Unprecedented chaos in Bengal assembly over Bengali identity debate
West Bengal’s legislative assembly was rocked by unprecedented chaos Thursday as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee clashed with opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators during a heated debate on alleged harassment of Bengalis outside the state, resulting in shouting matches, scuffles with marshals and the suspension of two opposition lawmakers. The uproar began almost immediately after Banerjee stood up to deliver her speech in a special session convened to discuss reports of Bengalis facing discrimination in other Indian states. BJP members rose from their benches, shouting slogans and interrupting her remarks. Speaker Biman Banerjee repeatedly urged them to allow the chief minister to speak, even granting them permission to respond once she finished. But the BJP MLAs refused to yield and continued shouting, prompting the Speaker to suspend BJP legislator Shankar Ghosh under Rule 348 of the House. When marshals moved in to escort him out, Ghosh resisted and fell to the floor in the well of the House. Scuffles broke out as other BJP members surrounded him, tearing papers and throwing them in protest. After several minutes of jostling, marshals physically removed him, as BJP MLAs shouted “one-two-three-four, Trinamool is full of thieves.” Banerjee, known for her combative style, hit back immediately. She led ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislators in counter-slogans: “one-two-three-four, BJP are the biggest thieves” and “Modi chor (Modi thief).” She accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party of being a “party of vote thieves” and charged that the BJP had “sold off the country.” “You are a party of thieves, of vote robbers,” she shouted. “India needs change. Remove BJP, save the country. Remove the anti-Bengal BJP, save the country. You will be reduced to zero.” As tensions soared, Banerjee herself left her chair and entered the well of the House — a rare move by a sitting chief minister — to rein in her.
Shikhar Dhawan summoned by India’s financial crime agency over Illegal Betting App ads
Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has been summoned by the country’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its probe into an illegal online betting platform, officials said Thursday. Dhawan, 38, has been asked to appear before the agency in New Delhi where his statement is likely to be recorded, according to people familiar with the development. The investigation concerns alleged financial fraud and money laundering linked to 1xBet, an online betting app that was recently banned in India under new gaming laws. The ED suspects that promotional campaigns featuring the cricketer were used to lure the public into betting on the outlawed platform. Officials are seeking details of Dhawan’s contract with the company and the nature of financial transactions involved. His brother has also reportedly been summoned. The move comes weeks after another former India international, Suresh Raina, was questioned by the agency in the same case. Dhawan, nicknamed “Gabbar” by fans, retired from international cricket last year after a decade-long career across formats. He played 167 one-day internationals, scoring 6,793 runs at an average of nearly 44 with 17 centuries and 39 fifties. He also featured in 34 Tests, making 2,315 runs at 40.61, and scored 1,759 runs in 68 T20 internationals. Authorities allege that several online betting platforms have been operating illegally in India, siphoning off funds and duping users. The ED has conducted searches across multiple cities as part of its ongoing crackdown. There was no immediate comment from Dhawan or his representatives.
Tensions Rise in West Bengal Over Voter List Scrutiny Demand
The tug-of-war between West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified, with both parties issuing threats over the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) handling of voter rolls. At the heart of the dispute is the BJP’s demand for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. BJP legislator Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, who represents English Bazar in Malda district, declared on Wednesday that unless the ECI conducts an SIR across the state, her party will not allow assembly elections to be held. “If the Election Commission refuses to conduct an SIR and still holds elections in Bengal, we will not allow the polls to take place,” Chaudhury warned, adding that the process must be carried out “even if it requires police or army deployment.” She further alleged that “50 to 60 dead voters” were being detected in several booths across the state, claiming that irregularities and electoral violence had marred past polls. Her comments marked a sharp escalation in rhetoric. Drawing a parallel with the Mandal Commission protests in the 1990s, Chaudhury said, “If SIR is denied, Delhi will see flames again.” The TMC immediately hit back, accusing the BJP of attempting to manipulate the poll process to its advantage. Joyprakash Majumdar, TMC’s state vice-president, said: “What the BJP MLA has said today is exactly what we had flagged earlier. The BJP wants to control the Election Commission for its own political gain. This demand for SIR is only to help the BJP secure an advantage.” TMC’s Malda district president Abdur Rahim Boxi questioned why Chaudhury had remained silent during elections in BJP-ruled Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh: “She only remembers SIR when Bengal goes to polls.” The Congress and Left Front also criticized the escalating political brinkmanship. Malda Congress MP Isha Khan Choudhury accused the BJP of “harassing people in the name of SIR,” while CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged that “one party wants to retain fake voters while the other wants to delete the names of poor migrants.” From the BJP camp, senior leader Agnimitra Paul defended the demand, arguing that SIR is “a normal process” that has been conducted in other states such as Bihar. “In 2005, Mamata Banerjee herself claimed there were one crore illegal voters in Bengal. What is the figure now?” she asked, calling for a transparent and error-free voter roll. Meanwhile, Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, speaking at a rally in Hooghly district, reiterated his call for a “flawless” voter list free from “Rohingyas or fake entries.” He assured supporters that citizenship would be granted to Hindu refugees from Bangladesh under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) for those who arrived before 31 December 2024. The Election Commission has so far refrained from engaging directly in the political crossfire. A senior official said the body would “act strictly within constitutional responsibility” and focus on ensuring that “the work is not obstructed, regardless of political statements.” As the state gears up for its next assembly polls, the demand for SIR has become the latest flashpoint in Bengal’s deeply polarized politics — raising fears that the battle over voter rolls could trigger fresh rounds of street mobilizations and confrontations.
