Midnapore, West Bengal:

Stones were hurled by some persons during a roadshow of actor-turned-BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty in Midnapore town on Tuesday, following which a clash broke out, police said.

Agnimitra Paul, BJP candidate for Midnapore Lok Sabha seat where polling will be held on May 25, accused Trinamool Congress workers of hurling glass bottles and stones at the procession, a charge denied by the ruling party in the state.

Both Mithun Chakraborty and Agnimitra Paul were unharmed in the incident.

The roadshow began at Collectorate More and was proceeding towards Keranitola, with hundreds of BJP supporters raising slogans, and Mithun Chakraborty, with Agnimitra Paul beside him, waving to crowds from a vehicle.

However, as the roadshow reached Shekhpura More, some persons standing on the roadside hurled stones and bottles at the procession, following which BJP workers charged at them and a clash broke out, a police officer said, adding, however, the situation was quickly brought under control.

“The TMC is scared of swelling support for the BJP and is resorting to such hooliganism. They can stoop so low as to disrespect a legendary actor like Mithun Chakraborty,” Agnimitra Paul said.

She accused participants of a street-corner meeting of the TMC of triggering the violence.

“Such conduct by those who tried to create chaos in a peaceful convoy is despicable,” Agnimitra Paul said.

TMC spokesperson Trinankur Bhattacharya denied the allegations and said, “We don’t believe in such unruly acts. The BJP itself is staging the drama as the roadshow was a flop.” 

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

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is incredibly responsive and completely natural in his behaviour, award-winning film star and Bengal BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty said.

“The longest he took to reply to my message was 23 minutes,” shared the star, who has just been honoured with a Padma Shri.

Recalling one of their initial meetings at an event in Bengal, the actor shared how PM Modi spent 10 exclusive minutes with him.

“Soon after the meeting, he called out for me. ‘Mithun da, I wish to speak to you for some time’,” Mr Chakraborty recalled. “Those 10 minutes were truly charismatic. Not because he is the PM, but due to his natural behaviour and responsive nature. The impact is still on me.”

Mithun Chakraborty then spoke about the PM’s promptness. “He is quite busy, so it’s natural to expect replies after two or three days,” he said.

“But I received responses within 10-15 minutes. Once, I noted that the longest time he took to reply to my message was 23 minutes. In another instance, when he was in Germany and in a different time zone, he still replied promptly, saying, ‘We shall discuss tomorrow’.”

Speaking of PM Modi’s sincerity in personal relations, Mr Chakraborty said, “PM Modi is someone who never resorts to the common rhetoric of ‘Let’s see’. I prefer to stay away from such individuals. PM Modi always invites, ‘Come, let’s discuss’.”

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

New Delhi:

Former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, founder of Sulabh International Bindeshwar Pathak and a host of other prominent persons were conferred with Padma Awards by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremonial function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Monday.

M Venkaiah Naidu, Bindeshwar Pathak, who was given the award posthumously, and renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Padma Subrahmanyam were conferred with the Padma Vibhushan.

Actor Mithun Chakraborty, singer Usha Uthup, former Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik and industrialist Sitaram Jindal were conferred with the Padma Bhushan.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, among others, were present at the function.

Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian honours of the country, are conferred in three categories — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

The awards are given in various disciplines or fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.

The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order and the Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.

The awards are announced on the eve of Republic Day every year.

For 2024, the President had approved conferment of 132 Padma awards, including two duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one).

The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 110 Padma Shri awards.

As many as 30 of the awardees are women and the list also includes eight people from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and nine posthumous awardees.

While almost half of the awardees were conferred the awards on Monday, the remaining are likely to get them next week.

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