Name: G20 summit: world leaders pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi
Uploaded: 2023-09-10T10:12:58.000+05:30
Duration: T00M42S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: Modi welcomed the dignitaries with an 'angvastram' or stole while standing against the backdrop of an image of 'Bapu Kuti'.

The Cockroach Janta Party announced nationwide protests beginning in Pune on June 11 and warned of an indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar from June 20 if Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not resign over alleged examination irregularities.

CJP to launch nationwide protest on Thursday, warns of indefinite sit-in

The Cockroach Janta Party announced nationwide protests beginning in Pune on June 11 and warned of an indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar from June 20 if Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not resign over alleged examination irregularities.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Wednesday announced a nationwide agitation beginning in Pune on June 11 and warned of an indefinite sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar from June 20 if Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan does not resign.
The group said in a statement that protests will be held across several cities, including Pune, Lucknow, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Jaipur and Hyderabad, while CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said in a post on X that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk will join the Pune demonstration on Thursday.
The CJP said protests will continue until Pradhan steps down, alleging repeated failures in the conduct of examinations and demanding accountability from the minister.
Calling it a national issue affecting millions of students and families, the group said, "The Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, has failed to take responsibility for these repeated failures. Accountability must begin at the top. That is why we reiterate our demand: Dharmendra Pradhan should resign."
It said if the government fails to act on the demand, "the youth of this country will gather together on June 20 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for an indefinite peaceful sit-in protest till the minister resigns".
Describing itself as a movement to defend the integrity of India's education system, the CJP invited students, parents, teachers and citizens to join what it called a nationwide struggle for accountability and justice.
The announcement came days after the CJP organised a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 6, where students and young people from different parts of the country gathered to press for accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and to seek Pradhan's resignation.
The group has gained visibility in recent weeks through social media campaigns centred on examination-related issues and has sought to position itself as a youth-led platform advocating reforms in the education sector.
Organisers had described the June 6 mobilisation as the beginning of a larger nationwide campaign, with Wednesday's announcement outlining the next phase of protests across multiple cities and a proposed indefinite sit-in in the national capital.

Rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee asserted that the dissident faction is the real TMC, claimed support of 64 MLAs, and ruled out any merger with Congress amid Mamata Banerjee's meetings with Congress leaders.

Rebel Trinamool leader Ritabrata claims dissident camp is ‘real TMC’, rules out merger with Congress

Rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee asserted that the dissident faction is the real TMC, claimed support of 64 MLAs, and ruled out any merger with Congress amid Mamata Banerjee's meetings with Congress leaders.

As Mamata Banerjee's meetings with the Congress leadership fuelled fresh speculation about the future of her embattled faction, rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed ownership of the Trinamool Congress itself, declaring that the dissident camp was the "real TMC" and had no plans to merge with the grand old party.
Claiming that the strength of the dissident bloc had risen from 58 to 64 MLAs, Ritabrata said the rebels enjoyed the support of a majority of the party's legislators and a growing number of MPs, and would continue to function under the Trinamool Congress banner.
"We are the real Trinamool Congress. We are not merging with the Congress," Ritabrata told reporters outside the state assembly.
His remarks came amid heightened political speculation following Mamata Banerjee's meeting with Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and reports of consultations between Abhishek Banerjee and senior Congress leaders in the national capital.
The meetings have fuelled intense chatter in political circles over the future course of the diminished Mamata-led faction of the TMC at a time when the party is battling the biggest internal crisis in its 28-year history.
Ritabrata, however, dismissed suggestions that the organisation could become part of any Congress-led arrangement.
"The number of MLAs with us has already crossed 64. It may become 65 tomorrow when another MLA joins us. Naturally, we are the real Trinamool Congress. Who meets whom in Delhi is their matter and is immaterial for us," he said.
The rebel leader said a fresh communication reflecting the changed strength of the legislative bloc would be submitted to the Speaker.
He further claimed that the dissident camp commanded support not only among MLAs but also among MPs, local body representatives and district-level leaders.
"Most legislators are not merging with the Congress. Most MPs are not merging with the Congress. Many district leaders and local body representatives are also not merging with the Congress. Then where is the question of a merger?" he asked.
Ritabrata also reiterated that the rebel MPs in the Lok Sabha would continue to support the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
The statement assumes significance as 20 rebel TMC MPs have already informed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla about the formation of a separate parliamentary bloc under the leadership of Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and pledged support to the NDA.
The TMC's organisational crisis burst into the open earlier this week when a rebellion that had first fractured its ranks in the West Bengal Assembly spread to Parliament.
The parliamentary rupture came days after 58 TMC MLAs, a figure the rebel camp now claims has climbed to 64, defied the party leadership and backed expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee as Leader of the Opposition instead of the party's official nominee, Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay.
The twin rebellions have plunged Mamata Banerjee's party into arguably the gravest crisis since its formation in 1998, transforming what began as internal dissent into a battle over legislative strength, parliamentary numbers, organisational control and political legitimacy.
The split has steadily widened from the Assembly to Parliament, with senior Rajya Sabha members Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Sushmita Dev resigning from both the Upper House and the party.
Against this backdrop, the Delhi meetings between Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee and the Congress leadership have acquired added political significance, with speculation rife that sections of the TMC still loyal to the Banerjees could explore closer ties or a merger with the Congress.
Though neither side has publicly spoken of a merger, the meetings have generated enough political buzz for the rebel camp to repeatedly clarify its position.
Asked what would happen if Mamata Banerjee eventually decided to merge her faction with the Congress, Ritabrata avoided a direct answer.
"Tomorrow will answer tomorrow's questions. As of today, the number is 64 and counting," he said.
The remark underscored the fluidity of a political crisis that has already redrawn Bengal's political landscape and left the once-dominant TMC battling simultaneous challenges to its legislative strength, parliamentary presence and organisational coherence.
For now, while Mamata Banerjee's camp is engaged in conversations in Delhi, the rebel faction appears determined to send a different message from Kolkata -- that the fight is no longer merely over numbers, but over who gets to claim ownership of the TMC itself.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed preparations for the June 21 NEET-UG re-test, assuring strict security, smooth conduct, and transparency after the earlier paper leak controversy.

Dharmendra Pradhan reviews re-NEET preparations, assures students of error-free exam

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed preparations for the June 21 NEET-UG re-test, assuring strict security, smooth conduct, and transparency after the earlier paper leak controversy.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday reviewed preparations for the June 21 NEET-UG re-test and assured candidates that measures have been put in place to ensure the examination is conducted smoothly, securely and without errors.
He also appealed to the candidates to focus on their studies, asserting that the government is taking extra precautions this time, from question paper setting to their delivery at the examination centres.
The minister assessed the readiness of the examination system and reviewed the measures being undertaken to ensure the smooth, secure and transparent conduct of the NEET-UG re-test.
During the review meeting at the headquarters of the National Testing Agency (NTA), Pradhan emphasised the importance of maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and integrity throughout the examination process, sources said.
He said special attention has been given to safeguarding every stage of the process, from the preparation of question papers to the secure transportation and timely delivery of examination materials to centres across the country, they added.
Pradhan also said that meetings have been held under the Cabinet secretary, and all the states have been asked to cooperate with the re-examination process.
&ldquo;The NTA is going to conduct the re-NEET on June 21. We have reviewed the preparations several times. Today, I visited the NTA headquarters to review the same,&rdquo; Pradhan told reporters.
&ldquo;From the preparation of question papers to ensuring that they reach the examination centres on time, we have taken additional precautions this time,&rdquo; he added.
On May 12, the NTA cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, held on May 3 for medical admissions amid allegations of paper leak.
&ldquo;I have written to the chief ministers of all the states requesting their cooperation. Their support was there earlier as well, and I have requested them to pay even more attention this time,&rdquo; Pradhan said.
Several states have already held review meetings involving chief secretaries, DGs, district collectors and SPs, with the NTA DG participating in the discussions, the minister said.
Pradhan cited meetings in Bihar and Maharashtra, including one chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and said he also discussed the matter with Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
Pradhan said the Union home secretary is also expected to hold a review meeting in the coming days and that all concerned agencies are performing their assigned responsibilities.
The Centre last month strengthened the NTA by inducting new officials at the levels of joint secretary, director and deputy director, he said.
&ldquo;Both experienced and newly inducted officials have been assigned specific responsibilities. Some are handling logistics, some are supervising printing, some are coordinating with the Air Force, some with banks, some with states, while others are verifying software security," Pradhan said.
According to sources, the NTA is planning to rope in the Indian Air Force (IAF) to transport NEET question papers for the June 21 re-test, as authorities tighten security following the paper leak controversy.
Pradhan also said that agencies, including CERT-In, I4C, the Intelligence Bureau, the CBI, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Home Affairs, are working together to address the cyber-security challenges.
"All these cyber protection agencies have been brought together and put to work," he said.
Expressing confidence in the arrangements, Pradhan said the re-examination will be conducted across 551 cities through 5,435 centres, including 14 centres outside India.
&ldquo;All arrangements are being completed. We have taken up this responsibility seriously. The NTA will certainly succeed in conducting the re-examination smoothly," he said.
Seeking to reassure the students and parents, the minister urged the candidates to focus on their preparation and not worry about the conduct of the examination.
&ldquo;We had earlier assured students that we would conduct an error-free examination and I want to reassure them now. We will also ensure that the results are declared on time so that students do not lose valuable learning time,&rdquo; he said.
"I want to tell the students &ndash; focus on your studies. We will conduct the re-NEET smoothly and without errors. Please cooperate with us,&rdquo; Pradhan added.
On security arrangements, including the possible use of the Air Force, the minister said the issue is being monitored at the highest levels of government.
"I have discussed the issue with Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. I will meet the Health Minister J P Nadda this evening. The finance ministry is also monitoring the matter. I am confident that we will fulfil our responsibilities," Pradhan said.
"Challenges existed earlier and they continue to exist. But all arrangements are in place this time," he added.
The minister also said that states have been asked to make suitable arrangements keeping local weather conditions in mind.
"We have asked the states to take all such factors into account. District magistrates, SPs and the concerned authorities are being instructed to make appropriate arrangements," he said.
"Our DG is directly interacting with almost all the district collectors. Through chief ministers and state governments, we are identifying areas that may require special attention," Pradhan added.
On the alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG held on May 3 that was cancelled, Pradhan said the CBI is continuing its investigation into the matter.
"The CBI is getting to the root of what went wrong and where. I have complete faith in the CBI," Pradhan said.
"We have requested the agency to take strict action against those found guilty. Their criminal liability should be established, cases should be filed against them and they should face speedy trials in fast-track courts," he said.
"They should receive exemplary punishment," the minister added.
Pradhan also said that the NTA has been directed to examine legal remedies against the entities that breached contractual obligations.
"Some parties had agreements and commitments with us but breached them and violated our trust. We have directed the NTA to examine the legal aspects and assess whether civil liability cases can be filed against them. Legal advice is being sought on the matter," he said.
Referring to reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring the issue, Pradhan said the matter is receiving attention at the highest levels of government.
"When so many senior leaders of the government get involved, it is because the prime minister himself is concerned about the matter."
The prime minister wants to reassure the students through these administrative arrangements. The trust of students and parents is important to us."
The mistakes that occurred earlier will not be repeated. We will conduct the re-examination properly," Pradhan said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to France and Slovakia for bilateral talks and attend the G7 Summit in Evian, focusing on global challenges, innovation, and strengthening India–Europe ties.

PM Modi to undertake visit to France, Slovakia; to attend G7 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to France and Slovakia for bilateral talks and attend the G7 Summit in Evian, focusing on global challenges, innovation, and strengthening India&ndash;Europe ties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a week-long visit to France and Slovakia beginning June 13 to explore ways to expand bilateral ties and discuss pressing global challenges.
The prime minister will attend G7 Summit in Evian in France on June 16 and 17, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
In the first leg of his trip, Modi will visit French city of Nice from June 13 to 14.
He will also visit Evian and Paris from June 16 to 19, the MEA said.
The prime minister will be in Slovakia from June 14 to 16.
"In the first leg of the visit, the Prime Minister will visit Nice for a bilateral meeting with President Emmanuel Macron on June 14.
Both leaders will review the full spectrum of the India-France bilateral relationship, which was elevated to the level of a Special Global Strategic Partnership earlier this year," the MEA said.
In Nice, both leaders will also jointly inaugurate the 'Bharat Innovates' event, which will bring together top innovation startups and Venture Capital funds from India, France, and other countries.
In the second leg of the trip, Modi will travel to Slovakia for a State visit after concluding his trip to Nice.
This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian prime minister to Slovakia since its Independence in 1993.
The visit will reaffirm India's commitment towards strengthening its bilateral relationship with Slovakia in various sectors, including trade, investment, and automobile and railway manufacturing, the MEA said.
In the third leg of the visit, the prime minister will participate in the G7 Summit in Evian on June 16-17.
"During the Summit, he will exchange views with G7 leaders, and those from invited partner countries and International organisations, participating in the summit sessions on Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity; Reviving Balanced, Shared and Sustainable Economic Growth for all; and Ensuring a Safe, Rapid and Efficient Rollout of AI," the MEA said.
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders.
In the final leg of the visit, the prime minister will visit Paris on June 18 for further bilateral engagements, and to attend the VivaTech Summit, Europe's largest technology and startup event.
"The Prime Minister's upcoming visit to Europe will further deepen India's partnership with France, Slovakia, and the G7," the MEA said.
It said Modi's presence at the G7 will reflect India's standing as a leading voice of the Global South and a key partner in addressing global challenges.
"The Prime Minister's participation in both Bharat Innovates and the Vivatech Summit will spotlight India as a global hub for innovation, digital transformation and entrepreneurship, and is expected to catalyse new partnerships between Indian, Drench and European technology ecosystems," the MEA said.
The visit will also reaffirm India's commitment towards advancing its broader strategic partnership with the European Union, it said.

The 13-km Zojila Tunnel, Asia’s longest high-altitude tunnel linking Kashmir and Ladakh, achieved a major breakthrough. The project is expected to provide all-weather connectivity and reduce travel time significantly.

Rs 6,800-cr Zojila tunnel project in J-K achieves breakthrough in excavation work

The 13-km Zojila Tunnel, Asia&rsquo;s longest high-altitude tunnel linking Kashmir and Ladakh, achieved a major breakthrough. The project is expected to provide all-weather connectivity and reduce travel time significantly.

The Rs 6,800-crore Zojila tunnel, Asia's longest tunnel connecting the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, on Tuesday achieved a significant breakthrough with a blast breaking through the last 2.5 metres of the 13-km high-altitude infrastructure project that cuts through the Himalayas.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari performed the breakthrough blasting of the main tunnel being constructed at an altitude of 11,578 feet above sea level, around 24 km from Sonamarg and 103 km from Srinagar.
Addressing the media, the minister said the project is a lifeline for the people of Leh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. It is at a height of 3,000 metres and workers have given their contribution by working in temperatures as low as minus four degrees.
He said 80 per cent of the workforce belongs to the region, and added that the project will provide all-weather connectivity to people of Ladakh region to Srinagar.
The breakthrough blasting of the main tunnel was conducted at an equidistant of 6.5 km, providing access to East Portal (east side) to West Portal (west side).
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were also present on the occasion.
Officials of the National Highways &amp; Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said the breakthrough is six months ahead of schedule.
As of now, about 85 per cent of the total work has been completed, Authority Engineer for the project, Yousef Es'haghpour Rahimabadi, told PTI here.
The tunnel is likely to be thrown open to the public in February 2028, the officials said, adding that after the breakthrough, the civil works will take another seven to eight months before the electrical works will begin.
The tunnel, 9.5 metre wide, 7.57 metre high and 13.153 km long, is a horseshoe-shaped single-tube, a two-lane road tunnel built at the height of around 11,578 feet above sea level.
Abdullah appreciated the ministry for the Zojila tunnel project.
"People of Ladakh region saw this dream long ago. It (connectivity) has been their dream for long.
"But no one was able to fulfil this dream. People had to face a lot of problems with respect to education, tourism, medical treatment," he said, adding that the tunnel will improve the lives of people.
He also urged Gadkari to help in providing the region air connectivity as well in the future.
Once completed, the bi-directional tunnel will significantly improve access to Drass, Kargil and Leh, while enhancing civilian mobility, logistics and regional connectivity in this strategically important area.
In tunnelling, a breakthrough refers to the moment when teams involved in excavation work from both sides meet at a given point.
"The Zojila Tunnel is one of India's most challenging infrastructure projects taking shape in the heights of the Himalayas. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Indian engineers have turned the challenges into an opportunity," the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways said.
The tunnel is also expected to boost economic activity, tourism and regional development.
Besides, it will address transportation challenges through the Zojila Pass, which remains closed for several months every year due to heavy snowfall, avalanches and extreme weather conditions.
The tunnel from Baltal in the Ganderbal district of central Kashmir to Minimarg in Drass district of the Union Territory of Ladakh has an 18-km approach road.
Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL), the agency executing the project, used the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) to pierce through the Himalayas and navigate the fragile geology.
The entire project is 31 km long, including the approach road and bridges, stretching from Sonmarg to Minimarg.
Once operational, the tunnel would enhance both civilian and military mobility across the treacherous Zojila Pass that is usually rendered shut for traffic for three winter months due to heavy snowfall.
MEIL won the project from the NHIDCL and began constructing the tunnel in October 2020.
Speaking further, Gadkari said that multiple rounds of bids were invited for the project.
In the fifth round, the estimation for the project was delivered around Rs 12,000 crore but "we are building it at around Rs 7,000 crore. So we saved Rs 5,000 crore".
MEIL is aiming to complete the project by 2028. However, it will continue to operate and maintain the tunnel for a period of five years after commissioning, officials said.
Besides being the longest tunnel project in Asia, Zojila is also among the world's highest tunnel projects, the officials said.
Over the last five years, the site has witnessed five avalanche incidents, including a severe one in January 2023 when 172 workers stranded in the area were rescued by the Indian Army.
Despite these challenges, the project has achieved 10 million safe man-hours, MEIL said.
The geo-strategically important tunnel on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway will provide year-round, all-weather connectivity to Ladakh, reducing the travel time from 1-1.5 hours to 15 minutes, the officials said.

India accused Pakistan of police brutality in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir after reports of over 20 deaths during protests, urging the international community to hold Islamabad accountable for alleged human rights violations.

India urges global community to hold Pakistan accountable after deadly PoK violence

India accused Pakistan of police brutality in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir after reports of over 20 deaths during protests, urging the international community to hold Islamabad accountable for alleged human rights violations.

India on Tuesday came down hard on Islamabad for its "brutality" against people in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and called on the international community to hold that country accountable for its "abuses".
India's reaction came as over 20 people were reportedly killed in police action on protesters in several parts of PoK.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, slamming Pakistan, said there have been "desperate" attempts by Islamabad to cover up its "failings" and deflect attention away from its alleged human rights abuses.
"We continue to see in this context, a pattern of fake news and videos emanating from Pakistan. It is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to cover-up its own failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses," he said.
"There are reports of severe police brutality in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in which several protestors have been killed and many injured. We hope the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and abuses," Jaiswal added.
He was responding to a question at a media briefing.
India's reaction came a day after Pakistan's human rights body said that it is "deeply alarmed" by the ongoing violence in PoK during violent clashes.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also expressed serious concerns about the so-called regional government's decision to proscribe the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) under anti-terrorism legislation.
The JAAC has long been demanding the abolition of 12 "refugee seats" in the so-called Legislative Assembly in PoK.
The seats are reserved for refugees from Kashmir who settled in Pakistan after 1947.
JAAC alleges that these seats were often used by mainstream Pakistani political parties to influence the formation of governments in Muzaffarabad.
India has lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the recent elections, maintaining that PoK has been "illegally and forcibly" occupied by Pakistan.

Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan’s nomination for the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha election was rejected after allegations that she failed to disclose details of a pending case in Telangana in her affidavit.

Rajya Sabha Elections: MP Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination rejected during scrutiny

Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan&rsquo;s nomination for the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha election was rejected after allegations that she failed to disclose details of a pending case in Telangana in her affidavit.

The upcoming elections to three Rajya Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh took a dramatic turn on Tuesday with the nomination of Congress candidate Meenakshi Natarajan being rejected on charges of concealing information about a case in the affidavit.
"Natarajan&rsquo;s nomination has been rejected by the Returning Officer on the grounds of hiding information about a case," an MP Assembly official told PTI.
A complaint was submitted by BJP candidate Mahesh Kewat, contesting the third Rajya Sabha seat, to the Returning Officer alleging that Natarajan deliberately hid information about a case filed against her in Telangana.
Sanket Gupta, the lawyer representing Kewat, told reporters that a criminal case is pending against Natarajan in a Telangana court and is not mentioned in the affidavit.
He said the Returning Officer has rejected her nomination on this basis.
"This information has been deliberately concealed. According to Supreme Court guidelines, you are required to provide this information in the affidavit. Kewat had filed an objection to Natarajan's candidacy under this same provision," he added.
He claimed several other deficiencies were found in the nomination.
Congress's Madhya Pradesh in-charge, Harish Chaudhary, claimed that no case had been filed against Natarajan and that the BJP is bringing up such cases to harass her.
He said Natarajan had received a show-cause notice from the court, and it was not necessary to mention it in the affidavit.
He said the Election Commission's instructions are clear that information must be provided in the nomination when a case is filed, not upon receiving a notice.
"Technically, Natarajan's nomination cannot be rejected," Chaudhary added.

Trinamool Congress faces a deepening internal crisis as a group of rebel MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, claim majority support for backing the NDA, adding to recent unrest within the party's legislative ranks.

TMC rebellion spreads from assembly to Parliament, breakaway camp claims support of 20 MPs

Trinamool Congress faces a deepening internal crisis as a group of rebel MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, claim majority support for backing the NDA, adding to recent unrest within the party's legislative ranks.

After a split between its MLAs, the Trinamool Congress appeared headed for an implosion in Parliament, with a group of MPs claiming majority support deciding to ditch Mamata Banerjee and back the BJP-led NDA.
On a day when TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee were attending the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi, Lok Sabha MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who is at the forefront of the rebel faction, said they had decided to write to Speaker Om Birla declaring support for the NDA.
The crisis engulfing the TMC deepened on Monday with Ghosh Dastidar claiming that 20 MPs of the party have decided to write to the speaker.
Speaking to PTI over phone, Ghosh Dastidar said, "Nearly twenty TMC MPs, including me, have decided to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and formally support the NDA."
Sources said the dissident MPs intend to argue before the speaker that Ghosh Dastidar continues to be the chief whip of the party in the Lok Sabha.
"We have accepted the people's verdict and believe that our future political course should be aligned with the NDA," Ghosh Dastidar said.
A TMC leader, however, said the party had communicated its decision to remove her as chief whip and appoint Kalyan Banerjee to the Lok Sabha Secretariat through an official letter dated May 20, signed by TMC Parliamentary Party Chairperson Mamata Banerjee.
A copy of the letter shared by party sources showed a stamp of receipt from the speaker's office dated May 29.
According to sources, the rebel MPs have chosen not to immediately resign from the TMC or join the BJP.
Instead, they intend to function as a separate bloc supporting the NDA, a strategy designed as a shield against the anti-defection law.
The arithmetic is politically significant.
The TMC currently has 28 Lok Sabha MPs, with one vacancy following the death of Basirhat MP Haji Nurul Islam.
The support of 20 MPs would comfortably cross the two-thirds threshold needed to thwart the invocation of the anti-defection law.
The TMC leader, however, reiterated that even securing that number would not automatically enable the rebel faction to function as a separate parliamentary group.
"As per the law, even if two-thirds of MPs wish to leave a party, the only choice they have is to merge with another political party. There is no provision for a separate group," the leader said.
A group of dissident MPs, meanwhile, held a meeting at BJP leader Bhupender Yadav's residence in Delhi, a source said.
A photograph purportedly from the meeting circulating online showed Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Shekhar Ray, along with MPs Abu Taher, Asit Mal, Arup Chakraborty, Kalipada Soren, Jagadish Basunia, Prasun Banerjee, Sharmila Sarkar, and Satabdi Roy.
Party sources also said around 20 MPs attended an informal gathering at an undisclosed location in the national capital late Sunday night.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, the MPs discussed possible courses of action and expressed their displeasure over the existing party's parliamentary leadership structure.
TMC MP Sougata Roy dismissed suggestions of an exodus.
"I have heard that some MPs held a separate meeting last night. Only they can say what transpired in the meeting. I was not contacted by them," he said.
Asked about reports of attempts by the BJP to reach out to TMC MPs, Roy said he had been contacted but declined the offer.
"I told them I will remain with the TMC. At this age, it won't be possible for me to change camp," the 78-year-old four-term MP told PTI.
Ray, who attended the meeting at Yadav's residence, resigned from the Rajya Sabha as well as the primary membership of the party and issued a statement accusing the TMC of "15-year anarchical rule" before the BJP came to power in the state.
His resignation from the Rajya Sabha has been accepted by RS Chairman C P Radhakrishnan.
"I have met the Rajya Sabha chairman and submitted my resignation. I have conveyed my decision to resign from the party through WhatsApp and email to Mamata Banerjee," Ray told reporters.
"I had my tenure till 2029 in the Rajya Sabha, but I have resigned in principle from the party as it would be difficult for me to continue," he said.
Rebel leader Ritabrata Banerjee, who now heads the breakaway faction in the West Bengal Assembly, described Ray's resignation as a sign of rising dissent in the party and claimed more parliamentarians could publicly distance themselves from the TMC in the coming days.
The development comes barely days after the TMC leadership suffered a setback in the West Bengal Assembly, where 58 of its 80 MLAs defied the party high command's decision to appoint veteran leader Sovandeb Chattopadhyay as the leader of the Opposition and elected expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee to that post.
The political turbulence that has gripped the TMC since its electoral debacle has veritably softened party supremo Mamata Banerjee, who attended the INDIA bloc meeting here with a reconciliatory approach to chart a pan-India strategy against the BJP.

Eight workers were killed and six injured after molten iron spilled at the Vizag Steel Plant in Visakhapatnam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation for victims and their families.

Eight workers killed in Vizag Steel Plant as molten iron spills

Eight workers were killed and six injured after molten iron spilled at the Vizag Steel Plant in Visakhapatnam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation for victims and their families.

At least eight workers were killed and six others injured after molten iron spilled on them at the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (Vizag Steel Plant) in Visakhapatnam on Monday, officials said.&nbsp;
Some of the injured are reported to be in critical condition, while rescue operations were launched immediately after the incident.
According to police, the accident occurred when molten iron, being transported in a crane-mounted bucket, spilled on workers. The metal was estimated to be at a temperature of around 1,600 degrees Celsius.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed condolences, announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh for the families of each deceased worker and ₹50,000 for those injured, and said authorities were providing all possible assistance to the affected families.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the tragedy and directed all departments to coordinate relief efforts.

Opposition INDIA bloc leaders resolved to seek Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET-CBSE controversy and write to the Chief Justice on electoral roll revision and alleged vote irregularities.

INDIA bloc meeting: Oppn leaders vow unity, seek Pradhan's resignation, to write to CJI on SIR

Opposition INDIA bloc leaders resolved to seek Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET-CBSE controversy and write to the Chief Justice on electoral roll revision and alleged vote irregularities.

Stressing unity against the BJP, the opposition INDIA bloc members on Monday unanimously decided to demand Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's immediate resignation over the NEET-CBSE row and write to the chief justice of India on the SIR exercise and &ldquo;vote loot&rdquo;.
At the meeting, top leaders of several opposition parties called for the need to safeguard democratic values and address people-centric issues such as unemployment, price rise, &ldquo;atrocities&rdquo; against oppressed sections, and sought an all-party meeting to discuss them along with the &ldquo;precarious&rdquo; economic situation in the country.
They also decided to meet after every two months to ensure opposition unity, with the next meeting scheduled in Hyderabad for August, while continuing with Parliament coordination during the upcoming Monsoon Session.
The BJP has called the INDIA bloc &ldquo;a figment of imagination&rdquo; that lacked conviction on the ground, claiming that there was an implosion within the opposition alliance with disagreements involving the Congress, DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Left parties.
Leaders of 22 opposition parties and Independent MP Kapil Sibal were part of the deliberations that lasted for more than two-and-a-half hours at the Constitution Club, amid a BJP surge in the run-up to the next Assembly elections cycle and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
Earlier, Kharge had said that leaders of 25 opposition parties met on Monday.
The DMK, a key INDIA bloc constituent, did not attend the meeting, while the AAP had already distanced itself from the grouping.
Despite speculation, Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s ruling party TVK did not attend the opposition meeting.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of differences emerging among some of the INDIA bloc partners, including the Left and the Congress over the charge made during the recent Kerala polls that the Left had a political understanding with the BJP.
John Brittas of the CPI-M and D Raja of the CPI raised the issue with the Congress during the meeting.
Trinamool Congress&rsquo; Mamata Banerjee raised the issue of alleged "political retribution" during and after the recent West Bengal polls.
The deliberations began with a call to forge unity and rework the opposition strategy to take on the BJP, while ironing out the differences within after the defeat of regional outfits Trinamool Congress and DMK in the recent Assembly polls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, respectively.
The meeting also came at a time when the Narendra Modi government completed 12 years in office in its third consecutive term.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, &ldquo;We have agreed on five issues. A letter would be sent to the chief justice of India (CJI) soon on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, &lsquo;vote loot&rsquo; and &lsquo;stealing of elections&rsquo;.
&ldquo;It was also unanimously agreed to demand the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan because he presided over the betrayal of lakhs of youth who appeared in NEET and CBSE," he said.
Flanked by Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee and other senior leaders of the grouping, Kharge said, &ldquo;We are going to raise many people-centric issues, which all the parties have unanimously agreed to.&rdquo;
&ldquo;The opposition leaders also decided to continue coordination during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, with daily morning meetings at the office of the leader of opposition,&rdquo; he added.
The Congress veteran also said that all the opposition leaders aired their views freely at the meeting, which Shiv Sena-UBT's Uddhav Thackeray and JMM's Hemant Soren joined virtually.
Among those who attended the meeting were Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Kharge from the Congress, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee from the Trinamool Congress, Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, Tejashwi Yadav from the RJD, Omar Abdullah from the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti from the PDP, along with Left leaders.
NCP(SP) leader Supriya Sule, CPI(M)'s Brittas, CPI's Raja and leaders of some smaller parties were also part of the deliberations.
Kharge urged the opposition leaders to strengthen unity to confront the political, economic, social and foreign policy challenges facing the country due to the Modi government's "misgovernance".
He claimed that the assault on the Constitution continued while the probe agencies were persistently being used as tools to &ldquo;harass&rdquo;, &ldquo;intimidate&rdquo;, and &ldquo;bully&rdquo; political opponents.
He also pointed to the "complete mismanagement" of the examination system, dashing the hopes and aspirations of lakhs of youth.
According to sources, Rahul Gandhi told the meeting that he was 100 per cent sure that elections are &ldquo;robbed&rdquo; in the country.
The ex-Congress chief also stressed unity, and said one must bring everyone together with love and affection.
The issue of aligning with the youth-led political movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) also cropped up during the discussions, with Akhilesh Yadav and Omar Abdullah calling for associating with the outfit, and Mamata Banerjee speaking about supporting civil society movements.
Akhilesh Yadav, who spoke about "vote chori" and said the Bengal polls were "robbed", appealed to the Congress to show a big heart and back the strongest regional parties.
Uddhav Thackeray also lauded Banerjee for having fought the polls like a "lioness".
RJD&rsquo; Tejashwi Yadav said the bloc's strategy must focus on the 2029 Lok Sabha polls and urged everyone to hit the streets.
Omar Abdullah urged all the opposition parties to look ahead at the 2029 general elections, stressing that the Congress is the glue that holds the INDIA bloc together.
The last official meeting of the INDIA bloc was held in Delhi on June 1, 2024, after the Lok Sabha polls. The bloc originally comprised more than 25 parties.

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Modi welcomed the dignitaries with an 'angvastram' or stole while standing against the backdrop of an image of 'Bapu Kuti'.

G20 summit: world leaders pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi

Modi welcomed the dignitaries with an 'angvastram' or stole while standing against the backdrop of an image of 'Bapu Kuti'.

G20 leaders and other dignitaries paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on Sunday.
The leaders laid wreaths at the Gandhi memorial after being received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;
Devotional songs played in the background during the leaders' visit.&nbsp;

India has strongly protested to the United States after three merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members were attacked off Oman in four days, resulting in the deaths of three Indian seafarers and raising concerns over maritime safety.

3 vessels with Indian seafarers attacked by US Navy; India says these strikes must stop

India has strongly protested to the United States after three merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members were attacked off Oman in four days, resulting in the deaths of three Indian seafarers and raising concerns over maritime safety.

India on Thursday said three merchant ships with Indian crew members came under attack from American military off the coast of Oman in the last four days resulting in the death of three nationals and it has lodged a strong protest with the US over the strikes.
It was New Delhi's first public acknowledgement that US Navy targeted the three ships with Indian crew members.
New Delhi asserted that these attacks must stop.
A Palau-flagged oil tanker, Marivex, carrying 24 Indian seafarers, was disabled by US forces on June 8. All crew members were safely rescued.
On June 10, US struck another Palau-flagged tanker Settebello, killing three out of the 24 Indian sailors on board.
Another vessel 'Jalveer', a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker with 20 Indians, was attacked on Thursday.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a news briefing that the three separate strikes on the Settebello, Marivex and Jalveer "came from the US Navy".
Following the attack on Settebello on Wednesday that killed three Indians, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned US Charge d'Affaires Jason Meeks and he was handed a demarche or diplomatic note of protest.
"We attach high importance to the welfare and well-being of our seafaring community. When this particular attack on the ship Settebello occurred, we lodged a strong protest with the American side," Jaiswal said.
"We summoned the US Charge d'Affaires and he was conveyed our deepest concern over the ongoing incidents of attacks. We also registered our strong protest," he said.
Jaiswal emphasised that these attacks "must stop".
"We further conveyed that dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward for the peaceful resolution of the conflict, and that there should be unimpeded access through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law," he said.
"Therefore, we made our position very clear on each of these points, while reiterating how important the lives of our people are, welfare and safety of our people are," he added.
Jaiswal said two of the three vessels were subject to sanctions administered by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), while another had been classified as non-compliant.
The OFAC is the financial intelligence and enforcement agency of the US Treasury Department and it acts against vessels involved in violating US sanctions on the sale of Iranian and Russian oil.
"The three ships that have been involved in these incidents were foreign-flagged vessels. Two of them were Palau-flagged, while the third ship is Guinea-Bissau-flagged. They were not Indian-owned ships," the MEA spokesperson said.
US Central Command (Centcom) has confirmed strikes on Settebello and Marivex but is yet to comment on reported strikes on Jalveer.
Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping &amp; Waterways, said evacuation of the seafarers on Jalveer has commenced.
From Settebello, all the remaining 25 crew members including 21 Indians, two Pakistani, one Russian and one Ukranian have been safely evacuated, he said, adding the Seamen Welfare Fund Society has been asked to pay Rs 10 lakh to family of each deceased.
He said more than 18,000 Indian seafarers remained in the Gulf region, including 562 crew members aboard 13 Indian-flagged ships - 329 on vessels on the west of Strait of Hormuz and 233 on vessels in Gulf of Oman.
In its reaction, India also said that the continuing incidents of attacks on shipping are deeply worrisome and a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the region.
New Delhi has been pressing for immediate de-escalation of tensions, and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution.
"The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region in keeping with international law must be restored at the earliest," the MEA said in a statement on Tuesday.
At a separate media briefing, Secretary (West) in the MEA Sibi George indicated that the evolving situation in West Asia as well as restrictions on shipping through Strait of Hormuz may figure in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bilateral meetings on the sidelines of G7 summit in France next week.

Three Indian crew members aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello have been confirmed dead following a US military strike off Oman. India has lodged a strong protest and pledged support to the victims' families.

Three missing Indian seafarers onboard MT Settebello confirmed dead: Sonowal

Three Indian crew members aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello have been confirmed dead following a US military strike off Oman. India has lodged a strong protest and pledged support to the victims' families.

Three Indian seafarers onboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, initially reported missing after the US military strike on the commercial vessel off Oman coast, are now confirmed dead, Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday after bodies were located and identified.
It is deeply unfortunate to learn of the tragic incident aboard the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, Sonowal said in a social media post.
"Sadly, three Indian seafarers initially reported missing are now confirmed dead after bodies have been located and identified," he added.
The minister added that this is a "profound loss to our maritime family".
"The Modi Govt stands firmly with the bereaved during this difficult hour and is fully committed to supporting the next of kin," he added.
Sonowal said he has directed officials to ensure immediate repatriation of the rescued crew members and swift return of the mortal remains of the deceased for their final rites.
India on Wednesday summoned the US charge d'affaires to strongly protest a US military attack on a commercial vessel off the Oman coast that left three of the 24 Indian crew members missing.
The US Central Command acknowledged the strike, saying the vessel violated the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports by attempting to transport oil from Iran.
"The US Central Command disabled Palau-flagged M/T Settebello as it transited the Gulf of Oman. A US aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship's engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces," it had said in a statement.
In its statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the attack.
"We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman, earlier today. Of the 24 Indian crew onboard, 21 Indians have been rescued thus far and three Indians are reportedly missing," it had said.
The incident came amid renewed hostilities between Iran and Israel.
Israel carried out air strikes in western and central Iran after Iran fired missiles at northern Israel.

The National Commission for Women has summoned comedian Pranit More and web developer Himanshu Jangra over remarks made during a Gurugram stand-up show, citing concerns about the glorification of sexual coercion and non-consensual conduct.

Rs 370 biryani remark: NCW summons More, Jangra over Gurugram comedy show

The National Commission for Women has summoned comedian Pranit More and web developer Himanshu Jangra over remarks made during a Gurugram stand-up show, citing concerns about the glorification of sexual coercion and non-consensual conduct.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday summoned comedian Pranit More and web developer Himanshu Jangra over remarks allegedly made during a stand-up comedy show in Gurugram that the commission said appeared to glorify sexual coercion and non-consensual conduct towards a woman.
Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports and a viral video of the incident, the commission said its chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to the Haryana Director General of Police, seeking immediate and time-bound action and requesting an Action Taken Report within seven days.
"The NCW has taken suo motu cognisance of widely reported media coverage and viral video footage concerning an incident during a stand-up comedy show held in Gurugram, Haryana, where remarks allegedly glorifying sexual coercion and non-consensual conduct towards a woman were publicly made and subsequently applauded," the commission said in a statement.
Expressing concern over the video's content, the commission said the "normalisation or glorification of behaviour that undermines a woman's consent, dignity and bodily autonomy has far-reaching consequences for women's safety and social attitudes towards gender-based violence."
The commission said it has sought details regarding the status of an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other applicable laws, action taken against those involved, examination and authentication of the viral video evidence, and the role of organisers, performers and venue management in the incident.
The commission also sought information on measures proposed by the state police to ensure that public entertainment platforms and digital spaces do not become vehicles for "promoting, encouraging or normalising sexual harassment, coercion, or conduct that violates the dignity of women".
The NCW said a hearing in the matter is scheduled for June 22 at 4 pm.
"The NCW has strongly condemned the incident and reiterated that consent is non-negotiable. Any attempt to portray sexual coercion, entitlement, or disrespect towards a woman's autonomy as humour or entertainment is unacceptable and contrary to the principles of equality, dignity, and safety guaranteed to women under the Constitution and laws of India," the commission said.
The NCW said it would continue to monitor the matter closely and expected prompt and appropriate action from the concerned authorities.
The controversy began after Jangra recounted, during the show, a date when he spent Rs 370 on a plate of chicken biryani.
When the woman asked him to drop her home, Jangra said he sought sexual favours for the money he spent on the biryani.
More was seen laughing at Jangra's comment.
Later, both More and Jangra apologised for the incident after facing backlash on social media; the latter also deactivated his Instagram account.
A Gurugram firm also sacked him over his "Rs 370 biryani" remark.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee launched a sharp attack on Abhishek Banerjee, accusing him of arrogance and poor leadership, while urging Mamata Banerjee to choose between her nephew and veteran party loyalists.

'Choose between Abhishek and me': Kalyan issues ultimatum to Mamata amid TMC imbroglio

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee launched a sharp attack on Abhishek Banerjee, accusing him of arrogance and poor leadership, while urging Mamata Banerjee to choose between her nephew and veteran party loyalists.

Senior TMC leader and MP Kalyan Banerjee on Thursday issued an ultimatum to party supremo Mamata Banerjee to choose between her nephew Abhishek Banerjee and veterans like him, accusing the party national general secretary of &ldquo;arrogance&rdquo; and &ldquo;fluctuating mindset&rdquo;.
Kalyan, also a senior advocate, declared he would remove himself from all legal matters and court petitions concerning Abhishek, although the MP said he would continue contesting cases related to the party.
The development comes amid the TMC supremo facing a serious existential crisis following fractures at both the Bengal assembly and in Parliament alongside multiple resignations, with an overwhelming majority of rebel MLAs and MPs challenging Abhishek&rsquo;s leadership after the party&rsquo;s assembly poll debacle.
Kalyan, who resigned as the TMC chief whip in Lok Sabha in August last year and was recently reappointed to the post in the wake of the rebellion of 20 party MPs in the Lower House, has so far remained among the few still standing in support of the Mamata Banerjee-led party structure and has strongly criticised the rebel camp.
The rift between the two leaders, however, came to a tipping point after Kalyan &ndash; who had been representing Abhishek in the Calcutta High Court in a signature forgery case of the CID &ndash; was allegedly informed that a separate writ petition was filed by the Diamond Harbour MP with regard to the search operations conducted by the agency at the TMC office at Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s Kalighat residence and Abhishek&rsquo;s Camac Street office.
&ldquo;The two cases are connected, and I had mentioned the search operation issue before the bench that was hearing the signature forgery matter. The legal strategy was to seek leave in the forgery case, citing the illegal search operation. The judge had listed the matter to be heard on Thursday. Post midnight, some emissaries of Abhishek came to me to inform that a separate writ has been filed on the CID raid issue. I was taken aback since I had no knowledge of it,&rdquo; Kalyan told reporters.
The advocate alleged that when he asked why he wasn&rsquo;t taken into confidence, they told him that it was done &ldquo;on directions from the top&rdquo;.
&ldquo;Had I known about this, I wouldn&rsquo;t have mentioned the matter before the judge because two separate benches cannot hear the same matter. Abhishek has many advisors, and so I have told the party I would not represent him in any court cases in future, as it is impossible to deal with such arrogance and fluctuating mindset. I was later informed that a junior lawyer would contest his cases,&rdquo; Kalyan said.
The Lok Sabha MP from Sreerampur lashed out at Abhishek, alleging that the party supremo's nephew showed &ldquo;no respect&rdquo; for his &ldquo;45-year professional experience&rdquo;.
&ldquo;Why did he ask me to represent him if he had no trust in my abilities. Let his legal advisors guide him from now. I am not to be treated like a dustbin or an employee of his Camac Street office,&rdquo; Kalyan asserted.
The Sreerampur MP said the ball is now in Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s court to decide on whether to run the TMC with her nephew or with party loyalists like him.
&ldquo;I will remain in this party only if Abhishek is removed from all leadership positions and retained only as an ordinary worker. Abhishek, who misbehaves with seniors and has the attitude of a boss, cannot be my leader in the party. I am sorry to say it will not be possible for me to remain in the TMC, if Didi (Mamata Banerjee) retains him as the leader,&rdquo; Kalyan said.
&ldquo;Didi must take the final call on whether she will retain her blood relative or workers like me, who have put in 40 years of our lives for her and this party,&rdquo; he added.
Holding Abhishek responsible for the assembly poll debacle, Kalyan alleged that Abhishek&rsquo;s &ldquo;continued arrogance&rdquo; stemmed from his &ldquo;denial of his gross unpopularity among people and party workers&rdquo;.
&ldquo;He seems to be failing to understand that the party faced a humiliating defeat in the elections and has been destroyed because of his policies and functioning style. He seems to be in denial that he has turned grossly unpopular among the people and party workers. It is because of him that people are calling me a &lsquo;thief&rsquo; although my political career is free of graft charges,&rdquo; he said, asserting that Mamata Banerjee is the only leader he follows.
Referring to his face-off with Abhishek in 2022, which centred on leadership, favouritism, and decision-making within the party &ndash; a clash widely seen at that time as a fissure between the party&rsquo;s old guards and new &ndash; Kalyan maintained that he was among the first to question the leadership style of Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s nephew.
&ldquo;I was the only one then to raise my voice against him, foretelling this doom. I am consistent in my stand,&rdquo; he said.
Kalyan&rsquo;s son, Sirsanya, who unsuccessfully contested the recently-concluded state polls from the Uttarpara seat and has remained Abhishek&rsquo;s co-counsel in the fake signature case, attributed &ldquo;maintaining self-respect&rdquo; as reason for his quitting the job alongside his father.
&ldquo;I wore this lawyer&rsquo;s gown long before Abhishek Banerjee became the party&rsquo;s national general secretary. It is out of self-respect that I chose to stand down,&rdquo; he said, adding his decision will have no impact on his defending other TMC workers and leaders in court.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted Abhishek interim protection from any coercive action in a signature forgery case over the party's choice of Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, provided the leader extended full cooperation to the CID investigation.
Abhishek, who has so far skipped three agency summonses, reached the Bhabani Bhaban CID headquarters to face questions from the investigating officers following his return from Delhi, in compliance with the newly set appearance deadline on 6 pm.

NDA leaders praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he became India's longest-serving elected prime minister, crediting him with stable governance, stronger national security, economic growth and enhanced global standing.

NDA leaders felicitate Modi as he becomes longest-serving elected PM

NDA leaders praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he became India's longest-serving elected prime minister, crediting him with stable governance, stronger national security, economic growth and enhanced global standing.

Leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for becoming India's longest-serving elected prime minister, with Union ministers, chief ministers and other senior leaders of alliance partners crediting him with providing stable governance, strengthening national security, and enhancing India's global standing.
The remarks were made at a conclave of NDA constituents held at Bharat Mandapam here on Wednesday to mark the ruling coalition completing 12 years in office and Modi becoming India's longest-serving elected PM.
Addressing the gathering, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Modi's achievement reflects sustained public support in an era where politics is judged by performance.
"Today, Modi ji has broken a record that stood for 62 years. In the initial years after Independence, there was no real political competition and the Congress enjoyed the entire credit for freedom. But in today's era of performance-based politics, being repeatedly blessed by the people shows that Modi ji's journey is also a journey of democratic acceptance and endorsement," Shah said.
Shah said Modi's tenure will be remembered in golden letters for political stability, policy formulation and implementation, a strong foreign policy, and a defence policy that safeguards the nation's honour and security.
"Under your leadership, casteism, dynastic politics and appeasement politics have ended and politics of performance has been established," he said.
The home minister also said the prime minister's vision of a developed India by 2047 has instilled confidence in the country and helped overcome a "collective inferiority complex".
Highlighting India's achievements during the last 12 years, Shah referred to advances in connectivity, infrastructure, exports, innovation and startup growth, while also underlining the country's growing global stature.
He also highlighted that with 292 Lok Sabha MPs, 144 Rajya Sabha MPs, 2,315 MLAs and more than 222 Legislative Council members, the NDA today governs nearly 80 per cent of India's geographical area.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India's security architecture has been significantly strengthened under Modi's leadership.
"Our policy is clear: we will not provoke anyone, but if someone provokes us, we will not spare them," Singh said.
He asserted that there will be no compromise on national security and India's enemies will receive a strong response.
Singh said under Modi's leadership, India's policy is neither to speak from a position of arrogance nor from one of submission, but to engage with the world on equal terms.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu praised Modi's leadership and contribution to national development, and added that his commitment to public service and development is unparalleled.
"Modi ji, you are leading this century," Naidu said.
He further said Modi has set new benchmarks in infrastructure creation and welfare delivery.
"All of us, the entire NDA, are proud of you. Under your leadership, we remain committed to the nation's development," Naidu said.
Referring to the BJP's recent gains in West Bengal, Naidu expressed confidence that the state will play an important role in India's development journey.
"The overwhelming support that the BJP received in West Bengal under your leadership has convinced me that what Bengal thinks today, the rest of the country thinks tomorrow. Today, I can say, Prime Minister, that under your leadership, Bengal will represent the country's development," he said.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Modi has emerged as a symbol of the aspirations and self-confidence of 1.4 billion Indians.
"You are the embodiment of the self-respect of 1.4 billion Indians and represent India's honour on the global stage," Shinde said.
Shinde also credited Modi with extending substantial financial support for Maharashtra's development.
"If Maharashtra has received the highest financial support for development, it is because of Modi ji," he said.
Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy said the milestone reflects the people's enduring faith in Modi's leadership.
"It is a reflection of the unwavering trust of the people in his leadership," Kumaraswamy said.
He expressed confidence that the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047 will be possible only under Modi's leadership and credited the prime minister with accelerating development across states.
Kumaraswamy said the Centre under Modi has increased financial support to states while ensuring faster implementation of development projects across the country.

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