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BJP’s Kolkata march turns violent, Surya decries fascist Mamata government

High drama was reported on the streets of Kolkata as BJP’s march to Nabanna (state secretariat) organised by the party’s Yuva Morcha took a violent turn on Thursday.

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Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata saw stone-pelting and stray incidents of violence when the Bengal BJP youth wing’s march to the state secretariat building, Nabanna, took a violent turn on Thursday. Party workers hurled crude bombs and bricks at policemen and police, in return, used water cannons at them and fired tear gas shells, besides a lathicharge, to disperse the crowd. Police also lathi-charged workers on the Howrah Bridge. BJP state vice-president Raju Banerjee and MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato were injured during clashes. BJP national secretary Arvind Menon was also wounded.

The protest march was over the recent murder of BJP leader Manish Shukla. Two Trinamool Congress leaders have been named in the FIR filed by police in the Shukla killing. BJP workers set tyres on fire as a mark of protest. Leaders like Mukul Roy, Kailash Vijayvargiya, Locket Chatterjee and Arjun Singh were among those present in the protest.

The BJP has launched a statewide ‘Nabanna Chalo’ rally on Thursday to protest the killing of its party workers. The party claimed 2,00,000 people are expected to participate in these protests despite trains and buses running with limited capacity. BJP’s Yuva Morcha chief Tejasvi Surya, who was among those leading the march, said tear gas and water cannons were launched at the agitators. Surya compared West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government to fascist despots. Surya wrote that bombs were hurled at the peaceful march by Trinamool goons from rooftops and tear gas, water cannons with dark blue liquid launched by the police at protesters.

Read Also: Bihar polls: BJP says Nitish Kumar will remain NDA’s chief minister

The ruling Trinamool government on Wednesday refused permission to the event citing the Pandemic Act and said rallies within permissible parameters of just 100 participants will be given clearance. Earlier, the state government had also announced that Nabanna will remain shut for two days from October 8 for sanitisation work.

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Delhi CM Rekha Gupta says Congress, AAP didn’t address issues of people of capital, BJP did so on day one

The Chief Minister reassured Delhi’s residents that her government would deliver on every commitment made during the election campaign. “We began our work on day one by visiting Yamuna Ghat, and we will ensure that 100% of our promises are kept,” she said, reiterating her administration’s focus on public welfare and development.

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Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who was sworn in on Thursday, February 20, along with six other ministers, launched a scathing attack on Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday, accusing them of failing to address the concerns of Delhi’s residents during their respective tenures.

Gupta emphasized that her government had already taken decisive action by approving the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme on its first day in office, a move she claimed the AAP had stalled for years.

“The Congress ruled Delhi for 15 years, and after that, it was the AAP. Yet, neither of them truly addressed the issues faced by the people of Delhi. Now, just one day after we took office, they have started questioning our government,” Gupta said during a press conference.

Highlighting her administration’s commitment to swift and effective governance, Gupta stated, “We passed the Ayushman Bharat scheme in our very first cabinet meeting. We took the oath of office and, on the same day, approved the scheme that the AAP had delayed for years.” She urged the opposition to focus on their internal challenges rather than criticizing the new government. “Many of their members are ready to leave their parties, and they are worried because we are determined to fulfil all our promises,” she added.

Gupta also accused the opposition of fearing transparency under her government. “They are scared because, in the first assembly session, we will present reports that were never submitted before. The truth about their actions will be revealed to the people,” she asserted.

The Chief Minister reassured Delhi’s residents that her government would deliver on every commitment made during the election campaign. “We began our work on day one by visiting Yamuna Ghat, and we will ensure that 100% of our promises are kept,” she said, reiterating her administration’s focus on public welfare and development.

The BJP’s return to power in Delhi after more than 26 years marks a significant political shift, with the party promising to address long-standing issues and bring transparency to governance. As the new government sets its agenda, the focus remains on fulfilling its pledges and improving the lives of Delhi’s citizens.

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India expresses concerns over Trump’s fund for meddling electoral process claims

Trump’s comments have sparked a debate over whether U.S. foreign aid should be used to influence democratic processes in other nations. Critics have raised concerns about the ethical implications of such actions.

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India on Friday expressed deep concern over U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that the previous U.S. administration allocated $21 million to influence voter turnout in India, suggesting it amounted to meddling in India’s electoral process.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded to Trump’s remarks, calling them “deeply troubling” and stating that the matter is under review.

Addressing a press conference, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen information put out by the U.S. administration regarding certain U.S. activities and funding. These are obviously very deeply troubling. This has led to concerns about foreign interference in India’s internal affairs.”

“Relevant departments and agencies are looking into this matter. It would be premature to make a public comment at this stage, so relevant authorities are looking into it, and hopefully, we can come up with an update on that subsequently,” Jaiswal added.

Trump made the comments during his speech at the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami, where he criticized the funding decisions of the previous administration.

“Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian government… Because when we hear that Russia spent about two thousand dollars in our country, it was a big deal. They took some internet ads for two thousand dollars. This is a total breakthrough,” Trump said.

Despite expressing admiration for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump questioned the rationale behind allocating such a significant amount for voter turnout efforts in another country.

“I have a lot of respect for India and for its prime minister, who just left two days ago. However, we are allocating $21 million to improve voter turnout in India. My question is, what about voter turnout here at home? I believe we have already addressed that; we allocated $500 million for it, which we referred to as the ‘lockboxes,'” the US President said.

Trump’s comments have sparked a debate over whether U.S. foreign aid should be used to influence democratic processes in other nations. Critics have raised concerns about the ethical implications of such actions.

The controversy highlights the sensitivity surrounding foreign interference in domestic electoral processes and underscores the need for transparency in international funding and aid. As Indian authorities continue to review the matter, the incident has added a new dimension to the ongoing discourse on global democratic integrity.

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Four Wikipedia editors booked over objectionable content on Sambhaji Maharaj

“Wikipedia does not operate from India, and it is managed by volunteers who edit content and have editorial rights. We can request them to implement certain regulations to prevent such distortions of historical facts,” he added.

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The Maharashtra Cyber agency has filed a case against at least four editors of Wikipedia for failing to remove “objectionable” content related to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Maratha empire founder Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Officials confirmed the action on Friday, citing concerns over the potential for the content to incite unrest in the state.

The Maharashtra Cyber agency had previously issued a notice to the California-based Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that hosts Wikipedia, requesting the removal of the contentious content. The notice highlighted that the information posted on Wikipedia was inaccurate and could provoke a law-and-order situation, given the deep reverence for Sambhaji Maharaj in India.

Despite the notice, the Wikimedia Foundation did not respond or take down the content, prompting the agency to register a case under relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act. Wikipedia, a free online encyclopedia, relies on a community of volunteer editors who contribute and manage its content.

The issue gained prominence following the release of the Hindi film Chhaava, a biographical work based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj. The film, which has received positive reviews and strong box office performance, has sparked renewed interest in the historical figure.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took serious note of the matter on February 18, directing the state cyber police to intervene.

“I have asked the Inspector General of Maharashtra Cyber Cell to communicate with Wikipedia officials and request the removal of objectionable content and references against Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. We will not tolerate distortions or write-ups on open-source platforms that jeopardize our historical facts. I have ordered officials to take all necessary steps,” Fadnavis stated during a press conference in Mumbai.

The Chief Minister acknowledged the challenges posed by Wikipedia’s global operation and volunteer-driven editorial model. “Wikipedia does not operate from India, and it is managed by volunteers who edit content and have editorial rights. We can request them to implement certain regulations to prevent such distortions of historical facts,” he added.

The controversy underscores the growing tension between the need for open access to information and the protection of cultural and historical sensitivities. As Maharashtra authorities pursue legal action, the case highlights the complexities of regulating content on global platforms while respecting local sentiments.

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