Editorji is a popular short video news and information platform based in India. It was founded in 2018 by Vikram Chandra, one of India’s leading journalists, and has risen to prominence in the digital news space in a relatively short span of time. The platform is primarily designed for mobile devices, with applications available for Android and iOS.

ABOUT US:

about us editorji

Latest Video News: Editorji provides the latest news video headlines, latest videos clip from India and the World. Get all breaking news videos on Entertainment, Business, Coronavirus, Elections, Politics and more.

Latest Video News, Breaking News, Bollywood, Political, Sports, Business News | Editorji

+91 11 4035 6666 / info@editorji.com
3rd floor, Plot B, Khasara no 360, Sultanpur, New Delhi, Delhi 110030
<a title="mail to us" href="mailto:info@editorji.com">Send Feedback</a>
<a title="Contact Us" href="mailto:info@editorji.com">Contact Us</a>

REACH US

Contact for any questions, suggestions, comments, feedback or advertisement on Editorji.com, we are always looking forward to hearing from you.

Contact Us for Feedback, Suggestions and Advertising 

Editorji content is better experienced in our app.

BJP accuses TMC of trivializing law student’s alleged rape incident in Kolkata. Minister Bhunia denies claims as political fallout escalates.

BJP Accuses TMC of Downplaying Rape

West Bengal's political tension rises as BJP accuses TMC of downplaying a law student's alleged rape, with Minister Bhunia denying involvement in minimizing the incident’s severity.

A political dispute in West Bengal sees BJP accusing TMC of downplaying a law student&rsquo;s rape incident. Minister Bhunia denies claims.

In a recent political clash in West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leveraged statements by a state minister to criticize the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), alleging that serious incidents are being trivialized. This follows the alleged rape of a 24-year-old law student in Kolkata, a case that has sparked significant controversy.
The controversy began when a clip surfaced of Irrigation Minister Manas Bhunia speaking in Bengali, suggesting that incidents in Bengal are often exaggerated. In the clip, Bhunia remarked on how even small incidents prompt claims of the state's decline and cited domestic violence as societal issues. The BJP immediately linked Bhunia's comments to the recent rape, suggesting he was minimizing the gravity of the crime.
The alleged crime occurred on June 25 at South Calcutta Law College, involving Monojit Mishra, a former student, alongside three others who have all been arrested. The BJP highlighted past comments from TMC figures Madan Mitra and Kalyan Banerjee, suggesting a pattern of insensitivity and alleged that such attitudes threatened the safety of women in the state.
The West Bengal BJP took to social media, accusing Bhunia and the TMC of reducing a heinous act to a &ldquo;small incident.&rdquo; BJP leaders, including Union Minister and Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, described Bhunia's alleged remarks as a reflection of a "filthy mindset" intrinsic to TMC leadership under Mamata Banerjee.
&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;Shame!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;State Minister Manas Bhunia, echoing Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s stance, claims that rape is a &ldquo;small incident&rdquo; and that people create unnecessary noise every time such a case occurs!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This is the culture of TMC. Sometimes they question the character of the rape survivor, and&hellip; &lt;a href="https://t.co/3VDBZN38mv"&gt;pic.twitter.com/3VDBZN38mv&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4Bengal/status/1940017545328701465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;July 1, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt; 
In contrast, Manas Bhunia firmly denied any association of his remarks with the Kasba rape incident. He accused the opposition of distorting his words to malign his image and reiterated his and his party's strong condemnation of the crime. Bhunia emphasized the prompt actions taken by the police and stated that the Chief Minister does not tolerate such acts.
As the political fallout continues, the incident reopens discussions on how crimes against women are addressed in political discourses, with both parties using the incident to forward their narratives in Bengal's volatile political landscape.

West Bengal's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chatterjee accuses BJP of violating secular principles. The TMC condemns communal politics, emphasizing development and peace under Mamata Banerjee's leadership.

TMC Slams BJP for Violating Secular Principles

In a significant political clash, West Bengal's TMC Minister, Sobhandeb Chatterjee, criticizes the BJP for undermining secular principles.

TMC's Sobhandeb Chatterjee criticizes BJP for violating secular principles in West Bengal, emphasizing peace and development over communal politics, while disputing politically motivated events.

West Bengal Parliamentary Affairs minister Sobhandeb Chatterjee on Friday accused the BJP legislators of violating the basic spirit of Constitution which is based on secularism.
He said the TMC government condemn any kind of violence and our administration is strict in enforcing law and order.
Asked about BJP flagging Hindutva issues and BJP legislators staging walkouts in the state assembly on issues like Murshidabad, Beldanga and Maheshtala violence, Chatterjee told PTI, "We also condemn any kind of violence and our administration is very strict in enforcing law and order but we hate dividing people on religious identities and any attempt to polarise people." "We stand for peace, amity and peaceful co-existence of people which has always remained the tradition of Bengal. However, there have been attempts by BJP to give a religious and communal twist to each and every stray incident. BJP's gameplan to play religious card will never be accepted by the people of Bengal who support development initiatives of CM Mamata Banerjee," he said.
He said the Constitution underscored the values of secularism as the bedrock of Indian democracy but the act and conduct of BJP violates that spirit.
"It seems from their act that the BJP legislators are violating the basic spirit of the Constitution which is founded on the spirit of secularism," he said.
About the observation of Paschimbanga Divas by BJP on this day, Chatterjee described it as "politically motivated" pointing out the state government had already passed a resolution in the assembly and identified Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year's Day, for celebrating West Bengal Day.
Why is BJP suddenly so much worked up on June 20 as Paschimbanga Divas, he asked.
On June 20, 1947, the Legislative Assembly of undivided Bengal met and voted in favour of partition of the state between East and West Bengal. The latter stayed with India while the former was included in Pakistan.
About the demand by BJP MLAs for tabling adjournment motions on the crisis faced by 2016 SSC candidates and recent attacks on places of worship, Chatterjee said, "They take the initiatives unilaterally without holding discussions with our side beforehand." Chatterjee called upon the BJP MLAs to submit more questions on issues related to development in their constituencies during question hour.
"MLAs from all parties being people's representatives should use the opportunity during assembly sessions to bring to notice issues related to development in their constituencies. We are also asking new MLAs of our party (TMC) to bring more supplementary notices," he said.
"We encourage MLAs to come up with more supplementary notices," the veteran legislator said.
BJP Chief Whip Shankar Ghosh said his party always tries to project people's issues in the assembly, including atrocities. "However, the TMC-run government does not allow the opposition to function and stifle its voice."&nbsp;

The TMC accuses EC of bias in awarding a webcasting service tender, favoring a Gujarat company and sidelining local startups for the West Bengal bypoll.

TMC Alleges Bias in The Tender Process of EC

TMC accuses the EC of bias in webcasting tender, favoring a Gujarat firm over local startups. Calls for review citing transparency issues.

TMC accuses EC of tender bias for West Bengal bypoll, favoring a Gujarat firm over local startups. They urge the Chief Election Commissioner to review the process, citing transparency concerns.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Wednesday alleged irregularities in the Election Commission&rsquo;s (EC) tender process for webcasting services for the upcoming Kaliaganj bypoll in West Bengal on June 19.
Senior TMC leader and minister Chandrima Bhattacharya claimed a Gujarat-based company was awarded the tender in a non-transparent manner, not just for the bypoll but also for the entire 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
"This proves that the tender process was not transparent," she told a press meet here.
TMC leader and minister Firhad Hakim, raising the issue during zero hour in the Assembly, questioned why local startups from Bengal were overlooked despite submitting bids.
Speaking to reporters later, Hakim demanded an explanation from the Chief Electoral Officer&rsquo;s office, accusing it of misusing taxpayer money.
In a letter to the office of the Chief Election Commissioner, the TMC said, "The noble intention of webcasting - a critical measure to ensure continuous live streaming of polling activities both inside and outside the booths - appears to have been marred by procedural anomalies and restrictive conditions." "It is reliably learnt that the tender for Kaliganj appears to be unduly restrictive and contrary to the spirit of open competition. As a result, only three agencies could qualify. More concerning is the reported selection of an agency from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which quoted a higher financial bid compared to others, and yet it was awarded the contract on the basis of a technical evaluation process that seems to favour a predetermined outcome," the letter said.
"It is disheartening to note that agencies with a proven track record - having successfully delivered webcasting services in previous elections in accordance with EC norms - have been unfairly sidelined. These agencies, which have consistently demonstrated capacity and compliance, appear to have been denied a level playing field to upgrade and adapt to future challenges," the letter said.
Apprehending this might compromise competitive neutrality in future, the letter urges the CEC to "take urgent and appropriate steps to review the entire selection process".

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav accuses TMC of settling infiltrators, with crime against women escalating since 2011. Highlights rising violence in Murshidabad and Sandeshkhali.

Union Minister Accuses TMC of Infiltration Assistance

Union Minister Yadav has made claims against the TMC, asserting that crime has surged in West Bengal due to their policies since Mamata Banerjee became CM. Particular attention was drawn to violence in areas like Murshidabad.

Union Minister Yadav accuses TMC of enabling infiltrator settlement in West Bengal, citing a rise in crime since 2011. Highlights violence in key areas like Murshidabad and Malda.

Union minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday accused West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress of helping infiltrators from across the border settle down in the state.
Yadav also alleged that incidents of attacks on women have been on the rise in the state since Mamata Banerjee became chief minister in 2011.
He was addressing a press conference to commemorate the occasion of the Narendra Modi government's completion of 11 years in office.
"The state is not helping Central forces in identifying and deporting foreign nationals and the TMC is helping these infiltrators become residents of this land. Incidents of crime have reached alarming proportions because of the hands-off approach of the state government's policy of appeasement," Yadav claimed.
To a question about post-poll violence in West Bengal after 2021 and allegations of attack on the BJP and other opposition activists in the run-up to the 2026 assembly elections, Yadav alleged that apart from those incidents, the number of attacks on common people has increased.
"Think about Murshidabad, think about Malda, think about Sandeshkhali. It is a matter of national shame that a government headed by a woman chief minister has looked the other way when women faced so much brutalities and atrocities in those places," he said.
Parts of Murshidabad district witnessed violence during the anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protests in April and several families fled to neighbouring Malda district. Three people were killed in the violence.
Sandeshkhali area in South 24 Parganas district had been on the boil in February last year with protests over allegations of sexual abuse and land grab against TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, who was arrested later, and his supporters.
"Not a single month passes in Bengal without reports of attacks on women being reported. When houses of people were being burnt and women and children bore the brunt of violence in Murshidabad, this administration did not take any action," Yadav said.
It was left to the Centre to step in and help the state in restoring normalcy and give safety to people, said the Union minister for environment, forest &amp; climate change.
About the post-poll violence against opposition workers, he said, "I think people of Bengal, which is the land of (Rabindranath) Tagore, Vivekananda, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee and Satyajit Ray, which gifted the nation the national anthem Jana Gana Mana and (national song) Vande Mataram, will give a befitting reply in 2026." The assembly elections are due in the state next year.
Yadav also flagged the issue of SSC appointment scam and the loss of job of nearly 26,000 teachers.
The Union minister also accused the state government of virtually paralysing the transport sector which once boasted of a network of trams, buses and yellow taxis.
He said the Centre is doing its bit to set up an integrated Metro Corridor connecting the city.

TMC MLA Narendranath Chakraborty's remarks on Operation Sindoor spur political tensions with BJP, leading to legal actions and accusations of undermining national security.

TMC MLAs Remarks Ignite Tensions

TMC MLA's comments on Operation Sindoor stir political tensions, prompting BJP's FIR and calls for an investigation into potential anti-national links.

TMC MLA Narendranath Chakraborty's controversial remarks on Operation Sindoor spark political tensions, leading to BJP's legal action and calls for an NIA probe.

TMC MLA Narendranath Chakraborty has courted controversy by allegedly stating that Operation Sindoor was "nothing but a game of warmongering initiated by the BJP", and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of playing with the emotions of patriotic people, including women.
The BJP minority cell filed an FIR against Chakraborty, who represents the Pandabeswar seat in West Bengal's Paschim Bardhaman district, for his comments, and alleged that the TMC legislator belittled the valour of the armed forces.
Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal assembly and BJP legislator Suvendu Adhikari demanded an NIA probe to investigate if the TMC MLA had any link with anti-India forces.
Senior TMC leader and West Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, however, described Chakraborty's comment as his personal, and said the party did not endorse such a remark.
In a purported video clip that went viral on social media on Friday, Chakaborty is seen saying to an audience that "the way they (BJP) have started this Sindoor Khela (game of vermilion) it seems that the entire episode is a staged drama. This warmongering by the BJP is nothing but a game. In Operation Sindoor, PM Modi has played with the emotions of patriotic people, including women".
PTI did not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
A leader of the BJP's minority cell filed an FIR at Kulti police station against Chakraborty, who refused to comment when contacted.
In the FIR, the BJP demanded action against the TMC legislator, claiming he had made an "anti-national statement belittling the valour and sacrifice of armed forces and encouraging Pakistan-sponsored forces to destabilise India".
Adhikari demanded an "NIA probe to find out if Chakraborty had any link with forces working against the country".
Union minister and BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said TMC leaders like Chakraborty are trying to appease the minority vote bank. "All patriotic Indians, cutting across religions, are rooting for the country and armed forces in the fight against terror and came in support of Operation Sindoor," Majumdar said.
Bhattacharya said, "Chakraborty's comment is personal and our party does not endorse such a remark." "Our chairperson Mamata Banerjee and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee have already articulated the party's stand against terror and unequivocally supported our armed forces during Operation Sindoor. We are all united in this issue," she asserted.
Operation Sindoor was India's retaliatory strike on terror camps in Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Outrage ensues as BJP condemns police brutality against protesting teachers in West Bengal. Injuries reported amid calls for job reinstatement; tensions escalate.

BJP Condemns Brutal Police Action in West Bengal

BJP criticizes West Bengal government for police brutality on teachers demanding job reinstatement. Protests continue despite injuries and heightened tensions.

Bengal BJP condemns police action on teachers

BJP condemned the West Bengal government for police brutality against protesting teachers. Injuries occurred during protests for job reinstatement. Amid tension, BJP leaders criticized CM Banerjee, urging justice for qualified candidates.

The BJP on Friday launched a blistering attack on West Bengal's TMC government, calling the police action on agitating school teachers a day ago, a "horrifying display of brutality".
The demonstration, led by jobless teachers who had cleared the 2016 School Service Commission (SSC) exam but lost their appointments following a recent court order, escalated outside Bikash Bhavan &mdash; the headquarters of the state education department &mdash; on Thursday.
Protesters alleged that many of them were beaten up during a baton-charge by the police, and several sustained serious injuries.
Among the injured was a woman teacher whose leg was reportedly broken, while another suffered a head injury.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the injured women lay on the ground, screaming in pain and sobbing, as the police continued the lathi-charge instead of offering help.
Amid mounting outrage, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of authoritarianism and shielding the corrupt.
&ldquo;If the cabinet decides to protect thieves, then those in the council of ministers should be in jail,&rdquo; Adhikari said.
&ldquo;This issue is close to my heart because I got my first job through this very exam. Yesterday, a university gold medallist was crying because of Mamata Banerjee. If anyone is responsible for that, it is Mamata Banerjee and her entire cabinet," the BJP leader claimed.
Adhikari alleged that honest and deserving candidates had been denied jobs despite their qualifications, while recruitment was "manipulated for political gain".
He also accused the police of acting at the behest of the ruling party, instead of protecting citizens.
Echoing Adhikari's sentiments, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said, "Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s advisors told her to mix milk with water so that no one can differentiate them &mdash; meaning, protect the guilty by lumping them with the innocent. But the court exposed this trick...the police action on protesting teachers was a horrifying display of brutality." He further added, &ldquo;Mamata Banerjee has turned West Bengal into a marketplace &mdash; if you want to buy a teaching job, just pay money. Those who are eligible should instead be given compensation from the Chief Minister&rsquo;s Relief Fund.&rdquo; A fresh wave of protests erupted on Friday morning as many of the injured returned to the demonstration site, demanding immediate reinstatement.
Protesters from the Deserving Teachers' Rights Forum said they would not accept a fresh recruitment test and insisted on being given back the jobs they earned through merit.
Teachers participating in the protest said they spent the night outside Bikash Bhavan, braving injuries and discomfort.
"We are not going anywhere until justice is served," one protester said.
Tensions remain high around the Education Department building, with a heavy deployment of police in the complex.

TMC's Yusuf Pathan faces criticism for not visiting Murshidabad during recent violence, raising concerns about celebrity MPs.

MP Yusuf Pathan's Absence During Murshidabad Violence

Critics question TMC's Yusuf Pathan for not being present during Murshidabad violence, amid dissatisfaction over celebrity politicians.

TMC's Yusuf Pathan faces criticism for not visiting Murshidabad during recent violence

Yusuf Pathan faces criticism for absence during Murshidabad violence. Local TMC leaders express dissatisfaction; opposition critiques TMC leadership.

Amid criticism by the opposition over the absence of Baharampur MP Yusuf Pathan from violence-hit Murshidabad in West Bengal, the TMC local leaders on Friday said they are in touch with him over the phone and have urged him to visit the district soon.
The district Trinamool Congress leadership is "unhappy" with the Baharampur MP for not visiting Murshidabad during last week's communal clashes, with a section of the unit expressing displeasure over the party's decision to field a celebrity candidate who was absent during the crisis and has perceived disconnect from grassroots workers, TMC sources said.
"He is a cricketer and a celebrity. Why would he come here? We are the ones trying to manage the situation on the ground. This is the issue with nominating celebrities. He is in touch with us over the phone, and we have asked him to come to the district. But right now, he is busy with the IPL," Murshidabad MP and senior TMC leader Abu Taher Khan told PTI.
Pathan, a former Indian cricketer and first-time MP, had defeated five-time Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Baharampur in last year's Lok Sabha elections, ending the Congress' decades-long stronghold in the constituency.
Another senior leader of the party, who did not wish to be named, said the TMC top brass is "not pleased" with Pathan, especially after he posted photos on social media, which were seen as "insensitive" in the present context.
"Although the violence-hit areas do not fall under his constituency, he should have at least paid a visit to the district. The leadership is looking into it," the TMC leader said.
Three people were killed in communal clashes that broke out in Shamsherganj, Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur areas of Murshidabad district last week. These locations are around 80 km from Baharampur, the constituency represented by Pathan.
The BJP seized on the opportunity to criticise the ruling party.
Union Minister and West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said, "Bengal is burning under the indulgence of TMC leaders. But TMC MP Yusuf Pathan is busy sipping tea as Hindus get slaughtered. This is the true face of the TMC." The violence erupted during protests against recent amendments to the Waqf Act brought by the central government. Murshidabad is a Muslim-majority district.
Out of the violence-hit areas, Samserganj and Dhulian fall under the Maldaha Dakshin Lok Sabha seat, represented by Congress MP Isha Khan Choudhury, while Suti is part of the Jangipur seat, held by TMC's Khalilur Rahaman.
The third MP from the district is TMC's Abu Taher Khan, who represents the Murshidabad seat.

Mamata Banerjee announces TMC's independent bid for the 2026 West Bengal elections, distancing from Congress despite reconciliation efforts.

TMC's Solo Bid for 2026 Bengal Elections

TMC to Contest 2026 Bengal Elections Independently: Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee has declared TMC will contest the 2026 West Bengal elections independently, distancing from Congress, despite reconciliation attempts.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee has announced that her party will contest the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections independently. During an internal meeting preceding the Budget Session of the Bengal assembly, Banerjee expressed confidence that the TMC would secure more than a two-thirds majority in the upcoming polls, dismissing any significant role for the Congress in the state.
Banerjee highlighted the lack of cooperation between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during the recent Delhi and Haryana elections, reinforcing her decision to avoid alliances with the Congress in Bengal. This stance underscores the TMC's intention to maintain its distance from its INDIA bloc partner, with whom it shares a fluctuating relationship.
Despite the Congress's efforts to mend ties, including replacing Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury with the more TMC-friendly Subhankar Sarkar as the Bengal unit president, Banerjee has remained resolute in her approach. Within the INDIA bloc, the TMC's strategic distance from the Congress has become more pronounced, particularly following the latter's setbacks in Delhi.
TMC minister Shobhondev Chatterjee emphasized Banerjee's leadership prowess, stating that she is uniquely positioned to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He noted that Banerjee made the decision to forgo an alliance with Congress in the previous election as well, signaling it is ultimately her prerogative whom to partner with.
In contrast, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari labeled Banerjee's decision as "clever," suggesting it is a tactic to polarize the vote between the Congress and the Left. Adhikari questioned the Congress's stance in light of Banerjee's declaration to go it alone.

Trinamool Congress demands renaming West Bengal as 'Bangla,' citing cultural identity. Despite a 2018 resolution, approval from the central government remains pending. The renaming requires Parliament's approval following the President's recommendati

Trinamool Pushes to Rename West Bengal 'Bangla'

Trinamool Congress demands renaming West Bengal as 'Bangla,' citing cultural identity. Despite a 2018 resolution, approval from the central government remains pending. The renaming requires Parliament's approval following the President's recommendation.

TMC Urges to Rename West Bengal as 'Bangla'

Trinamool Congress insists on renaming West Bengal to 'Bangla,' citing the state's cultural heritage, though the central government's approval is still pending.

'West Bengal should be renamed as Bangla'! Thus TMC on Tuesday raised voice in Parliament, emphasizing that the name is deeply intertwined with the state&rsquo;s historical and cultural identity.&nbsp;
TMC MP Ritabrata Banerjee highlighted in the Rajya Sabha that the West Bengal Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution in July 2018 to change the state's name, but, since then, there has been no approval from the central government.
He also stated that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had communicated directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this context, asserting that the proposed name encapsulates the state&rsquo;s history, culture, and identity.
Banerjee said, "I raised the issue of our enduring demand to rename our state to Bangla, a resolution that was unanimously passed by the West Bengal State Assembly on July 26, 2018. Our leader, Mamata Banerjee, has consistently argued that this rechristening aligns with the history, culture, and identity of our state and reflects the aspirations of our people."
Following the division of the undivided Bengal in 1947, the region was split into West Bengal in India and East Pakistan, which later became Bangladesh in 1971 after gaining independence.
The Trinamool MP pointed out the redundancy of the name 'West Bengal' since 'East Pakistan' no longer exists, adding, "Our state's name needs to be changed. The mandate of the people of West Bengal must be honoured."
For the unversed, a state to be renamed in India, a bill must be introduced in Parliament following the President's recommendation and subsequently be approved by both houses of Parliament.

TMC renews demand to rename West Bengal as 'Bangla', highlighting cultural resonance. This proposal, pending since 2018, seeks central approval.

TMC demands renaming of West Bengal to 'Bangla', cites cultural significance

Highlighting cultural roots, TMC urges renaming of West Bengal to 'Bangla'. The move, approved by the state in 2018, awaits central approval as lawmakers stress cultural importance.

TMC renews call in Rajya Sabha to rename West Bengal to 'Bangla' for cultural alignment. The West Bengal Assembly passed the resolution in 2018, waiting for Centre's nod.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday reiterated its demand to rename West Bengal as 'Bangla', emphasizing that the name reflects the state's history and cultural identity. Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha during Zero Hour, TMC MP Ritabrata Banerjee reminded the House that the West Bengal Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution for the name change in July 2018, but the Centre has yet to approve it.
Banerjee cited Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee&rsquo;s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which stated that the renaming would align with the aspirations of the people. He also highlighted the historical context, pointing out that the partition of Bengal in 1947 led to the creation of West Bengal and East Pakistan, the latter of which became Bangladesh in 1971.
The last state to undergo a name change was Orissa, which became Odisha in 2011. Banerjee argued that the renaming of cities such as Bombay to Mumbai, Madras to Chennai, and Calcutta to Kolkata set a precedent that should be applied to West Bengal.
Meanwhile, BJD MP Debashish Samantaray urged the Centre to grant national festival status to Odisha&rsquo;s Bali Jatra, an ancient maritime trade festival. TMC MP Saket Gokhale sought consumer benefits from cheaper ethanol-blended petrol, while Sushmita Dev advocated for the dredging of the Barak River in Assam to boost inland trade.
Other issues raised included BJP MP Kavita Patidar&rsquo;s call for groundwater conservation to prevent railway underpass flooding, PT Usha&rsquo;s demand for an AIIMS in Kozhikode, Kerala, and BJP MP S Selvaganabathy&rsquo;s concern over climate change affecting agriculture, urging research into weather-resistant crops. &nbsp;

West Bengal BJP's Murshidabad unit has announced plans to construct a Ram temple in Berhampore, days after TMC MLA Humayun Kabir proposed to set up a mosque

BJP's Ram Temple vs. TMC's Mosque in Murshidabad

The BJP said the temple&rsquo;s construction will begin on January 22, 2025, exactly one year after the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

West Bengal BJP's Murshidabad unit has announced plans to construct a Ram temple in Berhampore, days after TMC MLA Humayun Kabir proposed to set up a mosque modelled after the Babri Masjid at Beldanga in the same district.
The BJP said the temple&rsquo;s construction will begin on January 22, 2025, exactly one year after the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. BJP&rsquo;s Berhampore organisational district president, Shakharav Sarkar, said land for the temple has already been identified, and the project is estimated to cost Rs 10 crore.&nbsp;
"We have already identified a land in Beharampore area and the construction work for the Ram Temple based on the design of the temple on Ayodhya will begin soon," he told reporters.
Kabir, the TMC MLA from Beldanga, had on Tuesday announced plans for the mosque, which he said would honour the sentiments of the region&rsquo;s significant minority population.
His remarks have sparked political controversy, with opposition parties accusing him of attempting to polarise communities for political gain.
The BJP&rsquo;s counterproposal to build a Ram temple is seen as a strategic move to strengthen its presence among the Hindu community in Murshidabad, a district where minorities make up around 75 per cent of the population.
Responding to the controversy, the TMC distanced itself from Kabir&rsquo;s remarks, describing them as his personal opinion.
&ldquo;The TMC has nothing to do with this statement of Kabir,&rdquo; a senior party leader said.&nbsp;
Kabir&rsquo;s announcement has also drawn criticism from the Congress, which accused him of playing divisive politics in a sensitive region.

The TMC has alleged that the party was not consulted on fielding Congress' K Suresh as the INDIA bloc's joint nominee for the post.

Opposition leaders to meet tonight to evolve strategy for Speaker's election, TMC says not consulted

The TMC has alleged that the party was not consulted on fielding Congress' K Suresh as the INDIA bloc's joint nominee for the post.

Leaders of the INDIA bloc will meet here Tuesday night to evolve a strategy for the Lok Sabha Speaker's election even as the Congress said the ball is in the government's court to bring about a consensus on the issue by offering the Opposition the deputy Speaker's post according to convention.
TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, however, said his party was not consulted on fielding Kodikunnil Suresh of the Congress as the INDIA bloc's joint nominee for the post, adding party chief Mamata Banerjee will take a decision on backing Suresh.
"No one contacted us. There have been no talks, unfortunately this has been a unilateral decision," Banerjee said.
Sources said the TMC has not signed the nomination papers of Suresh for the election of Speaker and may not attend the opposition meeting tonight.
They said top leaders of the INDIA bloc would meet at 8 PM at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's residence to chalk out its strategy.
The election for the Speaker's post would be held on Wednesday morning and the NDA has the numbers to win the election.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Opposition's offer was that the government should offer the post of deputy speaker to it according to past conventions and it would offer support to Birla's candidature in return.
However, the government has said the support to Birla's candidature cannot be conditional as the Speaker belongs to all parties and there has to be consensus on his name.
"Parliamentary democracy runs on trust in what the ruling party says, and more importantly trust that is reflected in what it does.
"The Non-biological PM got the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-2024) to run WITHOUT a Deputy Speaker, which was unprecedented. In the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019), he gave the post to his covert ally," Ramesh said in a post on X.
He said in the recent past, during the tenures of Manmohan Singh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and PV Narasimha Rao, the deputy speaker was an Opposition MP.
"The INDIA janbandhan's offer was very simple. It will support the BJP candidate for Speaker but the Deputy Speaker should be an INDIA janbandhan nominee. This was a perfectly legitimate offer in keeping with Parliamentary traditions. The counter offer by the ruling party - 'Support us now for Speaker and we will discuss Deputy Speaker later' - was unacceptable given the non-biological PM's track record. Tathastu," Ramesh also said.
Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Deepender Hooda said that the ball was still in the government's court which could offer the deputy speaker's post to the opposition and they would withdraw Suresh from the contest for the Speaker's post.
Hooda said the opposition can still withdraw in favour of Birla in case the government decides to offer the deputy chairman's post to the opposition.&nbsp;

The dispute reportedly began over parking cars of Chakraborty and his men in front of the eatery.

TMC MLA assaults restaurant owner for 'abusing' Abhishek Banerjee

The dispute reportedly began over parking cars of Chakraborty and his men in front of the eatery.

Actor-turned-Trinamool Congress MLA Soham Chakraborty created a controversy by assaulting a restaurant owner who allegedly abused party MP Abhishek Banerjee during the shooting of a film there.
Both Chakraborty and restaurant owner Anisul Alam lodged complaints with the police against each other, an officer said on Saturday.
The MLA later said he wanted to apologise to Alam as he should have controlled his anger.
The problem between the two sides began over parking the cars of Chakraborty and his men in front of the eatery in New Town near Kolkata.
According to CCTV footage of the restaurant, which went viral later on, Chakraborty was seen assaulting Alam.
When contacted, the restaurant owner claimed that he had allowed shooting in a portion of his restaurant "free of cost" on late Saturday evening.
"The entire parking space was occupied by the cars of Mr Chakraborty and his men. My staff told his men to remove their cars as other customers were not able to park their vehicles," Alam said.
The restaurant owner added that the actor's men told him that he's an MLA and a very close friend of TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
"I said that I don't care even if he is Narendra Modi's friend or Abhishek's. It was then when suddenly Mr Chakraborty came and punched me on my face and kicked me in my abdomen," Alam alleged.
Chakraborty admitted to slapping the restaurant owner.
"The owner was abusing my staff and Abhishek Banerjee. He also abused me. I lost my cool and slapped him... I should have kept my cool and could have controlled my anger. I would like to apologise to the owner," the actor said.
A senior officer of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate said that the restaurant owner on Saturday lodged a complaint against the MLA and his security guards.
"We have received complaints both from the MLA and the restaurant owner against each other. We have started cases and investigations are on," the officer said.

On the much-awaited Lok Sabha result day, TMC workers were seen celebrating outside party office in Kolkata. 

Celebrations begin at TMC office in Kolkata | Watch

On the much-awaited Lok Sabha result day, TMC workers were seen celebrating outside party office in Kolkata.&nbsp;

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers began early celebrations on June 4 at the TMC office in Kolkata.
People were seen playing with colour and dancing their hearts out as the party is leading towards the majority in counting in West Bengal. There are a total of 42 seats in West Bengal.&nbsp;

Ghosh on Wednesday shared dais with Ray and heaped lavish praise on the saffron leader.

Kunal Ghosh removed as TMC state general secretary

Ghosh on Wednesday shared dais with Ray and heaped lavish praise on the saffron leader.

Hours after Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh shared a stage with a BJP Lok Sabha candidate and praised him, the TMC on Wednesday removed him from the post of state general secretary for making statements not aligning with the party.
Ghosh, who has been seeking more prominence for next-generation leaders, had expressed his desire to resign as party spokesperson and state general secretary in March.
The party then accepted his resignation as spokesperson but asked him to continue with the other post.
&ldquo;Kunal Ghosh has been expressing views that don&rsquo;t align with the party&hellip; Mr Ghosh was previously relieved from his role as party spokesperson. Now he has been removed from the position of general secretary of the state organization,&rdquo; the TMC said in a statement.
In the statement signed by TMC Rajya Sabha party leader Derek O'Brien, the party also asked media outlets not to conflate Ghosh's views with those of the party, warning that doing so might invite legal action.
"It is important to clarify that these are his personal opinions.... Only statements issued from the AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) headquarters should be considered the official position of the party," it said.
Despite his removal from the post of party spokesperson, he has been holding press conferences regularly from the party headquarters during the ongoing Lok Sabha election campaign.
A senior TMC leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described Ghosh's removal as a "calibrated punishment," indicating that his removal as state spokesperson in March was a warning, and this removal as state general secretary is the final action.
Ghosh did not take part in TMC's Kolkata North Lok Sabha constituency Sudip Bandopadhyay's rally, but attended a blood donation programme where BJP nominee Tapas Ray was present.
At the programme, Ghosh said, "Tapas Ray is a true leader. His doors are always open for party workers and people. I have known him for several decades. Unfortunately, our paths are now different... I am hopeful that the elections will be free and fair, and that no unscrupulous means will be used to retain the seat. Let the people cast their votes freely," he added.
Ray, a four-term TMC MLA, joined the BJP in March after the party re-nominated its incumbent MP Sudip Bandopadhyay in the Kolkata North seat. The BJP then fielded Ray against Bandopadhyay.
Reacting to Ghosh's expulsion from his post, Ray said, "Whom they will suspend or expel is their internal matter. I have nothing to say about it. But it proves TMC doesn't believe in courtesy in politics." Ghosh, considered close to TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, had kicked off a storm this year that the old guards in the party need to know when to step aside for the next generation.
He had also accused a section of old guards, including Sudip Bandopadhyay, of being hand in gloves with the BJP.
Following this, Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee herself issued a stern warning instructing party leaders to abstain from publicly discussing differences, emphasizing that any violation may lead to disciplinary action.
The controversy erupted in November last year when Banerjee advocated respecting senior members and dismissed the notion that old leaders should retire from active politics.
TMC national general secretary and Banerjee's nephew, Abhishek, endorsed a retirement age in politics and cited a decline in work efficiency and productivity with advancing age.
A journalist by profession in the vernacular media, Ghosh's rise and fall in the TMC has been a matter of debate.
A vocal critic of the Left Front regime, Ghosh was rewarded with a Rajya Sabha nomination by the TMC in 2012.
However, after the Saradha Chit fund scam bubble burst in 2013, Ghosh, then CEO of the Saradha media group, openly clashed with the TMC.
He was arrested in November 2013 in connection with the Saradha Chit fund scam and was subsequently suspended by the party.
Later, after the CBI took over the investigation, Ghosh continued to speak out against the leadership. In 2016, he was granted bail by the court.
In July 2020, he was appointed TMC's spokesperson, and in June 2021, he was appointed the party's state general secretary.

She alleged that two days back a team from the force raided a border village in Dakshin Dinajpur district and beat up villagers when they refused to pledge support for BJP.

West Bengal CM says she is not safe, BJP targeting her and her nephew

She alleged that two days back a team from the force raided a border village in Dakshin Dinajpur district and beat up villagers when they refused to pledge support for BJP.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged that the BJP is targeting her and her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and they do not feel safe.
 Her allegation came a day after the Leader of Opposition in the assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, said that there would be a "big explosion&rdquo; on Monday which would shake the TMC and its top brass.
 "The BJP is targeting me and Abhishek, we are not safe, but we are also not afraid of the saffron party's conspiracy. We urge everyone to be on guard against a conspiracy against TMC leaders and the people of West Bengal," she said.
 The TMC supremo was addressing an election rally at Kumarganj in Balurghat Lok Sabha seat in favour of party candidate and state minister Biplab Mitra.
 Responding to Adhikari's remark, the TMC supremo said, "There is a traitor who joined the BJP to protect his family and ill-gotten wealth. Let me tell him, his threat to trigger a chocolate bomb explosion is treated with contempt by us." Adhikari, a former TMC minister, defected to the BJP ahead of the 2021 assembly elections in the state.
 &ldquo;If you have courage, come up with truths, come up with facts. I guess it takes time for you to fully build up a false narrative, to fully hatch the conspiracy. But rest assured we are ready to counter,&rdquo; she said.
 "We will counter him by bursting firecrackers. For us firecrackers are unravelling discrepancies in PM Care Fund and 'jumla' of crediting Rs 15 lakh in every citizen's bank account. He only peddles falsehood," she said.
 The TMC supremo alleged that the BJP is bringing in outsiders to the state to foment trouble. Banerjee accused the Narendra Modi government of painting independent institutions such as Doordarshan in saffron hues, and claimed that the BJP "appropriating that colour" is an insult to sacrifices made by monks and spiritual leaders of the country for ages.
 She wondered how the logo of Doordarshan could be painted in saffron during elections, alleging it was done to suit the BJP's "religion-based vote bank politics and agenda". "Why did the DD logo suddenly turn saffron? Why were official residences of army personnel painted in saffron? Why was the uniform of police in Kashi (Varanasi) changed to saffron?&rdquo; she questioned.
 The chief minister claimed that if the BJP returns to power, there will be no more elections in future and religious rights of several communities will be at stake.
 At another meeting in Balurghat, the Lok Sabha constituency of BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, Banerjee said the Covid vaccination certificate only had the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 &ldquo;He only believes in self-publicity. He believes in making tall claims and himself listening to his words,&rdquo; she said.
 Accusing Majumdar of keeping mum on non-payment of 100 days&rsquo; work to the poor labourers of villages and non-release of Awas Yojana funds by the Modi government, she said &ldquo;Your (Majumdar) party leaders are asking bosses in Delhi to stop payment to the poor.&rdquo; Hinting at Adhikari, she said, there is a &ldquo;gaddar&rdquo; (traitor) who is forecasting CBI, ED and NIA raids and arrests of opposition leaders.
 &ldquo;He himself had joined BJP to save his skin and now scaring people with the bogey of central agency raid,&rdquo; she claimed.
 Banerjee said the incarcerated former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren&rsquo;s wife had told her that the ED in its chargesheet accused him of getting gifts of washing machine and TV sets. She wondered if those items can be described as gifts they are found in many households. Banerjee waived a piece of paper, claiming it was a copy of an FIR against a central armed paramilitary force for assaulting villagers.
 She alleged that two days back a team from the force raided a border village in Dakshin Dinajpur district and beat up villagers when they refused to pledge support for BJP.
 &ldquo;I am urging the EC to take note of the transgression of its role by BSF. Instead of guarding the frontiers and stopping smuggling, they are terrorizing villagers,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;

The row began after TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Thakur was told to take the oath again by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar after she substituted “Shri Shri Hari Guru Chand Thakur” in place of “God” while taking the oath of office.

'Deeply insulting': TMC MP targets Modi for not being allowed to take oath on Matua sect guru's name  

The row began after TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Thakur was told to take the oath again by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar after she substituted &ldquo;Shri Shri Hari Guru Chand Thakur&rdquo; in place of &ldquo;God&rdquo; while taking the oath of office.

TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Thakur targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi after she was not allowed to take the oath of office in the name of the Matua sect's spiritual guru Harichand Thakur.
The row began after she was told to take the oath again by Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar after she substituted &ldquo;Shri Shri Hari Guru Chand Thakur&rdquo; in place of &ldquo;God&rdquo; while taking the oath of office.
&ldquo;It is an unfortunate day that I can&rsquo;t take my God&rsquo;s name in Parliament. It is deeply insulting to the Matua community. Prime Minister visits our temple and speaks about our God, but we aren&rsquo;t allowed to take oath in his name in our Parliament,&rdquo; Thakur said, according to the Hindu newspaper.&nbsp;
Dhankar asked her to adhere to the prescribed format and urged her to take the oath again. It comes at a time when both TMC and BJP have been wooing the Matua community amidst elections.&nbsp;

The TMC has alleged that the central probe agencies have been targeting opposition parties at the behest of the BJP-led Centre.

TMC leaders detained over protest against central agencies before EC

The TMC has alleged that the central probe agencies have been targeting opposition parties at the behest of the BJP-led Centre.

Several Trinamool Congress leaders were detained after they started a 24-hour protest outside the Election Commission office in Delhi on April 8.
The party is demanding that the chiefs of CBI, NIA, ED and Income Tax Department be changed.
A delegation of the TMC leaders, including Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen, Saket Gokhale and Sagarika Ghose met a full bench of the Election Commission over their demands.
The TMC has alleged that the central probe agencies have been targeting opposition parties at the behest of the BJP-led Centre.
"The BJP is misusing central agencies against us. The way NIA, ED and CBI are working and targeting TMC leaders is shameful. We would request the EC to ensure a level playing field for all political parties," Sen told reporters at the Kolkata airport before leaving for New Delhi.
The TMC alleged on Sunday an "unholy alliance" between the NIA and the BJP ahead of elections, prompting the central investigating agency to deny any mala fide intention and label the entire controversy as "unfortunate".
A team of the NIA was allegedly attacked by a mob on Saturday when it went to arrest two main suspects in a 2022 blast case in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, sparking a political slugfest with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing the investigators of assaulting the villagers.

The TMC alleged an unholy alliance between the National Investigation Agency and the BJP after a mob allegedly attacked the agency's team who were on their way to arrest two suspects in a blast case. 

TMC smells 'unholy alliance' between NIA, BJP; both reject charge

The TMC alleged an unholy alliance between the National Investigation Agency and the BJP after a mob allegedly attacked the agency's team who were on their way to arrest two suspects in a blast case.&nbsp;

The TMC alleged on Sunday an "unholy alliance" between the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and BJP ahead of elections, even as the central agency denied any mala fide intention in its probe and labelled the entire controversy as "unfortunate."
A team of the NIA was allegedly attacked by a mob on Saturday when it went to arrest two main suspects in a 2022 blast case in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, sparking a political slugfest with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing the investigators of assaulting the villagers.
Amid allegations of the NIA colluding with the BJP and attacking the villagers at Bhupatinagar, the central investigating agency on Sunday dubbed the entire controversy as "unfortunate" and rejected any allegations of malice in its investigation.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said in a post on X, "Experience the unfolding alliance between the @NIA_India and @BJP4Bengal, orchestrating conspiracies against Trinamool leaders and the Model Code of Conduct." "While this collusion persists, the ECI stands by, conspicuously silent, neglecting its duty to ensure fair play," Banerjee said.
His post was preceded by a press meet in which TMC alleged that a senior state BJP leader from Paschim Bardhaman district, who had earlier been with TMC, had met an NIA SP at his apartment in the New Town area of the city on March 26 evening and handed over a list of TMC leaders from different parts of the state to be arrested by the agency ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
"I dare this leader to either refute my allegations with substantial proof of his movement on that day or we will come up with his call records and CCTV footage evidence after 48 hours," TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said in the press conference.
Senior minister and TMC women's wing state president Chandrima Bhattacharya, who was present at the hurriedly called press meet, said she would only add that NIA has dug up a case of fireworks blast of 2022 after one and half years just before the elections and "found involvement of key TMC leaders in Bhupatinagar." "This shows it is not just a case of the NIA proceeding to arrest some people in connection with an incident and facing protests from locals. It shows the deep-rooted conspiracy against TMC by BJP using central agencies," she added.
The NIA, in a statement on its official X handle, rejected the charges.
"Categorically denying any mala fide in its recent actions in West Bengal's Bhoopatinagar area, the National Investigation Agency on Sunday refuted the allegations of unlawful actions levelled against it and dismissed the entire controversy as unfortunate," the statement said.
The central investigating agency made it clear that its "actions were bona fide, lawful, and legally mandated, as part of its ongoing investigation into the heinous crimes related to the fabrication of crude bombs, leading to an explosion that killed three people," in December 2022 in Narubila village in Purba Mednipur.
The NIA reiterated that its team had come under violent attack by an unruly mob when they had gone to conduct searches in Naruabila village on Saturday in connection with its probe into the case.
"The attack was completely unprovoked and uncalled for and an attempt to obstruct the NIA from carrying out its lawful duties," the agency said.
Former Asansol Mayor and senior BJP leader Jitendra Tewary told a TV channel that the TMC is finding the ground slipping under its feet due to the mounting corruption and involvement in cases of terror and atrocities against women and poor villagers and hence "concocting lies and fictitious narratives." "If TMC leader Kunal Ghosh fails to come up with evidence that me or any of our leaders had been involved in influencing the NIA probe or meeting any of their officials, I will file a defamation case against him," Tewary added.
Reacting to Tewary's charge, Banerjee challenged him to send a legal notice.
"Today we exposed BJP's conspiracy and their nexus with the NIA. In a 52-minute meeting with the NIA Officer, BJP hatched a conspiracy to harass TMC leaders. I heard Jitendra Tiwari say that he will send a legal notice.
"Well, even I am waiting for a notice. Let him send the notice and I will release the CCTV footage," he said while addressing a rally at Ghatal.
BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya told reporters that the TMC allegations testify to the desperation of the state's ruling party to build up false narratives against mounting evidence of the involvement of its activists and leaders in misdeeds.
"TMC is trying to divert attention from the total breakdown of constitutional principles in its rule," he added.
The NIA said one of its officers was injured and a vehicle was damaged in the attack that happened in Bhupatinagar.
Banerjee said it was "self-defence" by villagers, alleging that the NIA team had barged into several houses in the early hours over an incident of "bursting of crackers in 2022."&nbsp;

The Lokpal had issued the directions to the CBI to file a FIR against the TMC MP after receiving findings of the agency's preliminary inquiry into the matter. 

CBI searches Mahua Moitra's Kolkata home in cash-for-query case

CBI searches places linked to Mahua Moitra: reports
CBI searches linked to cash-for-query allegations against Mahua
CBI conducting searches in Kolkata as well: reports

CBI searches Mahua Moitra's Kolkata home in cash-for-query case: reports

The Lokpal had issued the directions to the CBI to file a FIR against the TMC MP after receiving findings of the agency's preliminary inquiry into the matter.&nbsp;

The CBI on Saturday conducted searches on the premises of former TMC MP Mahua Moitra in multiple locations, including Kolkata, in connection with the alleged cash-for-query case, officials said.
Teams of the central probe agency reached Moitra's residence in Kolkata and other cities early on Saturday, informed about the search proceedings and started the operation, they said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR against the former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP on Thursday on the directives of the Lokpal, which has instructed the agency to file a report within six months, they said.
Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December for "unethical conduct".
The former MP has challenged her expulsion in the Supreme Court and will again be in the hustings during the upcoming general elections as a TMC candidate from the Krishnanagar seat in West Bengal.
The Lokpal, the anti-corruption ombudsman, issued the directions to the CBI after receiving the findings of its preliminary inquiry into allegations made against Moitra by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
Dubey, a Lok Sabha member, alleged that Moitra had asked questions in the House in exchange for cash and gifts from Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani to mount an attack on industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others.

tmc

Categories