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A CBI sting for Mamata

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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and TMC leader Mukul Roy, UNI

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the Calcutta High Court ordering a probe by the same agency into the Narada sting, is another fight brewing between Modi and the West Bengal CM? 

By Sujit Bhar

With the BJP sweeping polls in Uttar Pradesh and then cleverly annexing Goa and Manipur as well – Uttarakhand was also a clear win for BJP – the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of West Bengal and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were in a state of flux and apparent shock. Mamata saw the dream of a “secular opposition” collapse like a pack of cards and the defection to the BJP of its only MLA in Manipur did not help matters.

Now, suddenly, a scandal from the past has resurfaced, hitting the party hard. The Calcutta High Court has ordered a CBI probe into a sting operation carried out last year by a private online news portal (Narada News), against 14 TMC members, MPs, ministers and even a senior police official close to the party head honchos.

On March 17, the court directed the CBI to investigate the 2016 sting operation. The instruction of a three-day time limit to the CBI for a preliminary report was given by a bench of Chief Justice Nishita Mhatre and Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty. The bench also gave the police 24 hours (which ends on March 18) to hand over all documents pertaining to the case to the CBI.

The court has been moved by three PILs filed before it on this issue last year, seeking an independent inquiry into the overall sting operation.

Mamata has reacted with usual panache, saying that she was ready to go to the Supreme Court in this issue, if needs be. She has been reported as saying: “Everyone knows that the sting was published from the BJP office. We are going to the higher court against the Calcutta High Court order.”

Minister Madan Mitra who was jailed for his hand in the Saradha chit fund scam is also an accused

Minister Madan Mitra who was jailed for his hand in the Saradha chit fund scam is also an accused

The sting operation had little effect on the elections, with Mamata coming back to power with an even bigger mandate. One minister was jailed thereafter (Madan Mitra), having been released on bail only recently, but he was arrested because of his association with the Saradha chit fund scam. Also in jail is senior TMC leader Mukul Roy, also associated with the Saradha scam. The Narada sting has yet to affect any TMC leader or operative. However, with the CBI taking over the investigation, things could turn out very different for Mamata.

Mamata has always maintained that the CBI is under the control of the central government, and her recent spat with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left the central leadership angry. If the centre does want to influence the investigation, then manipulating the CBI would be easy. That will leave the TMC with no backdoor exit.

If the sting was indeed made to destabilise the state government before the elections, its repercussions now might have a larger effect on the party and its leadership, especially on Mamata, who has been known to be the only “untainted” leader.

This court order could open doors to further embarrassment for the party.

THE STING

Midway through 2016, and just before the assembly elections in West Bengal, TMC and Mamata were shocked to find the video of a sting operation in the media. Done by Narada News, a private online channel owned and operated by “journalist” Mathew Samuel, a number of videos were circulated to leading media houses.

The video showed 14 members of TMC, including top MPs, ministers, activists and even a senior police officer accepting wads of currency notes totalling nearly Rs 70 lakhs with the promise of future favours. Offering the “bribes” was Samuel, pretending to be a businessman from Chennai who wanted to apparently speed up operations when his fake company starts operations in the state.

A video grab of the sting

A video grab of the sting

The timing of the release of the video – just before elections – was a critical angle, because Samuel had later admitted that the videos with a hidden camera were shot quite some time back. Parties in opposition in West Bengal, including the Congress, the CPI (M) and the BJP, had demanded a CBI probe into the matter and the Calcutta High Court had taken the matter into consideration, following the three PILs filed before it.

An appeal from the TMC to hold onto the matter till elections were over was rejected by the High Court bench of the then Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Arijit Banerjee and it directed Narada News to submit the video footage of its sting.

Caught on video taking “bribes” were TMC MPs Saugata Roy, Suvendu Adhikari, Sultan Ahmed, Aparupa Poddar, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and Prasun Banerjee, state ministers Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim, Madan Mitra, Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, MLA Iqbal Ahmed and senior IPS officer SMH Mirza. 

ALSO READ: Stinging the Trinamool Congress [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Cricket news

PCB awards contracts, Pakistani women cricketers face pay cuts and limited playing opportunities

Despite an increase in domestic contracts, Pakistan’s women cricketers continue to face low wages and limited earning opportunities compared to their male counterparts.

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Pakistan Cricket, PCB, Women's Cricket, Equal Pay, Cricket News, Gender Pay Gap, Sports Equality, Pay Parity, Cricket Updates, Women in Sports, Cricket Pakistan, Women Athletes, Cricket Contracts, PCB Controversy, Sports Finance, Women Empowerment, Cricket Development, Cricket Governance, Female Cricketers, Wage Disparity in Sports

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced domestic contracts for 90 women cricketers for the 2024-25 season, increasing the number of contracted players from 79 last season. However, despite the rise in contracts, the financial compensation for players remains alarmingly low.

Low retainers and match fees spark concerns

The newly announced contracts include 10 capped national players, 62 emerging players, and 18 Under-19 players. However, the retainers for these cricketers stand at just PKR 35,000 (approximately USD 125) per month—below Pakistan’s minimum wage for unskilled laborers (PKR 37,000). Additionally, the match fee for domestic games remains at PKR 20,000 (USD 71), with players reportedly not receiving daily allowances this season.

While PCB claims that these contracts aim to “expand the talent pool” and “inspire young players,” financial constraints continue to push players away from the domestic circuit within a short span.

Limited earning potential for domestic cricketers

Despite the increase in contracts, the earning opportunities for Pakistan’s women cricketers remain minimal. The maximum amount a fully active domestic player can earn in a season—including match fees and retainers—is PKR 1,040,000 (USD 3,700). However, players who do not make the playing XI earn only PKR 10,000 (USD 35) per match.

With cricket-related expenses, including personal trainers and diet management, estimated at PKR 600,000 annually, many players struggle to afford essential facilities for their professional development. As one player stated, “Living in Pakistan, not everyone can afford a professional athlete life… I spend PKR 400,000 on my cricket, but I can’t afford a personal trainer.”

PCB’s spending on women’s cricket raises questions

Under the current administration, PCB had announced an increase in investment for women’s cricket from PKR 70 million to PKR 240 million. However, this investment has not translated into significant improvements in earnings or infrastructure for women’s cricket.

Comparisons with other cricket boards highlight the disparity. Cricket Australia, which earns only slightly more from the International Cricket Council (ICC) than PCB, ensures that domestic players earn an average of USD 96,000 annually. Even New Zealand Cricket, which earns less from ICC revenue than PCB, offers better salaries, with the lowest-paid domestic player making USD 11,000—nearly three times more than the highest-earning Pakistani domestic cricketer.

In India, even the lowest-paid player in the Women’s Premier League earns INR 10 lakh (USD 11,500) for a three-week tournament, while top players can earn up to INR 2 crore (USD 230,500).

Gender pay gap in PCB’s structure

While women’s cricket remains underfunded, male domestic cricketers in Pakistan earn significantly higher wages. A player featuring in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match receives PKR 200,000 (USD 715) per game. A “Grade A” contracted male domestic cricketer earns PKR 550,000 (USD 2,000) per month, while even the lowest-tier male contract offers PKR 250,000 (USD 890) per month.

Revised figures shared on social media suggest that PCB’s expenditure on match fees for senior and Under-19 men’s cricketers alone stands at USD 390,361—far exceeding the entire budget for women’s cricket (USD 250,060) from the previous season.

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India News

Shashi Tharoor admits misjudgment on India’s stance in Russia-Ukraine war

Shashi Tharoor concedes he was mistaken in opposing India’s neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, acknowledging its diplomatic advantages.

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Shashi Tharoor on India's Russia-Ukraine stance

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has acknowledged that he was mistaken in opposing India’s neutral stance at the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Tharoor admitted he was left with “egg on his face” after realizing that India’s approach has positioned it as a key player in potential peace negotiations.

Tharoor, who had initially criticized India’s position during the February 2022 parliamentary debate, argued at the time that Russia had violated the UN Charter and Ukraine’s sovereignty. However, he now concedes that India’s diplomatic strategy has enhanced its global standing.

India’s Diplomatic Leverage

“The policy has meant that India actually has a Prime Minister who can hug both the president of Ukraine and the president in Moscow two weeks apart and be accepted in both places,” Tharoor stated during the session titled ‘Waging Peace: Looking Back to Look Ahead’.

He highlighted that India’s geographical distance from Europe and its independent foreign policy have enabled it to be a potential mediator for lasting peace.

India’s Peacekeeping Role?

Although Tharoor emphasized that he cannot speak for the government, he suggested that if an agreed peace between Russia and Ukraine is reached, there might be willingness from India to consider sending peacekeepers.

“Russians have made it explicit that they will not accept European peacekeepers who belong to NATO countries. One would have to look beyond Europe for peacekeepers,” he noted.

Citing India’s history of over 49 peacekeeping missions, Tharoor stated that Indian peacekeepers could play a role if needed. He also recalled India’s strong opposition in 2003 when Parliament unanimously refused to send troops to Iraq after the US-led invasion.

However, he clarified that such resistance may not exist for Ukraine if an official peace agreement emerges.

India’s Global Standing in Conflict Mediation

Tharoor’s remarks reflect a broader acknowledgment of India’s diplomatic positioning, which has allowed the country to maintain strong bilateral relations with both Russia and Ukraine. With ongoing geopolitical tensions, India’s neutral approach continues to gain global recognition as a balancing force in international politics.

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India News

Hmar and Zomi tribes clash in Manipur’s Churachandpur, situation remains tense

Ethnic tensions flared in Manipur’s Churachandpur as violent clashes broke out between the Hmar and Zomi tribes. Authorities’ appeals for peace went unheeded.

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Protesters in Churachandpur amid clashes following attack on Hmar leader

Clashes between the Hmar and Zomi tribes were reported in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Tuesday night, escalating tensions just days after a leader of the Hmar tribe was allegedly assaulted by unidentified individuals. The volatile situation has raised concerns among authorities as attempts to restore peace have so far failed.

Fresh violence despite peace agreement

According to sources, leaders of both communities had met on Monday and reached a peace agreement. However, the truce was short-lived, as clashes erupted the following night. Police sources reported that mobs engaged in stone-pelting, vandalizing vehicles, and even firing shots.

Though reports of injuries and casualties have surfaced, authorities have yet to confirm any fatalities.

District magistrate’s appeal ignored

In an effort to control the unrest, the Churachandpur district magistrate made two separate appeals urging both sides to maintain peace. However, the appeals went unheeded as tensions continued to escalate.

Lingering ethnic tensions in Manipur

The fresh clashes add to the already fragile situation in Manipur, where ethnic tensions have been prevalent. Since May 2023, the Kuki tribes and the Meitei community have been engaged in violent confrontations over a series of longstanding issues, further complicating the region’s stability.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, and further security measures may be implemented to prevent further violence.

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