Paschim Bardhaman (West Bengal):

Claiming that not a single person is happy in Bengal but they have faith in PM Modi, BJP candidate from Bardhaman Durgapur Lok Sabha seat Dilip Ghosh has said that people are ready to get rid of the TMC’s corruption and atrocities in the state.

Bardhaman Durgapur Lok Sabha constituency along with seven other seats in the state is going to polls on Monday amid voting in the 4th phase of general elections across 9 States and one Union Territory.

“People here are ready to get rid of the atrocities of the present (TMC) government. People have trust in PM Modi and they want to get rid of the corruption and atrocities going on here. There is such an atmosphere of fear that people ask whether they will be able to vote. Here people are troubled by political violence and corruption. Not a single person is happy in Bengal but they have faith in PM Modi,” Ghosh said.

BJP Dilip Ghosh is in the electoral fray against TMC’s Kirti Azad in the Badhaman Durgapur constituency.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) which is fighting the polls in the state in partnership with the Congress, as part of the opposition INDIA bloc, has fielded Sukriti Ghoshal from the seat.

Earlier on Sunday, fresh clashes broke out in the Sandeshkhali area between Trinamool Congress and BJP.

After clashes, BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Basirhat, Rekha Patra explained that BJP retaliated when TMC leader Dilip Malik came to the police station with his team, abused women, and beat them up.

“TMC goons went to the residence of the daughter of ‘Andolankaari maa’, Sagori Das. TMC goons picked her up and then also threatened her… Then they went to Jeliakhali and attacked the residence of our three members…When we came to the Police station. Dilip Malik came here with his team and then abused all the women here and beat them so we retaliated and hit them back. In this regard, they (TMC) have registered a complaint in the name of Dr Archana Majumdar and in my name,” Rekha Patra said speaking to news agency ANI on Sunday.

However, TMC leader Sukumar Mahato, told ANI, “TMC was conducting a meeting regarding issues in the Khulna area. BJP came and started a fight; they thrashed our workers.”

Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district started hitting the headlines in February this year when villagers, mostly women, came out on the streets against the ruling TMC and its strongman Shahjahan, accusing him and his aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion. They also accused his aides of perpetrating gross excesses and atrocities on them while also gobbling up their land.

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

Paschim Bardhaman (West Bengal):

Amid the explosive political fallout of an alleged ‘sting video’, claiming that the BJP faked Sandeshkhali horrors to defame the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state, Dilip Ghosh, the latter’s candidate for the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat, said people were being “bought and sold” in the state.

Also weighing in on the controversy around the molestation charge against Bengal Governor CV Anand Bose by a staffer at the Raj Bhavan, Mr Ghosh claimed that people were also being installed at the Governor’s official residence in exchange for money.

Speaking to ANI on Sunday, the BJP’s former state president said, “People are being bought and sold (under the Trinamool). They are even being seated or installed at the Raj Bhavan in exchange for money. However, this (alleged sting video) wouldn’t make any difference (to the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections in the state). It was not the BJP but the common people of Sandeshkhali who erupted in protest and came out on the streets against the ruling party. (Sheikh) Shahjahan (expelled Trinamool strongman and key Sandeshkhali accused) has confessed to the charges against him. It was his henchmen who attacked the ED and CBI (teams).”

The Trinamool, on Saturday, flagged a video from an alleged sting operation that was broadcast by a local television news channel.

In the alleged video, a person, purportedly a BJP mandal (booth) president by the name of Gangadhar Koyal is heard saying that Sandeshkhali women were not assaulted sexually, but projected as ‘rape’ survivors at the behest of the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

Claiming that Suvendu Adhikari ‘helped’ him get this done, the person in the video said that the former told him that the Trinamool strongmen in the area wouldn’t be arrested unless he is falsely implicated in a “rape case”.

However, the news channel that broke the alleged sting operation did not attest to the veracity of the clip.

Sharing a clip from the alleged sting operation, Trinamool leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, claimed on his official X handle that the people should see through the BJP’s attempts to tarnish Bengal’s image and reputation to advance and achieve its political ends.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, too, posted about the alleged sting video from her official X handle, stating, “The shocking Sandeshkhali sting shows how deep the rot is within the BJP. In their hatred for Bengal’s progressive thought & culture, the Bangla-Birodhis orchestrated a conspiracy to defame our state on every possible level. Never before in the history of India has a ruling party in Delhi tried to malign an entire state and its people. History will witness how Bengal will rise in rage against Delhi’s conspiratorial regime & ensure their Bishorjon (they will be consigned to the waters).”

Shahjahan is currently behind bars in connection with the attack on a team of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) while it was in the process of raiding his residence in connection with the alleged ration scam.

He was arrested on February 29, 55 days after being on the run in connection with the assault on the ED team.

The women of Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district came out on the streets earlier against the ruling Trinamool and Shahjahan, accusing the now expelled party strongman and his aides of perpetrating gross excesses and atrocities on them while also gobbling up their land.

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

Kolkata:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Dilip Ghosh attacked the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) party in the state and said that the TMC government in West Bengal has repeatedly lied and given false figures regarding the funds provided by the centre to mislead the people.

Speaking to ANI, Dilip Ghosh said, “The WB government has repeatedly lied and given false figures (regarding funding given by the Centre to the state government) to mislead the people. I am saying that today everything is in the public domain, including what the central government is doing, what it is it giving and how much the state government gets.”

“The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has exposed a scam of Rs 229 crore, which the state government is yet to answer. That is the money of the poor people. The WB government should answer this first,” the BJP leader said.

This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attacked the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal and said that many projects have not been completed on time despite the Centre giving record amounts of money.

“The TMC government here doesn’t allow the implementation of central schemes in West Bengal. To establish medical colleges is the identity of the BJP. We want to establish a medical college in every district of the country. But the TMC government doesn’t allow us to do this in West Bengal. Despite giving record amounts of money to West Bengal, many projects are not completed on time due to TMC,” PM Modi said while addressing a public rally in Cooch Behar on Thursday.

The BJP candidate from Bardhaman Durgapur constituency also spoke on the Sandeshkhali incident earlier and said, “It is a matter of grave concern. The way women in Sandeshkhali have given their statements. All that cannot be imagined in any civilised society.”

“The atrocities towards the people in Sandeshkhali have been going on for years. The solution for that will be brought out. The truth will prevail and come to the fore,” he said.

Dilip Ghosh also hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her indecent use of words towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a public meeting on Thursday and said, “Mamata Banerjee speaks in this manner all the time. It has become a habit for her. It will not improve. This is being discussed now after the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force.”

“This use of indecent language in the atmosphere of West Bengal is because of Mamata Banerjee. Under her influence, all the big and small MPs and MLAs in the state speak in this manner. This goes on throughout the year. No one has given Mamata Banerjee the right to pollute the culture of West Bengal,” said Ghosh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, saying that while he calls for the removal of corruption, opposition parties such as the Congress and the Trinamool Congress call for saving “corrupt leaders.”

Prime Minister Modi also attacked the TMC government in West Bengal, saying it tried its best to protect the accused in the Sandeshkhali incidents that rocked the state and said that only the Bharatiya Janata Party can stop atrocities against women.

PM Modi said the BJP has resolved to ensure punishment for the accused in the Sandeshkhali incidents.

He also accused the Trinamool Congress government of not allowing the implementation of central schemes in West Bengal, adding that many projects have not been completed on time despite the Centre giving record amounts of money to the WB government.

This was the first rally of PM Modi in West Bengal after the Election Commission of India announced the poll schedule of the general elections on March 16.

The BJP has been attacking the Trinamool Congress over incidents in Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Local women accused the suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides of excesses, landgrabs, and sexual assault.

Shahjahan Sheikh has been remanded to Enforcement Directorate custody until April 13 in the case in which officials of the agency were attacked while they had gone to search his residence in the probe into the money trail in an alleged ration distribution scam.

There are 42 parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) secured 22 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 18 and the Congress won two seats.

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

New Delhi:

The Election Commission on Monday censured BJP leader Dilip Ghosh and Congress’ Supriya Shrinate for derogatory remarks against the dignity of women.

The Commission said it is convinced that they made a low-level personal attack and thus violated the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.

They have been warned to remain careful in public utterances during the Model Code of Conduct period. Their election-related communications will be specially and additionally monitored by the Commission from Monday onwards.

A copy of the warning notice or censure is also being marked to their respective party chiefs for sensitising their functionaries to be careful while communicating in public domain and refrain from any such derogatory comments and violations of model code guidelines.

A controversial comment was posted on social media platforms from Ms Shrinate’s accounts against Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut, who has been fielded by the BJP as its candidate from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Following a row, Ms Shrinate removed the controversial remarks from all her social accounts, claiming that those were not posted by her but by someone else who had access to her accounts.

Mr Ghosh was captured on video mocking Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s family background. He later apologised for his contentious remarks against the West Bengal Chief Minister. 

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

New Delhi:

The Election Commission has issued show-cause notices to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Dilip Ghosh over “derogatory” remarks against actor Kangana Ranaut, who is the BJP’s candidate for Haryana’s Mandi Lok Sabha, and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“… on careful examination, the comment(s) have been found to be ‘undignified and in bad taste’, and to be prima facie violative of provisions of the Model Code of Conduct…” the poll panel said.

Ms Shrinate and Mr Ghosh have been given till 5 pm Friday to explain why action should not be taken against them. “In the event of no response… it will be presumed you have nothing to say…”

Supriya Shrinate-Kangana Ranaut Row

Controversy erupted after a crude and sexist post appeared on Ms Shrinate’s Instagram account.

The Congress leader issued a video clarification on her X handle, in which she said she had deleted the inappropriate post. Ms Shrinate said the post had been made without her knowledge.

“Many people have access to my Facebook and Instagram accounts. Someone from them made an extremely inappropriate post today. As soon as I came to know, I deleted that post. Everyone who knows me knows I can never make personal and indecent comments towards any woman,” she said.

She also blamed a parody account bearing her name for the post.

“Someone copied it from there and posted it on my Instagram and Facebook accounts. I am trying to know who has done this… I have also reported this parody account to Twitter,” she said.

However, by then the post and the photograph had kicked up a storm, including a letter from the National Commission of Women to the Election Commission calling for action against Ms Shrinate.

NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma also called on Sonia Gandhi to take “stringent action” against Supriya Shrinate and another Congress leader, HS Ahir, for similarly distasteful comments.

Ms Ranaut – who makes her political debut in this Lok Sabha election – responded sharply.

“We must free our daughters from the shackles of prejudices, we must rise above the curiosity about their body parts and above all we must refrain from using sex workers’ challenging lives or circumstances as some kind of abuse or slur… every woman deserves her dignity,” she said.

An under-fire Congress has since responded. The party said that such coarse language has no place in public discourse, and also that the matter should end now with Ms Shrinate’s explanation.

Dilip Ghosh’s Comment On Mamata Banerjee

The other show-cause notice issued today was for Mr Ghosh’s comment about the Bengal Chief Minister. “Didi goes to Goa and says, ‘I am Goa’s daughter’… goes to Tripura and says, ‘Am Tripura’s daughter’. Decide who your father is. It is not good to be just anybody’s daughter,” he had said.

Ms Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress has ripped into Mr Ghosh over his crude remark.

Unfortunately for the BJP, Mr Ghosh’s comment also left the party on the back-foot even as it was trying to corner the Congress over the post on Ms Shrinate’s account against Ms Ranaut.

Kolkata:

Amid the row over his offensive remark against Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, BJP MP Dilip Ghosh today launched a counterstrike on Ms Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek and questioned his comments on BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari and his family.

“Just because Suvendu Adhikari is a man, he and his father [former MP and Union Minister Sisir Adhikari] don’t have any respect? A woman card is being used frequently,” he told the media.

Mr Ghosh has come under fire for his remarks on Ms Banerjee on the campaign trail for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. “Didi goes to Goa and says, ‘I am Goa’s daughter’, then goes to Tripura and says, ‘I am Tripura’s daughter’. Decide who your father is. It is not good to be just anybody’s daughter,” he said.

The Trinamool came out strongly against the video and said Mr Ghosh’s remarks show he has “zero respect” for women. Party leaders also said his remarks reflect frustration over being moved from the Medinipur seat, which he currently represents, to Bardhaman Durgapur.

The comments left the BJP red-faced and provided fodder to the Opposition at a time when the BJP was trying to corner the Congress over offensive social media posts from the profile of its spokesperson Supriya Shrinate.

Ms Shrinate has said the derogatory posts on BJP candidate and actor Kangana Ranaut were made without her knowledge.

Hours after Trinamool launched an attack on the BJP over Mr Ghosh’s remarks, the party leadership demanded an explanation from him.

Mr Ghosh has said he will respond to the party’s questions. “This is not the first time a controversy has erupted over my remarks. I have no personal enmity with the Chief Minister. I have only questioned the political remarks she has made to mislead people. A lot of people have problems with my language and usage of words. My party has also pointed it out. Many have said it is unparliamentary. If that is the case, I regret it.”

“But I have a question. A leader from her party, her family, has said worse things about the leader of BJP’s legislative party (Suvendu Adhikari) and his father. Don’t they have any respect? His father is a senior politician in Bengal. The Trinamool did not protest then. Why didn’t they issue a statement? I have made a political statement,” he said, without naming Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool’s national general secretary.

Mr Banerjee has, in the past, launched scathing attacks on Suvendu Adhikari, calling him a “traitor” after he left the Trinamool and joined the BJP.

On a question on the Trinamool repeating Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra as a candidate but not naming her a star campaigner, Mr Ghosh said, “This is their party’s business. They can’t find candidates, so they are getting tainted people and going as far as Gujarat. The public will decide.”

Krishnanagar, he said, has a rich heritage. “It is the land of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And the MP representing that seat says whatever she wants in Parliament and then gets suspended. I have said nothing (compared to her). Will people vote for her?”

New Delhi:

Under fire for her derogatory social media posts on actor-politician Kangana Ranaut, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate today questioned if the BJP would speak out on its MP Dilip Ghosh’s offensive remarks on Trinamool chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“Dilip Ghosh is BJP’s former Bengal chief and its Medinipur MP. He is frustrated after he was sidelined and fielded from (Bardhaman) Durgapur against (Trinamool’s) Kirti Azad. In an offensive remark, he has asked ‘who is Mamata Banerjee’s father’,” Supriya Shrinate posted on X, asking whether the BJP would react.

Ms Shrinate also asked if the BJP will remain silent on the wrestlers’ allegations of sexual harassment against its MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

On the campaign trail, Mr Ghosh has sparked a massive row with his remark on Ms Banerjee. “Didi goes to Goa and says, ‘I am Goa’s daughter’, then goes to Tripura and says, ‘I am Tripura’s daughter’. Decide who your father is. It is not good to be just anybody’s daughter,” he is heard saying in a video that has now gone viral.

The remarks have drawn a sharp response from the Trinamool Congress, which has said Mr Ghosh is “venting his frustration” after he was “ousted” from the Medinipur constituency that he currently represents and fielded from another seat.

Trinamool leader Sushmita Dev referred to the row over derogatory remarks Ms Ranaut. “The BJP is making big speeches (on the Kangana Ranaut issue), but its leaders’ remarks for the country’s only woman Chief Minister are against our political traditions. I want to ask the National Commission for Women chief, you are so worried about the BJP’s candidate, but you are silent when BJP insults Mamata Banerjee. You should be ashamed,” she said.

Ms Ranaut, the BJP’s candidate from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, has hit out at Ms Shrinate over the social media posts from her profiles.

The ‘Queen’ actor has said she has played different women roles, “from a prostitute in Rajjo to a revolutionary leader in Thalaivii”.

“We must free our daughters from the shackles of prejudices, we must rise above the curiosity about their body parts and above all we must refrain from using sex workers’ challenging lives or circumstances as some kind of abuse or slur… every woman deserves her dignity,” she said.

Facing a huge backlash, Ms Shrinate issued a clarification, saying that she had deleted the “inappropriate posts” that she said were made from her social media handles without her knowledge. “Many people have access to my Facebook and Instagram accounts. Someone from them made an extremely inappropriate post today. As soon as I came to know, I deleted that post. Everyone who knows me, also knows very well that I can never make personal and indecent comments towards any woman,” she said.

The remarks have drawn a strong response from the National Commission for Women. “Such behaviour is intolerable and goes against the dignity of women. (NCW chairperson) has sent a letter to the Election commissioner of India demanding an immediate and strict action against them. Let’s uphold respect and dignity for all women,” the panel has said.

Kolkata:

Coming out strongly against BJP MP Dilip Ghosh for his remarks on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress has said the former state BJP chief is “venting his frustration” after his party “ousted” him from his current constituency.

Mr Ghosh is drawing fire over his personal attack on the Trinamool chief. “Didi goes to Goa and says, ‘I am Goa’s daughter’, then goes to Tripura and says, ‘I am Tripura’s daughter’. Decide who is your father. It is not good to be just anybody’s daughter,” he is heard saying in a video that has now gone viral.

.@DilipGhoshBJP is a disgrace in the name of political leadership!

From challenging the lineage of Maa Durga to now questioning the ancestry of Smt. @MamataOfficial, he has wallowed in the filthiest depths of moral bankruptcy.

One thing is crystal clear: Ghosh has ZERO RESPECT… pic.twitter.com/25uvaDPXsi

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 26, 2024

Describing Mr Ghosh as a “disgrace in the name of political leadership”, Trinamool’s official handle on X posted, “From challenging the lineage of Maa Durga to now questioning the ancestry of Smt. @MamataOfficial, he has wallowed in the filthiest depths of moral bankruptcy.”

“One thing is crystal clear: Ghosh has ZERO RESPECT for the women of Bengal, whether it be the revered goddess of Hinduism or the only woman Chief Minister of India,” it added.

The party was referring to the massive row over Mr Ghosh’s remarks on Goddess Durga in 2021. “Lord Ram was an emperor. Some consider him an avatar (incarnation). We know the names of his ancestors. Do we know the same about Durga?” he had said.

Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said in a video message that such derogatory remarks suit only BJP leaders. “Your party has ousted you from Medinipur. You cannot speak there, so you are abusing Mamata Banerjee to vent your frustration. She is a seven-time MP, four-time Union Minister and three-time Chief Minister. She is popular across the country. She is India’s daughter,” he said, adding, “your party is saying, ‘Ja Dilip Ja”.

The BJP MP, who won the Medinipur Lok Sabha seat in 2019, is contesting in Bardhaman Durgapur this time.

Trinamool spokesperson and Bengal minister Shashi Panja said the BJP’s “real character” is to disrespect women, and the women of Bengal will reply to this.

Former cricketer Kirti Azad, who is Trinamool’s candidate against Mr Ghosh in Bardhaman Durgapur, said this is a “zamindari mindset”. “They never respected women, so they say whatever they want. He (Ghosh) has lost his mental balance. He should be in hospital. Such people must not stay in the society,” he said. 

Party leader Sushmita Dev referred to the row over derogatory remarks targeting BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate and actor Kangana Ranaut. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate has said in a clarification that the posts from her social media handles were made without her knowledge and that she had deleted the “inappropriate posts”.

“The BJP is making big speeches (on the Kangana Ranaut issue), but its leaders’ remarks for the country’s only woman Chief Minister are against our political traditions. The BJP is frustrated because it is losing in Bengal. I want to ask the National Commission for Women chief, you are so worried about the BJP’s candidate, but you are silent when BJP insults Mamata Banerjee. You should be ashamed,” she said.  

Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal:

BJP MP Dilip Ghosh has alleged that Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) strong man and a prime accused in Sandeshkhali violence and atrocities against women, Sheikh Shahjahan, brought “votes” and “money” to TMC and that’s why he is not getting arrested.

In a serious allegation, Ghosh also accused the top official of the West Bengal police of helping Shahjahan, who has been on the run since February 5, after a mob, that was allegedly affiliated with him, attacked ED officials.

“Shahjahan will not be caught because this government does not want to. People like him bring votes and money to the TMC. The DG who was himself is running from CBI, how will he catch him (Shahjahan)… He (DG) was missing for 2-3 hours yesterday, where was he? He went to meet Shahjahan and assured him to not worry… Mamata Banerjee is not going to Sandeshkhali because she does not have the courage to face the anger of the people,” said Mr Ghosh.

The members of an independent fact-finding committee led by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court L Narasimha Reddy were detained by West Bengal Police on Sunday when the team was en-rote to Sandeshkhali to probe alleged incidents of atrocities on women.

Fresh protests erupted in Bermajur area of Sandeshkhali in West Bengal on Sunday as women took to the streets to demand the immediate arrest of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Ajit Maity.

Amid the protest, the Trinamool Congress removed Ajit Maity from his post. He was TMC Anchal President. Protesters have alleged that Ajit Maity, a close associate of Shahjahan Sheikh, was also involved in land grabbing and extortion in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali.

West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has also come up with similar allegations and said that West Bengal police will not arrest Shahjahan because he controls votes.

“Mamata Banerjee’s police will not arrest Sheikh Shahjahan because he controls the votes. If he is arrested, then TMC will lose the Basirhat seat. The hearing is on March 6 on CJI’s bench. We hope that the case will go to CBI and Shahjahan will be in jail within 24 hours,” he said.

“Strictest action should be taken. Sheikh Shahjahan should get capital punishment. The CBI and NIA investigations should happen. They should take appropriate action as soon as possible. The people of Sandeshkhali and the entire West Bengal are waiting for it,” he added further.

The BJP leader also pointed out that Section 144 imposed by the state government is only to prevent BJP leaders.

“This section 144 is imposed only to prevent BJP leaders, MLAs and MPs. It is illegal. It is politically motivated. The state government is using Section 144 to hide the situation inside,” Adhikari said.

“Under PM Modi’s government, ED and other investigative agencies have the freedom to work; hence, the incident of Sandeshkhali is in front of the entire country,” he added.

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

Kolkata:

Senior BJP leader from West Bengal, Dilip Ghosh, on Sunday said that India will be renamed as Bharat and statues of foreigners in Kolkata will be removed.

The Medinipur MP said that those against the change of name can leave the country.

Speaking at ‘Chai pe Charcha’ programme in Kharagpur city, which falls under his constituency, the former BJP national vice president said, “When our party comes to power in West Bengal, we will remove all statues of foreigners in Kolkata.” “India will be renamed as Bharat. Those not liking it are free to leave the country,” he said.

Rahul Sinha, another senior BJP leader from the state, said a country cannot have two names and this is the correct time to change the name as world leaders are present in New Delhi to attend the G20 summit.

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Santanu Sen alleged that the BJP was trying to “divert attention from real issues as it is afraid of the opposition INDIA alliance”.

Opposition parties led by Congress have formed the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to take on the BJP in Lok Sabha polls due next year.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)