled BJP leaders as “outsiders and anti-Bengal”, who only visit the state during elections.

Mr Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary, asserted that the people of the state will give a befitting reply to the saffron camp during the Lok Sabha elections for withholding the state’s funds.

Addressing ‘Jana Garjan Sabha’ rally at Brigade Parade grounds, he said, “The ‘Modi ki guarantee’ has zero warranty. Only Mamata Banerjee and the TMC keep the promises. The BJP and its leaders are outsiders and anti-Bengal and that is why they have withheld the funds due to the state.”

The TMC MP also claimed that the ED and CBI raids “won’t yield any result as they won’t be participating in the elections”.

The Trinamool Congress launched its Lok Sabha poll campaign from the grand rally on Sunday, where party supremo Mamata Banerjee is expected to set the tone for the upcoming elections. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

South 24 Parganas (West Bengal):

In response to Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s allegations on Sunday that the state police is not able to arrest Sandeshkhali prime accused, Sheikh Shahjahan due to legal complications, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that Mr Banerjee is lying and he should apologise.

“He (Abhishek Banerjee) is lying which he should not, he is a Member of Parliament. Why Calcutta High Court will shield a criminal? Torture of women is not a trivial offence. The High Court cannot save him. No court or judge can save him. He has lied, saying that the police could not arrest him due to a High Court stay order. He should apologise. It is a crime to lie,” Mr Rijiju said speaking to reporters on Tuesday.

Speaking on the alleged poor state of law and order in the state, the Union Minister said, “There is no law and order in West Bengal. They are misusing the police.”

Showing support to the women protesters in Sandeshkhali, Mr Rijiju said, “The entire nation stands with the women of Sandeshkhali.”

The Union Minister shared that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as the Women’s Reservation Bill were brought about by the Narendra Modi government for the empowerment of women.

“We have changed the criminal code of the entire country from the perspective of justice under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. We have passed the Women’s Reservation Bill. Women throughout the country as well as from West Bengal are going to bless PM Modi,” Mr Rijiju said.

Earlier on Sunday, Abhishek Banerjee claimed that his party is not defending missing leader Sheikh Shahjahan, but the High Court has tied the hands of the state police.

“The masters and defenders of human rights are saying in the light every day, arrest him, arrest him, what will the police do if the High Court ties their hands? ED officials were assaulted on January 5, the Calcutta High Court constituted a SIT in the incident. The ED appealed and sought a stay on the verdict. The Chief Justice’s bench allowed that request. On March 6, there will be a hearing. How will the police arrest if the High Court ties the hands of the state police administration? The police should be given 15 days or a month to take action based on the FIR,” Mr Banerjee said.

The Calcutta High Court Chief Justice, however, on Monday ordered to add Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan to the Sandeshkhali case.

The High Court Justice asked to issue a notice in the case and said, “There is no reason to not arrest him.”

“Public notice shall be given in this case. There is no stay order in Sandeshkhali cases. There is no reason to not arrest him,” the Court said.

Following this, the Trinamool Congress party said that Sheikh Shahjahan will be arrested in a week.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday interrogated Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira for over eight hours in connection with its ongoing probe into the alleged irregularities in the cash-for-jobs scam, an officer said.

The questioning began around 11 am at the ED’s office at the Central Government Office Complex in the Salt Lake area here and was over at 7.35 pm, he said.

“We questioned her on the basis of our findings in the jobs scam. We asked her about the specific roles of the directors of two companies involved in the alleged scam. She held an important position in both the companies at one point of time. She was interrogated about that too,” the ED official told PTI.

The probe body conducted search operations at several rice mills, besides a few shops in at least four places in West Bengal’s Nadia district in connection with its ongoing investigation into the alleged irregularities, the official said.

Personnel of central forces are guarding the rice mills at Shantipur, Dhubulia, Ranaghat and Krishnanagar, where the search operations are underway.

“A good amount of money amassed from the jobs scam was invested in the rice mills. We have documents to prove that. Today’s raids are being held in this connection,” the ED official said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

Trinamool Congress’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has suspended the party’s protest against the withholding of funds to West Bengal under central schemes. He, however, said the protests will intensify if no concrete steps are taken by October 31

The protest was put on hold after Governor CV Ananda Bose’s assurance that he would take up the issue with the Centre during his next visit to Delhi.

“We wanted to continue the dharna but since the Governor has showed us courtesy we should return the courtesy,” Mr Banerjee said.

“The Governor has assured us that he won’t take two weeks but will take this up with the Centre in 24 hours. I have heard he has already left for Delhi. I have thanked him. I expect he will find a solution to this since he has already gone to Delhi.  Senior leaders have asked me to lift the dharna and I have spoken to our leader as well,” he said.

“We are lifting the dharna now. We are giving the Centre time till October 31. If there is no answer from the government, we will start a protest again on November 1. And our protest will continue till the funds are released,” he added.

The protest – follow-up of one in Delhi over the same issue — was taking place outside Raj Bhavan. This evening, a Trinamool delegation led by Mr Banerjee had met the Governor.

Mr Banerjee’s leadership during the ongoing protest in Mamata Banerjee’s absence has apparently cemented his position as the leader of the party. The Bengal Chief Minister is recovering from a foot injury.

Recently, Mr Banerjee has led the protest in the national capital with top Trinamool leaders at side. He has also led the dharna at the Raj Bhavan on the same issue and even led the Trinamool delegation that met the Governor this evening.