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Mamata Banerjee condoles demise of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee

Banerjee said she has known him for the last several decades and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday condoled the demise of former Chief Minister of State Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and said she was shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former CM.

Banerjee said she has known him for the last several decades and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years.

“My very sincere condolences to Meeradi and Suchetan at this hour of grief. I communicate my condolences to the members of the CPI(M) party and all his followers. We have already taken a decision that we shall give him full respect and ceremonial honour during his last journey and rites”, West Bengal CM said in a post on X.

Veteran Left leader Bhattacharjee died at his south Kolkata residence early this morning. He was 80. He had been suffering from ill-health for several years, chiefly against respiratory problems that often landed him in hospitals. Last year, he was put on life support when a bout of pneumonia hit him, but the fightful CPM leader he was, made a remarkable recovery. He leaves behind his wife Meera and son Suchetan.

A former politburo member of the apex decision-making body of the CPM, Bhattacharjee led the Bengal Chief Ministership between 2000 to 2011 succeeding Jyoti Basu. Under his leadership, CPM fought the 2011 state elections, which the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC convincingly won ending the 34-year Communist regime in the state.

The 77-year-old Bhattacharjee, known for his austere life, died at the simple two-room house on Palm Avenue where, ironically, he had led the administration of the state. His organs would be donated for medical research in accordance with his wish. His body would be taken to the CPI headquarters for people to pay homage. The last rites would be performed on Saturday.

Bhattacharjee is an alumnus of Presidency College, Kolkata, and became a full-time politician after starting his career as a school teacher. An MLA and a state minister, he was being groomed for greater things to come as he was elevated as Deputy Chief Minister soon after Basu’s resignation in 2000. As Chief Minister, he led the CPM to electoral victories in the 2001 and 2006 Assembly polls.

His tenure has taken a comparatively liberal stand toward business, as compared with that of the Jyoti Basu era. Ironically, it was precisely this policy, coupled with the controversial land acquisitions for industrialization, that caused the Left to suffer an ignominious defeat in the 2011 election.

The Trinamool Congress, which managed to win only 30 seats in the 2006 polls, led the fight against the Tata Motors project at Singur. It was finally shifted out of the State to Gujarat in 2008 by Ratan Tata, who cited Banerjee’s agitation as the reason. The development marked a severe embarrassment to Bhattacharjee’s Government. No less damaging was the Nandigram violence, in which 14 people died when police fired on those protesting acquisition of land for a chemical hub.

The benefiting party, Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, rode to power in 2011 with 184 seats on the wave of anti-incumbency sentiment against the Left Front and the negative perception of the land acquisition policies of the state government. The defeat completed the slide into a decline from which it has yet to recover. A decade later, the BJP is now the principal Opposition, pushing the Left to a minor force in a state it once ruled unchallenged for decades.

Condoling his death, Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said that it marked the end of an era of politics. Chief Minister Banerjee said in her condolence message: “I am deeply saddened. My condolences to Meera di, Suchetan, and all CPM supporters. We have decided to accord him full respect and ceremonial honours during his last journey and rites.”.

Leader of the Opposition, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, took to Twitter to condone his “deep sadness over the death to the family and fans” of Bhattacharjee.

Long-time fellow and CPM general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, described the news of Bhattacharjee’s passing as “shattering”. “His commitment to the party, West Bengal, our shared ideals and his foresight will always be a guiding star,” he said.

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Man attempting to cross India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan shot dead by BSF personnel

“We are investigating the case under these acts,” he added.

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Border Security Force (BSF) personnel shot and killed an individual attempting to cross the India-Pakistan border in the Ganganagar district of Rajasthan late on Tuesday, according to police.

Jitendra Kumar, the station house officer at Kesrisinghpur police station, stated that the man was trying to breach the barbed wire fence when he was spotted by BSF personnel. “They advised him to leave the area, but when he continued to advance, the BSF personnel shot him,” said the SHO.

Sriganganagar Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav confirmed that the suspect was allegedly trying to enter Indian territory around midnight on December 24, 2024. Despite warnings from the BSF soldiers, he did not heed their calls, which resulted in the shooting.

The incident occurred near a village in the Kesarisinghpur area. Items recovered from the intruder included Pakistani currency notes, a cigarette packet, an identity card, and other belongings. Authorities are currently gathering more information about him.

Ongoing discussions are taking place between the armed forces and police officers regarding the incident. An FIR has been filed that includes charges of trespassing and violations of the Passports Act and the Foreigners Act, according to Kumar. “We are investigating the case under these acts,” he added.

This incident is one of several similar occurrences along the border. In August, the BSF apprehended an intruder named Jagsi Kohli, who had entered about 15 kilometers into Indian territory in Barmer after locals alerted authorities that he was asking for directions to Tharparkar, a district in Pakistan’s Sindh province.

In March of this year, another person attempting to cross the border in Ganganagar was shot by BSF personnel. There have been additional incidents reported in October 2022 and twice in March 2021, all resulting in fatalities among the intruders.

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Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Chandrababu Naidu among leaders at NDA meet in Delhi amid Ambedkar row

The alliance had decided to convene on the birthday of the late BJP leader, noted for successfully leading the first coalition government to complete its term.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J.P. Nadda and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu among leaders of the NDA met in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss different issues including Shah’s comment on BR Ambedkar days ago in Rajya Sabha.

In attendance, apart from Shah, Nadda and Naidu, JD-U leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Apna Dal (S) president and Union minister Anupriya Patel, as well as JD (S) leader and Union minister H.D. Kumaraswamy were present.

Also present were Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of Bihar’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) and a minister in the Modi government, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Thushar Vellappally, president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena.

While the specific agenda of the meeting was not officially disclosed, sources indicated that discussions revolved around good governance and various political issues—principles that were central to Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister. The alliance had decided to convene on the birthday of the late BJP leader, noted for successfully leading the first coalition government to complete its term.

Following the meeting, Nadda shared on X, “Attended the NDA leaders’ meeting in New Delhi today. Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, India is achieving unprecedented milestones and has positioned itself as a global superpower. The NDA government remains committed to realizing the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’, ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for all.”

Sanjay Nishad, chief of the NISHAD Party in Uttar Pradesh, described the meeting as “informal” and focused on Vajpayee’s legacy. He emphasised the importance of unity among all alliance members heading into future elections, mentioning that they congratulated the BJP leaders for their electoral victories in Haryana and Maharashtra.

Nishad further outlined that the meeting addressed coalition strategies to ensure that Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives effectively reach the populace and that electoral promises are fulfilled. He raised the topic of providing reservations for the fishing community, stating, “I presented evidence on this issue, as it was a poll promise. They will follow up with us next week to discuss it.”

Responding to inquiries about whether Amit Shah’s controversial remarks on Ambedkar were discussed, Nishad said, “We are here for the welfare of the people. Our energy should focus on achieving success in that area, rather than engaging with negativity from opposition parties.”

The NDA meeting underscores the alliance’s commitment to the proposed simultaneous elections, with all members backing the initiative. A Joint Committee of Parliament, established to review two bills related to simultaneous polls, is set to convene on January 8.

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Manipur CM Biren Singh says state needs immediate peace, understanding between two communities

He claimed that the administration is responding quickly to the displaced people’s needs in areas such as education and agriculture.

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Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday emphasised the urgent need for peace in the state, which has faced ethnic violence since May of last year, and called on two communities to reach a mutual understanding.

Speaking at the Good Governance Day event held at the state BJP headquarters, Singh expressed confidence that the BJP could restore stability to the northeastern state, highlighting the party’s commitment to coexisting harmoniously.

“What is happening in Manipur today has multiple causes. Those who seek to divide the state are now questioning the government’s actions… they are driven by a desire for power,” Singh remarked.

He mentioned several initiatives, such as ‘Meeyamgi Numit’ (People’s Day), designed to foster closer relationships between officials and the public. “We do not oppose any specific community. The BJP’s position is clear: we advocate for the idea of living together and have initiated efforts to strengthen ties between the police and the community,” he stated.

Singh added that the state government is diligently addressing the needs of internally displaced persons by establishing committees throughout the administrative framework. He claimed that the administration is responding quickly to the displaced people’s needs in areas such as education and agriculture.

“We have not made any mistakes. Our goal is to ensure the well-being of future generations. It is essential for both communities to remain calm. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should concentrate on the upcoming NRC process, capturing biometrics, and using 1961 as the foundation year for the Inner Line Permit,” Singh said.

He also highlighted the government’s commitment to acting within a democratic and constitutional framework, noting that achieving these goals will take time. “What we require now is immediate peace and a resolution of misunderstandings between the two communities,” he concluded.

The ongoing violence has resulted in the deaths of over 250 individuals and left thousands homeless due to clashes between the Meitei community and Kuki-Zo groups since last May.

“Only the BJP can save Manipur. BJP leaders possess strong values of nationalism and social justice, practicing reality-based politics in the nation’s interest. If I am not nominated for a ticket by the BJP, I will remain loyal to the party,” Mr. Singh added.

He also highlighted several unity-focused projects initiated by the BJP government, mentioning that a Unity Mall featuring stalls from all ethnic groups in the state will be constructed with an investment exceeding ₹140 crores.

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