Calcutta HC scraps WBJEE merit list over OBC quota issue, directs fresh list based on pre-2010 categories
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board to scrap its merit list and prepare a fresh one based solely on the OBC categories recognised before 2010. The court observed that the merit panel had been prepared by flouting an earlier court order and was therefore invalid. Justice Kaushik Chanda, while hearing the matter, ordered that the new merit list must be drawn up using the list of 66 OBC communities as identified prior to 2010. The board has been given 15 days to implement the directive and a further three weeks to file an affidavit of compliance through an officer of the rank of senior special secretary. The order is also to be communicated to the Chief Secretary of the state. The merit list was originally scheduled to be published on August 7. However, following the High Court’s direction, the result declaration has now been thrown into uncertainty. The court said that reservation for OBC candidates will remain capped at 7 per cent and will be limited to the communities recognised as OBCs before 2010. It ruled that the merit list, if published, must adhere strictly to these criteria. In April 2023, the High Court had set aside all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal under categories introduced after 2010. A total of 42 communities were added in 2010 by the then Left Front government, followed by another 35 in 2012 during the tenure of the Trinamool Congress government. The court had held that these additions were made without following due procedure and hence could not be considered valid. Justice Chanda also expressed concern over the haste with which new OBC certificates were issued in the days following a recent interim stay granted by the Supreme Court on the High Court’s earlier judgment. He questioned how applications, scrutiny, and issuance of such certificates could be completed within a short span, suggesting that the process lacked transparency and due diligence. The court observed that the earlier judgment of the High Court had not been complied with before the Supreme Court’s stay order came into force, thereby amounting to a violation of judicial orders. The High Court’s latest ruling has put thousands of aspirants awaiting admission to engineering and pharmacy courses in limbo, as uncertainty continues over the publication of the WBJEE results. There was no immediate response from the West Bengal education department or the Joint Entrance Board regarding the court’s directions.
Bloodied Body of Unidentified Woman Found in Santiniketan’s Sonajhuri Forest Area
Police recovered the bloodied body of an unidentified woman from the Sonajhuri forest area near Santiniketan in West Bengal’s Birbhum district early Thursday morning, triggering shock and panic in the local community. According to initial police reports, the body was found lying near the edge of the forest with a scarf tied tightly around the neck, suggesting possible strangulation. Local residents first discovered the body and alerted authorities. Police sources and eyewitnesses said the woman had visible injuries, including signs of blunt trauma to her face and eyes. Investigators suspect the woman may have been murdered elsewhere and the body dumped at the spot. Sensing the gravity of the situation, Officer-in-Charge of Santiniketan Police Station, Dolim Mondal, arrived at the scene. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Police have launched a formal investigation and are currently reviewing footage from several CCTV cameras installed in the area. Investigators said they are hopeful of making a breakthrough in the case soon. Let me know if you’d like an updated version after police release further details or if you’d like it in a more dramatic narrative style.
Opposition Slams RBI Governor Over ‘Unrealistic’ Inflation Claims
Opposition parties in India, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress, have launched a scathing attack on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra, accusing him of presenting “unrealistic and politically motivated” statistics on inflation. In a press conference following the central bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting on Wednesday, Governor Malhotra claimed that inflation in India had dropped to its lowest in six years, even indicating a negative growth of 0.2% in June. “From vegetables to daily food items, prices are now within the affordability of the common man,” Malhotra said, citing RBI data. The governor also noted that food prices had begun to decline since June. However, his remarks sparked immediate backlash from opposition parties and common citizens alike today. “While the common man struggles to manage household expenses, the RBI governor says inflation is nearly non-existent,” said a CPI(M) statement. “This is nothing but data manipulation in service of a political agenda.” Congress state spokesperson Soumya Aich Roy echoed the criticism, saying, “BJP is a party whose words cannot be trusted. After so many years in power, millions of Indians still live below the poverty line.” He also blamed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, calling her “Modi’s accomplice” in pushing the state toward “extreme uncertainty.” Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh also questioned the RBI’s ground reality. “Is there any connection left between the government and the people? In Delhi, from school fees to groceries, everything is unaffordable. The RBI’s claims are divorced from reality.” Data from a recent household expenditure survey appears to support these concerns, indicating that around 39% of an average Indian household’s budget is now spent on food. Despite claims of falling prices, items such as mustard oil, cooking oil, and vegetables have seen sharp increases — with cucumbers and brinjals retailing at Rs 100 per kg, ridge gourds at Rs 80, and green chilies at Rs 120. The RBI attributed the supposed drop in inflation to falling prices of vegetables and pulses, although it provided no region-specific breakdown to support this. Across major metros — Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru — local markets reflect a different reality. Critics also questioned the RBI’s decision to keep the repo rate unchanged, despite its own claim of inflation easing. “If inflation is truly under control, why not cut the repo rate by at least 25 to 50 basis points and provide relief to the middle class through lower lending rates?” one CPI(M) member asked. The RBI forecast India’s inflation rate for the current financial year at just 3.1%, but simultaneously revised GDP growth estimates downward from 6.7% to 6.5%, raising further doubts about the credibility of its projections. “The country is being ruled by lies and jumlas,” said Sayan Deep Mitra, a CPI(M) state committee member. “And the chief architect of this politics of deception is none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Modi to visit China amid U.S. tariff threats and post-Ladakh tensions – first visit since 2020 clash
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, his first trip to the country since the deadly border clash in Ladakh in 2020. The high-stakes diplomatic visit comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has issued fresh tariff threats against India, warning of a potential increase beyond the existing 25% imposed on New Delhi. Washington has linked the punitive trade measures to India’s continued energy and trade ties with Russia. China, also a major buyer of Russian energy, has stepped up efforts to deepen its strategic partnership with India amid the shifting global geopolitical landscape. Modi is expected to travel to the Chinese city of Tianjin for the SCO leaders’ summit, scheduled for August 31 and September 1. The multilateral bloc includes India, China, Russia, and Pakistan, among others. While it remains uncertain whether Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend, Modi’s message on counter-terrorism is likely to draw attention in light of recent cross-border incidents, including the Pahalgam killings and “Operation Sindoor” in Jammu and Kashmir. Ahead of the summit, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had visited China for respective SCO ministerial meetings. In both forums, Indian officials strongly reiterated New Delhi’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, with Singh notably criticizing Pakistan without naming it, in the presence of Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Should Sharif attend the summit, observers will closely watch whether Modi delivers a pointed message in the leaders’ session, reinforcing India’s regional security concerns.
Weapons Cache Discovered in Luxury Apartment Complex in West Bengal, India
Police in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal uncovered a massive weapons cache inside a high-rise apartment complex on Monday, raising serious concerns about a potential organized criminal or terror network operating in the region. Acting on a tip-off, officers from the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate raided Pratibha Manzil, a posh residential tower located in the Regent Park area of Khardah, North 24 Parganas district. The operation led to the seizure of 15 firearms and approximately 1,000 rounds of live ammunition, authorities confirmed. The sudden presence of a large police contingent caused panic in the neighborhood, typically known for its quiet residential character. Investigators say they are now probing why such a large cache of weapons was being stored in a civilian housing unit. “This is not something you expect to find in a modern apartment complex,” a senior police official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are investigating whether this is part of a larger conspiracy.” In addition to the firearms and ammunition, police also seized several lakh rupees’ worth of materials, including cash and other items believed to be of investigative interest. A man identified as Liton Chakraborty has been taken into custody and is currently being interrogated. Police sources say Chakraborty’s questioning is key to unraveling the motive behind the stockpile, and whether it is linked to criminal syndicates, extremist groups, or other clandestine operations. The discovery has sparked security concerns in the region and is likely to prompt increased surveillance and searches in similar housing units in the coming days.
BJP’s Sukanta Majumdar Accuses West Bengal Government of ‘Jizya Tax’ on Hindu Pilgrims
Amid heightened political tension over issues of migrant safety outside Bengal, BJP MP and former state president Sukanta Majumdar has made a sensational allegation against the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led West Bengal government, accusing it of extorting money from Hindu pilgrims during the month-long Shravani Mela in Tarakeswar. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Majumdar claimed that the state authorities are charging a Rs 10 fee per devotee at the Nimai Tirtha ghat in Baidyabati — a popular spot where pilgrims collect Ganga water before embarking on the journey to offer it at the Shiva temple in Tarakeswar. He referred to the levy as a modern-day “jizya tax” — a term historically associated with a tax imposed on non-Muslims during medieval Islamic rule. “Is this merely a revenue-collection tactic or a veiled message to Bengali Hindus that their religious practices will now come at a cost?” Majumdar questioned in his post. He described the move as a “blatant display of the TMC government’s anti-Hindu and fundamentalist mindset”. The Shravani Mela, which began this week, draws lakhs of devotees from across West Bengal and other states. Pilgrims, known as ‘kanwarias’, walk barefoot for several kilometres carrying holy water from the Ganges to pour over the Shiva lingam in Tarakeswar. The fair is one of the largest religious gatherings in south Bengal. In preparation for the influx of devotees, the Hooghly district administration has deployed additional police forces, installed CCTV surveillance, and coordinated with health departments and civic volunteers to ensure drinking water, food, shelter, and emergency medical services are in place. While the state government and local authorities have not yet responded to Majumdar’s allegations, volunteers and organisers say a nominal fee is often collected at certain ghats for maintenance and sanitation during the mela period — a long-standing practice not unique to West Bengal. However, Majumdar insisted that such collections amount to “extortion under the garb of administration” and are being carried out in the name of public facilities, while “innocent Hindu devotees are being forced to pay to perform their rituals”. The remark comes at a time when TMC leaders have been criticising the BJP-led central government over the safety of Bengali migrant workers in other states. The fresh row is expected to further fuel the polarised political atmosphere in Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
India’s PM Modi Meets President Murmu Amid Parliament Logjam and US Trade Tensions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday amid an ongoing deadlock in Parliament and rising diplomatic friction with the United States over trade and defence ties with Russia. The Rashtrapati Bhavan confirmed the meeting in a brief statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying: “Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.” However, no further details of the meeting were made public. The meeting came as Parliament remained largely stalled since the start of the Monsoon session on July 21, with opposition parties demanding an in-depth discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The opposition has alleged irregularities in the SIR process, calling it a politically motivated move ahead of the state assembly elections due next year. Except for brief discussions in both Houses on “Operation Sindoor,” a military-led rescue and repatriation mission, legislative business has been minimal as both Houses witnessed frequent disruptions and adjournments. Modi’s visit to the President also follows growing diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Washington. Just days earlier, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian exports and signaled possible further penalties in response to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil and military hardware—moves that have drawn criticism from the U.S. and other Western nations amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. While the Indian government has not officially responded to Trump’s announcement, New Delhi has consistently defended its strategic autonomy and maintained that its energy and defence imports serve its national interests. Analysts view the Prime Minister’s meeting with the President as a customary but significant consultation during a politically sensitive period marked by legislative paralysis and foreign policy headwinds. With key bills pending and crucial state elections approaching, pressure is mounting on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to restore order in Parliament and address both domestic and international concerns.
Infant’s Death Triggers Protests over Poor Drainage, Roads in North Dum Dum
The death of a six-month-old infant who reportedly fell into stagnant water in the Debinagar area of North Dum Dum Municipality’s Ward No. 13 has triggered widespread protests, highlighting serious civic infrastructure issues in the region.The child’s grandmother recounted the horror, saying the baby fell into the water while asleep. “Had we lived in a concrete house, she might have been saved,” she said. Their house, like many in the area, is semi-permanent and vulnerable to water ingress. Inside, the floor remains submerged, littered with dead snails and fish swimming about—symptomatic of the appalling living conditions residents endure every monsoon. Just across the street, several houses built under the West Bengal government’s ‘Banglar Bari’ (Homes for Bengal) housing scheme stand in stark contrast to the victim’s fragile dwelling. Locals are now questioning why the child’s family was overlooked during beneficiary selection. “Even if they didn’t apply, couldn’t a local councillor have included their name seeing their condition?” asked a neighbour. Large parts of North Dum Dum remain waterlogged following heavy rains, with residents blaming poor drainage systems and crumbling road infrastructure for the worsening conditions. Protesters said the MB Road and several adjoining stretches are riddled with potholes, increasing the risk of accidents. On Sunday, members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] staged a road blockade at the mouth of the MB Road-Birati Bridge, demanding immediate improvement of drainage and road conditions. The protest, which continued for over half an hour in heavy rain, led to a standoff with officers from Nimta Police Station, who arrived at the scene to disperse the crowd. Heated arguments reportedly broke out between the police and the demonstrators. Among the key leaders present were Rounak Das, Secretary of DYFI’s Birati-Bisharpara regional committee; Susmita Dasgupta and Aitreyee Guha, senior members of AIDWA; Atashi Chakraborty, an AIDWA national leader and CPI(M) state committee member; Pintu Chakraborty, CPI(M) North 24 Parganas district committee member; and Shibshankar Ghosh, secretary of the party’s area committee. Local CPI(M) cadres, along with youth, students, and women’s wings of the party, actively participated in the protest, demanding urgent government action to prevent further tragedies.
Ancient Hindu Idols Unearthed During Excavation in Kashmir’s Anantnag District
Ancient Hindu stone idols, including several ‘Shivlings’, were unearthed during excavation work for the renovation of a spring in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said on Saturday. The artefacts were discovered at Karkoot Nag, located in the Salia area of Aishmuqam in southern Kashmir, during an ongoing revival and restoration project being carried out by the Public Works Department, officials said. Local labourers involved in the excavation recovered the idols, many of which are carved with depictions of deities, from the sacred pond at the site, which holds religious significance for Kashmiri Pandits. Officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums have since visited the site and said the relics will be transferred to Srinagar for further analysis, including material and dating tests to determine their historical origin. “We will shift them to the SPS Museum in Srinagar, where they will be studied by scholars and researchers,” a department official said. The site is associated with the Karkoota dynasty, a powerful Hindu dynasty that ruled Kashmir in the 7th and 8th centuries CE. Community members believe that a temple may have once stood at the location or that the idols may have been placed there for preservation. “This place has been a pilgrimage centre,” said a local Kashmiri Pandit. “We recovered Shivlings, sculptures, and other sacred items. We appeal to the government to protect the site and rebuild the temple where these idols can be respectfully placed.” The discovery has renewed interest in the region’s ancient Hindu heritage and calls for preservation and archaeological investigation.
West Bengal Minister Accused of ‘Picnic’ During Flood Inspection, BJP Slams Ruling TMC
A political row has erupted in West Bengal after a video surfaced allegedly showing state minister Sujit Bose and his entourage dining on a boat while surveying flood-affected areas in Ratuya, Malda district. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of insensitivity towards those suffering due to widespread flooding across the state. The BJP’s central minister and former state president, Sukanta Majumdar, shared the video on social media, criticising the TMC for allegedly turning a flood inspection into what he called a “monsoon picnic.” “At a time when children are dying in flooded homes and the state is in deep distress, this is how West Bengal’s ruling party leaders choose to respond,” Majumdar posted on X (formerly Twitter), alongside footage purportedly showing ministers and officials seated in a boat with plates and food. Parallel News Digital could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. “Is this the TMC’s new flood inspection model?” Majumdar added. “While large parts of Ratuya remain submerged and people suffer, TMC leaders and government officials are busy celebrating on a government boat, with crockery neatly arranged.” Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari also hit out at the government, alleging it was indulging in “disaster-time tokenism and philanthropy politics.” “The TMC is preparing for election freebies, but has no arrangement to clear waterlogging. The civic system has collapsed,” Adhikari said. “A six-month-old infant had to pay the price with her life.” The TMC has yet to issue an official response to the allegations. Several districts in West Bengal have been experiencing severe flooding following incessant rainfall, with reports of waterlogging, displacement, and infrastructure strain in urban and rural areas alike.
