BJP Youh Leader’s Murder Sparks Political Row in West Bengal
The brutal killing of a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district has triggered a political firestorm, with the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition BJP trading accusations over the motive behind the crime. Police said on Sunday that a search is underway for two more suspects in connection with the death of Rajib Biswas, a BJP booth president in Baruipur, who was assaulted and set ablaze on August 8. His father and brother, both accused of leading the attack, have already been arrested. According to investigators, Biswas was kicked, punched, and beaten with bamboo sticks and sharp weapons before being set on fire inside a house, which has since been sealed. He later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities have described the incident as a fallout of a long-running family feud. The BJP, however, has rejected the police version, insisting that the murder was politically motivated. Party leaders allege that Biswas’s father and brother were members of the TMC and claim that the two other men still at large are also affiliated with the ruling party. “This was not just a family matter. Rajib Biswas was murdered because he refused to bow down,” BJP leader Sankudeb Panda said. He alleged that the killing followed a dispute over putting up BJP flags and posters of Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly. Panda also shared a video on social media purportedly showing the attack, in which two men can be seen beating a youth as he screams for help, while two others stand by. The footage has not been independently verified by PTI or other news outlets. Calling the murder “an act of political vendetta,” Panda demanded that the investigation be handed over to a central agency, arguing that the state police could not be trusted to act impartially. The TMC has strongly denied any link to the incident. Local councillor Archana Mallick said that those arrested were not members of the ruling party. “On August 9, I was informed by some family members that the youth was in critical condition. I advised them to take him to hospital, and later I heard he had died. This is purely a family dispute. The BJP is trying to give it a political twist,” Mallick said. She added: “We don’t believe in the politics of murder. Those responsible must be punished.” The killing has deepened tensions in the politically volatile district, which has long witnessed clashes between supporters of the BJP and TMC.
THE BENGAL FILES: “Chilling Fatwa: “Rape Sucheta Kripalani to Earn the Title of Gazi”
Controversy is mounting in India over filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri’s upcoming movie The Bengal Files, the third in his “Files trilogy”, set for release on September 5. The film revisits the bloody communal violence of 1946 in Bengal and Noakhali, months before Partition. Agnihotri, best known for The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files – both of which won national film awards – has launched a fierce social media campaign ahead of the release. In recent weeks, he has shared dozens of posts on X and Facebook, styled as headlines from the period’s nationalist newspaper Bande Mataram. One post, in particular, has provoked outrage. It cites what Agnihotri describes as a chilling fatwa by influential Noakhali cleric Golam Sarwar Husseini: “Whoever rapes Congress leader Sucheta Kripalani will earn the title of Gazi.” Kripalani, then a young protégé of Mahatma Gandhi, was in Noakhali in 1946 as part of a Congress delegation trying to contain the riots. Historians remain divided on the authenticity of such claims, with critics accusing Agnihotri of distorting history for political gain. West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress government has already banned the film’s screening in the state, accusing it of inciting communal tensions ahead of the 2026 state elections. Agnihotri has threatened legal action, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre has openly endorsed the film, calling it a long-suppressed account of Hindu suffering during Partition-era violence. The film has premiered in several US cities and its trailer was released in India on August 16 – the anniversary of the Muslim League’s “Direct Action Day” in 1946, which triggered the Great Calcutta Killings. With supporters hailing it as a bold portrayal of forgotten history and opponents denouncing it as dangerous propaganda, The Bengal Files has already reignited one of South Asia’s most painful and divisive memories.
Trinamool’s Abhishek Banerjee lays down ground rules ahead of Bengal assembly polls
With West Bengal’s assembly elections on the horizon, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee is tightening the party’s organizational discipline, holding district-wise review meetings and sending out a clear message: internal unity and grassroots outreach will decide the battle against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). At a meeting with leaders from Barasat and Tamluk on Tuesday, Banerjee stressed generational balance within the party, announcing that leaders above the age of 40 would no longer be part of the youth wing. “If one person holds on to two positions, that is not what the party wants,” he told colleagues, adding that such leaders would instead take up responsibilities in the parent organization. The TMC leader also underscored the need for stronger public engagement. “Factionalism will not be tolerated,” he warned, instructing district leaders to expand outreach at the booth level and maintain constant contact with ordinary citizens. He admitted that the party’s performance in last year’s parliamentary elections was “very poor” but called on cadres to regroup with renewed energy. “In the assembly polls, the BJP must be countered on every front,” Banerjee said, urging elected representatives to remain visible and accessible. In the Tamluk meeting, Banerjee focused on consolidating organizational strength in rural Bengal and paid particular attention to Nandigram — a politically symbolic constituency since Mamata Banerjee’s high-profile contest there in 2021. He also emphasized flagship TMC programs such as Amar Para, Amar Samadhan (My Neighborhood, My Solution), which he said should serve as key tools for local mobilization. By combining the experience of senior leaders with the energy of younger cadres, Banerjee hopes to build a disciplined party machine that can blunt the BJP’s advance in Bengal’s 2026 state polls.
HC warns Abhishek Banerjee of ex-parte order in Diamond Harbour poll case
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday warned Trinamool Congress leader and MP Abhishek Banerjee that it may pass an ex-parte order in an election petition filed against him over alleged irregularities in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Diamond Harbour, after his counsel sought more time to file a written response. The matter, listed as EP/05/2024 (Abhijit Das Bobby vs Abhishek Banerjee), was heard by Justice Sugato Majumdar, who expressed displeasure over repeated delays. Banerjee’s legal team has already sought adjournments on three earlier occasions but has yet to file a written reply. On Tuesday, Banerjee’s counsel again sought time, drawing sharp objections from senior advocate Bilwadal Bhattacharya, appearing for petitioner Abhijit Das, a rival candidate. Justice Majumdar initially proposed imposing a fine of 5,000 rupees ($60) for the delay but later waived the penalty at the request of the defence counsel. He nevertheless set August 28, 2025, as the “final opportunity” for Banerjee to submit his response, cautioning that failure to do so would result in an ex-parte order. Preservation of records The case relates to allegations of malpractice and “booth capturing” during the general elections. On April 8 this year, the High Court directed the Chief Election Commissioner of India and the District Magistrate-cum-District Election Officer of South 24 Parganas to preserve all election-related documents, devices, and CCTV footage. That order remains in force, ensuring that key evidence is secured. Call for forensic testing During Tuesday’s hearing, Bhattacharya urged the court to send electronic voting machines (EVMs), CCTV recordings and other election materials for forensic examination. In response, counsel for the Election Commission of India (ECI) said the Commission would file a written application opposing such a move. Court records also show that ECI’s counsel appeared in the matter even before the Commission was formally served notice. The judge remarked that such conduct raised “serious doubts” about the neutrality of the constitutional body. Wider significance The petition against Banerjee, who is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a prominent face of the ruling Trinamool Congress, has drawn close attention in the state’s political circles. Each hearing has seen sharp exchanges, with the court’s directions and observations adding to the controversy. The next hearing has been scheduled for September 4, 2025. Analysts say the High Court’s firm stance, the demand for forensic scrutiny, and questions over the Election Commission’s role have made the case a political flashpoint in West Bengal, potentially influencing the broader narrative around electoral integrity.
TMC Leader’s Nephew Accused of Assaulting Referee During Football Match in Medinipur
A local football match in Medinipur, West Bengal, descended into chaos on Friday after the nephew of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader allegedly stormed the pitch and assaulted the referee, sparking political controversy. The accused, identified as Raja Khan, is the nephew of Soumen Khan, chairman of Medinipur Municipality. Video footage that has since gone viral shows Raja confronting referee Laxman Mandi — a member of the Kharagpur Sub-Division Referees’ Association — before kicking him in the stomach. Spectators and players were seen attempting to restrain him, but to little effect. The altercation reportedly began after a disputed goal, which was later disallowed. Local sources allege that Raja used intimidation to force the decision. Opposition parties have seized on the incident. BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari shared the video online, drawing parallels with alleged attacks on the Election Commission by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “Attacking referees is part of TMC culture — whether it’s the Election Commission in polls or a referee in a local football match,” he wrote. The ruling party has distanced itself from the incident. TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty condemned the assault, calling it “shameful and indefensible,” but argued the party should not be held responsible for the actions of a relative. He drew comparisons with BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya’s son, who once attacked a government official with a cricket bat. “There is rule of law in Bengal. Action will be taken,” he said. Even Raja’s uncle, Soumen Khan, disapproved of his conduct. “I was not present at the ground. I condemn this incident in the strongest terms. He may be my nephew, but wrongdoers cannot be spared. He should apologise to the referee immediately,” the civic chairman said. West Bengal Referees’ Association official Chittadas Majumder called the assault “a heinous act,” stressing that violence against referees “cannot be tolerated at any level of the game.” The controversy has further intensified the political sparring in Bengal ahead of upcoming polls, with both the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP trading blame over law, order, and culture in the state.
BJP, TMC workers clash at Dum Dum station during AC local train launch
Supporters of the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday clashed at Dum Dum railway station during the launch of a new air-conditioned local train service between Sealdah and Ranaghat, officials said. Union Minister and former state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, along with BJP MPs Shantanu Thakur and Jagannath Sarkar, was travelling on the train from Sealdah when the incident took place. As the train reached Dum Dum, a group of TMC-affiliated INTTUC supporters entered the station premises holding party flags and shouting “Go back” slogans at Majumdar, accusing him of being “anti-Bengali” and alleging that the BJP was behind attempts to harass Bengalis outside the state. BJP supporters present at the station protested against the slogans, leading to a scuffle between the two sides, the officials said. An INTTUC supporter alleged that BJP workers, led by local leader Tamegnya Ghosh, attacked them. Ghosh denied the charge. Speaking to reporters, Majumdar said, “If Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has the courage, let her remove all non-Bengali MPs and leaders from her party. TMC is so afraid of the SIR that it sent goons to disrupt a government programme at the station.” He also accused TMC workers of misbehaving with BJP women activists and criticised the state Government Railway Police (GRP) for “remaining mute spectators”. A TMC supporter claimed that several non-Bengali railway officers were executing the BJP’s agenda and working against the interests of Bengalis. Large contingents of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and GRP were deployed at the station to disperse both groups and restore order. No arrests have been reported so far, the officials added.
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.
‘Bengali Identity Under Attack’: TMC Minister Warns of Growing Hostility, Calls for Global Solidarity
West Bengal minister and senior Trinamool Congress leader Chandrima Bhattacharya has accused the BJP-led central government of orchestrating a “systematic and shameful” attack on Bengali identity, calling on Bengalis across the globe to unite in defence of their cultural and linguistic pride. Speaking at a culturally symbolic Ilish Utsav (Hilsa Festival) in Nimta on Sunday—organised by the local organisation Karmayogi Society—Bhattacharya alleged that Bengali-speaking citizens were being targeted and vilified in several BJP-ruled states in India. “Bengalis are being harassed, detained, even killed, simply for speaking their language,” she told the gathering. “Bengal has never humiliated those from Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand or Odisha. Why, then, is the rest of the country targeting Bengalis? This is no longer accidental—it is deliberate, and we will resist.” Her remarks follow West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s invocation of a recent Human Rights Watch report which, according to her, detailed the illegal deportation and persecution of Bengali-speaking people in India. Citing the New York-based organisation’s findings, Banerjee had sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for “weaponising identity” and fanning communal divisions. Bhattacharya echoed this concern and warned, “The central government will be made answerable. The global Bengali community will not stay silent.” The festival itself, a celebration of Bengal’s love for ilish maachh (hilsa fish), carried an undertone of cultural unity. Organisers said the event was meant to act as a counterpoint to divisive rhetoric. “We invited people from all linguistic backgrounds—Bihari, Odia, Assamese—to join in. Our message is simple: diversity is not a threat, it’s a strength,” said Tapan Chakraborty, president of the Karmayogi Society. In a sharp jibe at the growing politicisation of dietary and cultural habits, Bhattacharya remarked: “Now even what we eat—singara, jilipi—is being politicised. Who gave anyone the right to decide what a citizen can eat or speak? This is not nationalism, it’s narrow-mindedness.” Targeting Home Minister Amit Shah by name, she said: “Stop this divisive politics. Bengalis live in the US, in China, in every corner of the world. You will soon realise what it means to attack the pride of Bengal.” The event closed with references to Bengal’s cultural icons—from Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam to Saratchandra Chattopadhyay and Swami Vivekananda—as Chakraborty declared, “Those who chew gutka and abuse others’ culture won’t understand the richness of Bengal.” As India heads towards a contentious electoral season, including assembly elections in West Bengal in 2026, issues of regional identity, linguistic rights, and citizenship are once again emerging as politically potent and deeply emotional subjects. The Trinamool Congress is now clearly positioning itself as a defender of Bengali pride, while accusing the BJP of erasing cultural plurality in the name of nationalism.
Thousands of Companies Exit West Bengal Under TMC Rule, Claims BJP’s Amit Malviya
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and IT cell head Amit Malviya on Monday alleged that West Bengal has witnessed a sharp industrial decline under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, pointing to the departure of 6,688 companies from the state over the past 14 years. In a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Malviya, who also serves as the BJP’s co-observer for the state, claimed that between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2025, these companies relocated their registered offices from West Bengal to other Indian states. He stated that 110 of the 6,688 companies were listed on the stock exchange at the time of their departure. According to Malviya, the data reflects the erosion of investor confidence and the decline of West Bengal’s status as a business destination, once regarded as a key industrial centre in eastern India. He said the exodus was particularly severe during the financial years 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18, when the state saw 869, 918, and 1,027 companies leave, respectively. Malviya noted that the bulk of the relocating companies moved to Maharashtra, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, with significant numbers also shifting to Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Other destinations included Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, which also attracted hundreds of firms. Calling the migration a symptom of deeper economic issues, Malviya wrote, “This isn’t just a number—it represents lost jobs, economic decline, and shrinking investor confidence in West Bengal. It’s time to ask: Who is accountable for this economic migration?” The Trinamool Congress has not yet issued a response to the allegations. However, the ruling party has previously dismissed similar claims, maintaining that West Bengal continues to attract investment through initiatives such as the Bengal Global Business Summit and that changes in company registration often reflect corporate restructuring rather than economic failure. Let me know if you’d like a shortened version or want to add a TMC reaction when available.
Court sends three policemen, TMC worker to jail over BJP worker’s murder in post-poll violence
A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on Friday ordered the judicial custody of four individuals, including three former police personnel and a Trinamul Congress (TMC) worker, in connection with the 2021 murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activist Abhijit Sarkar in Kolkata’s Kankurgachi area. The court directed that the four accused — former officer-in-charge of Narkeldanga Police Station Subhajit Sen, then sub-inspector Ratna Sarkar, home guard Dipankar Debnath, and TMC worker Sujata De — be remanded in judicial custody until 31 July. One of the officers has since retired. The CBI is probing the case, which stems from violence that erupted in West Bengal following the announcement of the state assembly election results in May 2021. Sarkar, a prominent member of the BJP-affiliated labour wing, was killed on the day of the election results. The latest arrests come days after the CBI filed a charge sheet naming 18 individuals in connection with the case. The three police personnel were not initially named in the charge sheet but appeared in court on Thursday and surrendered. Sarkar’s brother, Biswajit Sarkar, welcomed the court’s move but criticized the earlier inaction by local police. “Despite being named in complaints, the officer-in-charge was never taken into custody or investigated by the Kolkata Police, which instead promoted him,” he told reporters outside the court. Reacting to the development, West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said, “This should serve as a lesson for those police officers who act as agents of the ruling TMC instead of upholding the Constitution.” Violence following the 2021 assembly polls led to several political and criminal investigations, with the BJP accusing the TMC of targeting its workers across the state — a charge the TMC has consistently denied. The case remains under investigation.
