Govt trying to turn country into surveillance state: Mamata Banerjee on Pegasus row
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the government of making attempts to turn the country into a surveillance state with the use of spyware Pegasus.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused the government of making attempts to turn the country into a surveillance state with the use of spyware Pegasus.
Addressing the people online on Martyr’s Day, Banerjee called for the Opposition parties to form a united front and plan to defeat the BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections while pointing to the threat posed to democracy in the aftermath of the Pegasus scandal. She said she would go to Delhi on July 27 or 28 and will be available for an opposition meeting if one is held.
Several Opposition leaders such as P Chidambaram, Digvijaya Singh, Sharad Pawar, Ram Gopal Yadav, Manoj Jha, Tiruchi Siva, Supriya Sule, Sanjay Singh, K Keshava Rao, Jaya Bachchan were among those who heard her address in Delhi where it was played live on giant television screens.
Banerjee, whose nephew and senior party leader Abhishek Banerjee listed on the leaked list, said three things make democracy- media, judiciary, and the Election Commission, and Pegasus has captured all the three. She said Israeli spyware is dangerous and they are harassing people. Phones of ministers, judges are being tapped and they have finished the democratic structure. Instead of a democratic state, they want to convert it into a surveillance state, she said.
Holding up her phone, she showed how her phone camera was covered with tape and she cannot talk to other opposition leaders fearing if her phone is also being tapped. She said the government should also be plastered over, otherwise this country will be destroyed. Taking names of Opposition leaders like P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar, Arvind Kejriwal, and others, she said cannot talk to anyone. Instead of giving money to the poor, you are spending a lot of money on spygiri, said Banerjee while taking potshots at the ruling government.
Banerjee also appealed to the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance against the use of spyware Pegasus. She urged the apex court to set up a panel to probe, as only the judiciary can save the country, she said.
Recalling her Assembly election victory slogan Khela Hobe, Banerjee said one game has happened in Bengal and another game is afoot. She said she will declare August 16 as Khel Divas in Bengal.
She also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by asking him to not mind her saying that he and maybe the Home Minister, have been deploying law enforcement agencies against Opposition leaders. She added that the government had been spending tax money on spyware and not on the welfare of the people while pointing at the surging petrol prices.
Further, she said that the BJP has destroyed the Constitution, and their party members have become NHRC members. The Centre is interested in violence, divisive politics, clashes, mistrust among people, when people want freedom and progress, good healthcare, education and jobs, she said.
TAppluading her governance, Banerjee said, that her party is ready to give free ration to the nation. They distributed 10 lakh student credit cards besides laptops, hostel fees, tuition fees, etc. and also giving Rs 10,000 to farmers. She said Bengal is the real model, not Gujarat and urged the common people to protest against Pegasus snoop gate.
The much-anticipated teaser for L2: Empuraan, the second chapter of the planned trilogy directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, has been unveiled, offering a glimpse of a darker, more brutal narrative. Starring Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal, the film continues the story of Stephen Nedumpally, also known as Khureshi Ab’raam, a character that mesmerized audiences in Lucifer.
The teaser debuted at a grand event attended by the film’s key players, including Mohanlal, Prithviraj, and Mammootty, who released the teaser in style. Clocking in at 143 seconds, the preview immediately sets a grim tone, beginning in Qaraqosh, a war-torn town in Iraq. The atmosphere is tense, underscored by the chilling phrase, “Death to the Evil.”
One of the standout moments in the teaser recalls PK Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar) advising Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier) in the first film: “If one day you feel everything is falling apart and I’m not around, the only person you can turn to is Stephen.” This sentiment reverberates through the teaser as it shifts to Stephen’s iconic black Ambassador car, now layered with dust—an ominous sign of his long absence.
The suspense builds as a voice declares, “He leads the most powerful mercenary group in Asia,” introducing audiences to Stephen’s transformation into a figure commanding immense influence and fear. The teaser’s climactic moments highlight Mohanlal’s commanding return as Khureshi Ab’raam, warning of the perils of dealing with the devil.
Star-Studded Cast and Stellar Crew
Joining Mohanlal in this cinematic spectacle are Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, Tovino Thomas, and others reprising their roles from Lucifer. The film also features Saniya Iyappan, Saikumar, Baiju Santhosh, Fazil, and Sachin Khedekar in key roles.
The story, penned by Murali Gopy, is brought to life with the expertise of cinematographer Sujith Vaassudev, editor Akhilesh Mohan, and composer Deepak Dev, whose score amplifies the teaser’s intensity.
As the teaser hints at power struggles, deceit, and vengeance, L2: Empuraan sets the stage for an explosive continuation of this gripping saga, leaving fans eagerly awaiting its release.
The Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education (MSBTE) has officially announced the results for the Winter 2024 diploma exams. Students who appeared for these exams, held in December 2024, can now access their results on MSBTE’s official website, msbte.org.in.
To check the MSBTE Winter Exam Result 2025, candidates must have their enrollment or seat numbers ready. The results are accessible via a direct link available on the website.
Navigate to the “Examination” section and click on “Winter 2024 Exam Result.”
Enter your enrollment number or seat number in the required fields.
Click on the “Show Result” button to view your marksheet.
Download and save the PDF for future reference.
Details mentioned on the MSBTE Winter Diploma results:
The MSBTE Winter Diploma Marksheet 2025 includes the following information:
Student’s name
Register number
Course name
Marks obtained in each subject
Subject codes and names
Total marks
Maximum marks
Result status (Pass/Fail)
The announcement is crucial for diploma students across Maharashtra as it determines their academic progress and eligibility for future courses or career opportunities.
Students are advised to verify all details on their marksheets and contact the board in case of discrepancies. For further updates, visit the official MSBTE website.
The Waqf Amendment Bill is poised for a final vote on January 29 in the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The committee had been tasked with reviewing the bill by November 29, which was then extended to February 13, approved 14 changes to the draft. The 44 amendments proposed by the Opposition were rejected by its chairman BJP MP Jagadambika Pal.
The Opposition had accused the BJP of bias in several sittings of the committee leading to the suspension of several MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee of Trinamool Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM, both vocal critics of the Bill.
The Opposition MPs had also written to Speaker Om Birla against Pal, saying he was rushing the Bill to gain political mileage ahead of the Delhi Assembly election due to be held on February 5.
Earlier, reports had said Banerjee had broken a glass during a verbal altercation while in deliberations with BJP MP and former Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay.
The Bill aims to reform Waqf Board administration, mandating the inclusion of non-Muslim and women members. The Central Waqf Council’s composition would also change, incorporating a Union minister, MPs, ex-judges, and individuals of national repute, regardless of religious affiliation. Crucially, the Council’s land acquisition powers would be removed. A controversial clause restricts donations to Muslims practicing their faith for at least five years, prompting concerns about religious freedom.
While proponents claim the bill empowers Muslim women and children, critics, including the Congress and the DMK, allege it infringes upon Articles 15 and 30 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom of religion and the right of minorities to administer educational institutions. The final report is expected by January 31.
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