West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari led a three-kilometre procession through south Kolkata on Wednesday, culminating outside Jadavpur University, in what the BJP described as a march to defend the “dignity” of the saffron colour.&nbsp;Dressed in a saffron kurta and carrying a saffron flag, CM Adhikari headed the ‘Gerua Samman Yatra’, which began at Golpark and moved along the southbound flank of Raja Subodh Chandra Mullick Road before ending at the 8B bus stand, adjacent to the university campus. The route passed through Dhakuria, and the rally concluded at the same spot where a mass rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ had been held on August 28.&nbsp;Security was tightened along the route, roads were largely cleared, and loudspeakers played the Gayatri mantra as saffron flags lined the procession.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-s-pm-world-s-highest-paid-leader-gets-64-hike-surges-far-ahead-of-his-global-peers-1788966635640">Singapore’s PM, world’s highest paid leader, gets 64% hike; surges far ahead of his global peers</a>&nbsp;The march was joined by a large number of monks and seers, including Naga Sadhus, along with BJP workers chanting “Jai Shri Ram”. One Naga Sadhu, addressing the gathering, questioned why their faith was being targeted, asking why they should be insulted after sacrificing for the country and taking up arms to protect their beliefs.&nbsp;Addressing the crowd, Adhikari described Jadavpur University as the land of Sri Aurobindo and said he would not tolerate any insult to saffron. He said he had vowed to eliminate slogans such as “Kashmir Mange Azadi” and “red salute” from the campus, and pledged to confront supporters of the farmers’ movement associated with the university. He further announced that he would return to the area, saying those who insult saffron would be “taught a lesson” through recitation of the Gita and the Hanuman Chalisa, and unveiled plans for a three-day Vedic recital programme, invoking Swami Vivekananda's legacy tied to the region.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/festivals-are-inclusive-if-muslim-comes-to-garba-cm-fadnavis-s-wife-amruta-after-vhp-bans-entry-1788959055047">‘Festivals are inclusive, if Muslim comes to garba...’: CM Fadnavis’s wife Amruta after VHP bans entry</a>&nbsp;The rally follows weeks of escalating tension at Jadavpur University, where Left-leaning student groups and the RSS-affiliated ABVP have clashed repeatedly, sparking a running ‘graffiti war’ as rival slogans are painted over and rewritten on campus walls. The controversy deepened after BJP workers allegedly painted part of the state-run Academy of Fine Arts saffron; days later, the boundary wall of a leading Bengali daily was painted the same colour in response to a headline describing the university clashes as “saffron hooliganism”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-strikes-iranian-tankers-after-missile-attack-attempts-on-warship-irgc-vows-to-retaliate-1788902833158">US strikes Iranian tankers after missile attack attempts on warship; IRGC vows to retaliate</a>&nbsp;A BJP leader said the march aimed to project saffron as a symbol of India's cultural heritage and national pride. It came less than a fortnight after Adhikari attended the earlier Vande Mataram event, where he had accused the CPI(M)-led Left Front and Trinamool Congress of letting “nationalism fade from public consciousness”.&nbsp;With civic polls for the Calcutta and Howrah Corporations expected after Diwali, the high-visibility campaign is widely being read as part of the BJP's pre-election outreach strategy in the state.

A BJP leader said the march aimed to project saffron as a symbol of India's cultural heritage and national pride. CM Suvendu Adhikari had attended the Vande Mataram event, where he had accused the CPI(M)-led Left Front and TMC of letting nationalism fade from public consciousness.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari led a three-kilometre procession through south Kolkata on Wednesday, culminating outside Jadavpur University, in what the BJP described as a march to defend the “dignity” of the saffron colour. Dressed in a saffron kurta and carrying a saffron flag, CM Adhikari headed the ‘Gerua Samman Yatra’, which began at Golpark and moved along the southbound flank of Raja Subodh Chandra Mullick Road before ending at the 8B bus stand, adjacent to the university campus. The route passed through Dhakuria, and the rally concluded at the same spot where a mass rendition of ‘Vande Mataram’ had been held on August 28. Security was tightened along the route, roads were largely cleared, and loudspeakers played the Gayatri mantra as saffron flags lined the procession. Also Read: Singapore’s PM, world’s highest paid leader, gets 64% hike; surges far ahead of his global peers The march was joined by a large number of monks and seers, including Naga Sadhus, along with BJP workers chanting “Jai Shri Ram”. One Naga Sadhu, addressing the gathering, questioned why their faith was being targeted, asking why they should be insulted after sacrificing for the country and taking up arms to protect their beliefs. Addressing the crowd, Adhikari described Jadavpur University as the land of Sri Aurobindo and said he would not tolerate any insult to saffron. He said he had vowed to eliminate slogans such as “Kashmir Mange Azadi” and “red salute” from the campus, and pledged to confront supporters of the farmers’ movement associated with the university. He further announced that he would return to the area, saying those who insult saffron would be “taught a lesson” through recitation of the Gita and the Hanuman Chalisa, and unveiled plans for a three-day Vedic recital programme, invoking Swami Vivekananda's legacy tied to the region. Also Read: ‘Festivals are inclusive, if Muslim comes to garba...’: CM Fadnavis’s wife Amruta after VHP bans entry The rally follows weeks of escalating tension at Jadavpur University, where Left-leaning student groups and the RSS-affiliated ABVP have clashed repeatedly, sparking a running ‘graffiti war’ as rival slogans are painted over and rewritten on campus walls. The controversy deepened after BJP workers allegedly painted part of the state-run Academy of Fine Arts saffron; days later, the boundary wall of a leading Bengali daily was painted the same colour in response to a headline describing the university clashes as “saffron hooliganism”. Also Read: US strikes Iranian tankers after missile attack attempts on warship; IRGC vows to retaliate A BJP leader said the march aimed to project saffron as a symbol of India's cultural heritage and national pride. It came less than a fortnight after Adhikari attended the earlier Vande Mataram event, where he had accused the CPI(M)-led Left Front and Trinamool Congress of letting “nationalism fade from public consciousness”. With civic polls for the Calcutta and Howrah Corporations expected after Diwali, the high-visibility campaign is widely being read as part of the BJP's pre-election outreach strategy in the state.

A BJP leader said the march aimed to project saffron as a symbol of India's cultural heritage and national pride. CM Suvendu Adhikari had attended the Vande Mataram event, where he had accused the CPI(M)-led Left Front and TMC of letting nationalism fade from public consciousness.

CM Suvendu Adhikari leads ‘Gerua Samman Yatra’ near Jadavpur University amid campus tensions

The flood situation in West Bengal's Malda district continued to deteriorate on Wednesday, with the Ganga rising well past the extreme danger mark and fresh areas coming under water. As many as three lakh people are estimated to have been badly affected, with officials warning that water levels are likely to keep rising in the coming days.<h2>Water level breaches extreme danger mark</h2>The Ganga at Malda touched 25.99 metres at 2 pm on Wednesday — nearly 26 metres, and significantly above the extreme danger mark of 25.30 metres. Irrigation officials attributed the continued rise to increased upstream flow at Sahibganj in Bihar, and cautioned that the trend could persist over the next 24 hours, pushing water levels even higher at Manikchak Ghat and worsening conditions across the district.Adding to the toll, a 175-year-old Shiva temple in Ratua collapsed into the Ganga on Sunday amid worsening flood conditions and riverbank erosion. Experts have warned that water levels will continue rising through September.<h2>Aerial survey by senior officials</h2>Amid the escalating crisis, a high-powered state team conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Wednesday, acting on instructions from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The decision to dispatch the team was taken a day earlier at the north Bengal branch secretariat, Uttarkanya, with the aim of assessing the ground situation and coordinating relief, rescue and flood-management efforts.The delegation — comprising Rajesh Sinha, Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management and Irrigation &amp; Waterways Department; DG Civil Defence Sanjay Singh; and IG North Bengal Sukesh Jain — landed in Malda by helicopter around 12 noon after flying in from Kolkata. They first met district administration officials to discuss the flood situation in Bhutni, before flying over the worst-hit areas of Manikchak. The survey covered relief, rescue operations, flood management, drinking water, food, healthcare and education needs, with findings to be submitted to the state government. Further financial assistance and relief measures for flood victims are expected to be taken up based on this assessment.Officials undertook the aerial route specifically because communication and road links to the Hiranandpur, North Chandipur and South Chandipur gram panchayats in Bhutni had been completely cut off by floodwaters.<h2>"Bhutni badly hit," says Principal Secretary</h2>Speaking after the survey, Principal Secretary Rajesh Sinha said: "The situation in Kataha Diara is relatively better, but Bhutni Diara in Manikchak has been badly hit, with a maximum area almost inundated."He added that a large volume of water remains in the area and that it will take considerable time to recede. "After the aerial survey, we held an administrative meeting and alerted all concerned departments to ensure that flood victims do not face any inconvenience. All necessary arrangements are being made to provide assistance to the affected people," he said. "The water will take some time to recede, and we have to ensure that people do not face difficulties even after the water goes down. All necessary measures are being taken to minimise the hardships of the flood-affected people."Sinha further noted that officials were closely monitoring the situation to prevent any disease outbreak, while relief material and shelter arrangements were being provided to those displaced.<h2>Nearly 60 villages hit, official cautions against embankment breach</h2>Malda District Magistrate Rajanvir Singh Kapoor said nearly 60 villages across Manikchak and Ratua have been affected by the floods. He cautioned against any hasty move to breach or flatten embankments to drain floodwater, warning that diverting a large volume of water in the wrong direction could worsen the situation.<h2>Over a lakh marooned in Bhutni alone</h2>Large areas across three gram panchayats of Bhutni in Manikchak have gone underwater due to rising Ganga levels, leaving over a lakh people effectively marooned. Numerous homes and properties have been submerged. The administration has been working to rescue affected residents and move them to safe shelters while keeping the situation under continuous watch.<h2>Political blame game intensifies</h2>The floods have also triggered a war of words between the state's ruling and opposition camps.BJP MLA from Manikchak, Gaurchandra Mondal, accused the previous Trinamool Congress administration of neglecting flood and erosion prevention work in Bhutni. "During the Trinamool regime, flood and erosion prevention in Bhutni was never carried out. Public funds were siphoned off in the name of such prevention work," he said, adding that this negligence had left over a lakh people facing floods again this year. He said efforts are now being made to find a permanent solution to Bhutni's flood and erosion problems, with the state government committed to taking all necessary steps.Countering this, district Trinamool leader Biswajit Ghosh placed the blame on the central government. "The central government has never cooperated on Bhutni's flood and erosion problems, which is why the situation stands as it does today. Even with a double-engine government now in place, flooding continues in Bhutni. Instead of standing by these helpless people, political statements are being made," he said.

Floods worsen in West Bengal's Malda as the Ganga rises to 25.99 metres, above the extreme danger mark, affecting nearly 3 lakh people.

The flood situation in West Bengal's Malda district continued to deteriorate on Wednesday, with the Ganga rising well past the extreme danger mark and fresh areas coming under water. As many as three lakh people are estimated to have been badly affected, with officials warning that water levels are likely to keep rising in the coming days. Water level breaches extreme danger mark The Ganga at Malda touched 25.99 metres at 2 pm on Wednesday — nearly 26 metres, and significantly above the extreme danger mark of 25.30 metres. Irrigation officials attributed the continued rise to increased upstream flow at Sahibganj in Bihar, and cautioned that the trend could persist over the next 24 hours, pushing water levels even higher at Manikchak Ghat and worsening conditions across the district. Adding to the toll, a 175-year-old Shiva temple in Ratua collapsed into the Ganga on Sunday amid worsening flood conditions and riverbank erosion. Experts have warned that water levels will continue rising through September. Aerial survey by senior officials Amid the escalating crisis, a high-powered state team conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Wednesday, acting on instructions from Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The decision to dispatch the team was taken a day earlier at the north Bengal branch secretariat, Uttarkanya, with the aim of assessing the ground situation and coordinating relief, rescue and flood-management efforts. The delegation — comprising Rajesh Sinha, Principal Secretary of the Disaster Management and Irrigation & Waterways Department; DG Civil Defence Sanjay Singh; and IG North Bengal Sukesh Jain — landed in Malda by helicopter around 12 noon after flying in from Kolkata. They first met district administration officials to discuss the flood situation in Bhutni, before flying over the worst-hit areas of Manikchak. The survey covered relief, rescue operations, flood management, drinking water, food, healthcare and education needs, with findings to be submitted to the state government. Further financial assistance and relief measures for flood victims are expected to be taken up based on this assessment. Officials undertook the aerial route specifically because communication and road links to the Hiranandpur, North Chandipur and South Chandipur gram panchayats in Bhutni had been completely cut off by floodwaters. "Bhutni badly hit," says Principal Secretary Speaking after the survey, Principal Secretary Rajesh Sinha said: "The situation in Kataha Diara is relatively better, but Bhutni Diara in Manikchak has been badly hit, with a maximum area almost inundated." He added that a large volume of water remains in the area and that it will take considerable time to recede. "After the aerial survey, we held an administrative meeting and alerted all concerned departments to ensure that flood victims do not face any inconvenience. All necessary arrangements are being made to provide assistance to the affected people," he said. "The water will take some time to recede, and we have to ensure that people do not face difficulties even after the water goes down. All necessary measures are being taken to minimise the hardships of the flood-affected people." Sinha further noted that officials were closely monitoring the situation to prevent any disease outbreak, while relief material and shelter arrangements were being provided to those displaced. Nearly 60 villages hit, official cautions against embankment breach Malda District Magistrate Rajanvir Singh Kapoor said nearly 60 villages across Manikchak and Ratua have been affected by the floods. He cautioned against any hasty move to breach or flatten embankments to drain floodwater, warning that diverting a large volume of water in the wrong direction could worsen the situation. Over a lakh marooned in Bhutni alone Large areas across three gram panchayats of Bhutni in Manikchak have gone underwater due to rising Ganga levels, leaving over a lakh people effectively marooned. Numerous homes and properties have been submerged. The administration has been working to rescue affected residents and move them to safe shelters while keeping the situation under continuous watch. Political blame game intensifies The floods have also triggered a war of words between the state's ruling and opposition camps. BJP MLA from Manikchak, Gaurchandra Mondal, accused the previous Trinamool Congress administration of neglecting flood and erosion prevention work in Bhutni. "During the Trinamool regime, flood and erosion prevention in Bhutni was never carried out. Public funds were siphoned off in the name of such prevention work," he said, adding that this negligence had left over a lakh people facing floods again this year. He said efforts are now being made to find a permanent solution to Bhutni's flood and erosion problems, with the state government committed to taking all necessary steps. Countering this, district Trinamool leader Biswajit Ghosh placed the blame on the central government. "The central government has never cooperated on Bhutni's flood and erosion problems, which is why the situation stands as it does today. Even with a double-engine government now in place, flooding continues in Bhutni. Instead of standing by these helpless people, political statements are being made," he said.

Floods worsen in West Bengal's Malda as the Ganga rises to 25.99 metres, above the extreme danger mark, affecting nearly 3 lakh people.

Malda flood worsens as Ganga rises above extreme danger mark, 3 lakh affected

The controversy over Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Shastri’s remarks on food during Durga Puja escalated on Tuesday, with Congress workers protesting outside Bhawanipore Police Station in Kolkata, carrying posters of Shastri branding him the “BJP poster boy” and beating the posters with shoes. The party also submitted a written complaint seeking an FIR and his arrest, while announcing that an effigy of Shastri would be burnt.&nbsp;The complaint was submitted by the South Kolkata District Congress Committee to the Officer-in-Charge of Bhawanipore Police Station. It accuses Shastri of making “unruly” and “dangerous” comments that hurt the sentiments of Bengalis and could create social disharmony.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bengal-s-durga-puja-plate-turns-political-bjp-tries-to-duck-the-non-veg-row-1788774978773">Bengal's Durga Puja plate turns political: BJP tries to duck the non-veg row</a>&nbsp;The complaint refers to remarks Shastri allegedly made at a public event in Liluah between September 4 and 6, particularly on September 5. Congress has objected to his use of phrases including “Ganda Ganda Cooking” — or “dirty cooking” — and “Pakhandi”, meaning hypocrite, while criticising the consumption of non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/bjp-says-food-choices-are-a-matter-of-individual-preference-1788796211632">BJP says food choices are a matter of individual preferenc</a>&nbsp;The party has urged police to initiate immediate administrative action, register an FIR and make “necessary arrests”, alleging that the remarks could fuel division and disturb the “democratic and peaceful spirit” of society.&nbsp;The complaint comes days after Shastri, while addressing an event in Kolkata, urged Hindus to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja and criticised meat being sold near pandals. He reportedly said those eating non-vegetarian food during the festival “cannot be considered religious” and appealed to Hindus in Kolkata to boycott the practice.&nbsp;The remarks have triggered a political backlash in Bengal. The Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of attempting to “snatch fish and meat from the plates of Bengalis”, pointing to a recent meeting between Shastri and state BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.&nbsp;BJP veteran Tathagata Roy also distanced himself from the remarks, saying he eats non-vegetarian food during Navratri and remains “100% Hindu”, arguing that Hindutva does not work through decrees. The controversy also follows a Vishva Hindu Parishad appeal to Durga Puja organisers to keep non-vegetarian food stalls outside pandal premises.

Dhirendra Shastri’s remarks urging Hindus to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja have sparked a political row in Bengal. Congress sought an FIR and his arrest, while TMC slammed the BJP and BJP veteran Tathagata Roy distanced himself from the comments.

The controversy over Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Shastri’s remarks on food during Durga Puja escalated on Tuesday, with Congress workers protesting outside Bhawanipore Police Station in Kolkata, carrying posters of Shastri branding him the “BJP poster boy” and beating the posters with shoes. The party also submitted a written complaint seeking an FIR and his arrest, while announcing that an effigy of Shastri would be burnt. The complaint was submitted by the South Kolkata District Congress Committee to the Officer-in-Charge of Bhawanipore Police Station. It accuses Shastri of making “unruly” and “dangerous” comments that hurt the sentiments of Bengalis and could create social disharmony. Also Read: Bengal's Durga Puja plate turns political: BJP tries to duck the non-veg row The complaint refers to remarks Shastri allegedly made at a public event in Liluah between September 4 and 6, particularly on September 5. Congress has objected to his use of phrases including “Ganda Ganda Cooking” — or “dirty cooking” — and “Pakhandi”, meaning hypocrite, while criticising the consumption of non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja. Also Read: BJP says food choices are a matter of individual preferenc The party has urged police to initiate immediate administrative action, register an FIR and make “necessary arrests”, alleging that the remarks could fuel division and disturb the “democratic and peaceful spirit” of society. The complaint comes days after Shastri, while addressing an event in Kolkata, urged Hindus to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja and criticised meat being sold near pandals. He reportedly said those eating non-vegetarian food during the festival “cannot be considered religious” and appealed to Hindus in Kolkata to boycott the practice. The remarks have triggered a political backlash in Bengal. The Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of attempting to “snatch fish and meat from the plates of Bengalis”, pointing to a recent meeting between Shastri and state BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari. BJP veteran Tathagata Roy also distanced himself from the remarks, saying he eats non-vegetarian food during Navratri and remains “100% Hindu”, arguing that Hindutva does not work through decrees. The controversy also follows a Vishva Hindu Parishad appeal to Durga Puja organisers to keep non-vegetarian food stalls outside pandal premises.

Dhirendra Shastri’s remarks urging Hindus to avoid non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja have sparked a political row in Bengal. Congress sought an FIR and his arrest, while TMC slammed the BJP and BJP veteran Tathagata Roy distanced himself from the comments.

Congress protests against Bageshwar Baba over Durga Puja remarks; seeks FIR, arrest

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has rolled out a fresh set of guidelines for Durga Puja 2026. Here's everything you need to know:&nbsp;1. No Durga Puja Carnival This Year&nbsp;The state will not organise the Durga Puja Carnival in 2026, breaking from the tradition followed since 2016.&nbsp;2. Complete Liquor Ban on Maha Ashtami&nbsp;Sale of liquor will be banned across all shops and bars in the state on Maha Ashtami, October 19, 2026.&nbsp;3. Grants Not for All Puja Committees Anymore&nbsp;Government grants will no longer go to every Puja committee. Big-budget committees have been asked to skip the assistance, and the CM criticised the earlier practice of giving grants to all committees without scrutiny.&nbsp;4. Rs 1 Lakh "Optional" Grant for Needy Committees&nbsp;Only committees found to be genuinely in need, after scrutiny, will receive the Rs 1 lakh financial assistance.&nbsp;5. Grand Mahalaya Show at Eden Gardens Instead&nbsp;A four-hour programme depicting West Bengal's Durga Puja traditions will be held at Eden Gardens on October 10, complete with a drone show.&nbsp;6. No Blocking of National Highways&nbsp;Puja organisers will not be allowed to block National Highways for Puja-related activities.&nbsp;7. 13 Key Kolkata Roads Off-Limits for Closure&nbsp;Puja celebrations will not be permitted to shut down 13 designated important roads across Kolkata.&nbsp;8. DJ Ban During Puja and Immersion&nbsp;Playing DJs will be prohibited both during Durga Puja celebrations and during idol immersion (visarjan).&nbsp;9. No Cranes for Idol Immersion&nbsp;Cranes will not be permitted for use during the immersion of Durga idols.&nbsp;10. No Pandal Inaugurations Before Mahalaya&nbsp;Pandals will only be allowed to open for inauguration during Matri Paksha, not before.&nbsp;(A related appeal — asking organisers to avoid any distortion of Durga idols or pandal themes that could hurt religious sentiments — was also part of the CM's guidelines.) &nbsp;

WB CM announces 2026 Durga Puja guidelines: no carnival, liquor ban on Ashtami, grants only for needy committees, DJ ban, no highway blocking, no cranes for immersion, and a grand Mahalaya show at Eden Gardens instead.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has rolled out a fresh set of guidelines for Durga Puja 2026. Here's everything you need to know: 1. No Durga Puja Carnival This Year The state will not organise the Durga Puja Carnival in 2026, breaking from the tradition followed since 2016. 2. Complete Liquor Ban on Maha Ashtami Sale of liquor will be banned across all shops and bars in the state on Maha Ashtami, October 19, 2026. 3. Grants Not for All Puja Committees Anymore Government grants will no longer go to every Puja committee. Big-budget committees have been asked to skip the assistance, and the CM criticised the earlier practice of giving grants to all committees without scrutiny. 4. Rs 1 Lakh "Optional" Grant for Needy Committees Only committees found to be genuinely in need, after scrutiny, will receive the Rs 1 lakh financial assistance. 5. Grand Mahalaya Show at Eden Gardens Instead A four-hour programme depicting West Bengal's Durga Puja traditions will be held at Eden Gardens on October 10, complete with a drone show. 6. No Blocking of National Highways Puja organisers will not be allowed to block National Highways for Puja-related activities. 7. 13 Key Kolkata Roads Off-Limits for Closure Puja celebrations will not be permitted to shut down 13 designated important roads across Kolkata. 8. DJ Ban During Puja and Immersion Playing DJs will be prohibited both during Durga Puja celebrations and during idol immersion (visarjan). 9. No Cranes for Idol Immersion Cranes will not be permitted for use during the immersion of Durga idols. 10. No Pandal Inaugurations Before Mahalaya Pandals will only be allowed to open for inauguration during Matri Paksha, not before. (A related appeal — asking organisers to avoid any distortion of Durga idols or pandal themes that could hurt religious sentiments — was also part of the CM's guidelines.)

WB CM announces 2026 Durga Puja guidelines: no carnival, liquor ban on Ashtami, grants only for needy committees, DJ ban, no highway blocking, no cranes for immersion, and a grand Mahalaya show at Eden Gardens instead.

Durga Puja 2026: 10 big announcements by West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari (in order of importance)

A row over what people eat near Durga Puja pandals has snowballed into a full-blown political headache for the BJP in West Bengal, and on Monday, the party's state chief moved fast to distance himself from it. West Bengal BJP president and Rajya &nbsp;Sabha MP Shamik Bhattacharya, addressing reporters in Salt Lake, flatly ruled out any party position on Bengali food habits.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The BJP has no statement on what people in West Bengal will eat or wear," he said, adding that dietary choices, fish, meat, or vegetarian, is a matter of individual preference. It is not the BJP's position to decide what anyone should eat." The controversy began on August 26, when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad issued an advisory asking that non-vegetarian food be kept away from Durga Puja pandals to preserve the festival's ‘sanctity’. Sanatan Sanskriti Sansad secretary Swami Nirgunananda told puja organisers, "It is the duty of Sanatanis to protect the sanctity of the idol and maintain cleanliness in and around the pandal," adding that non-veg stalls should be restricted to areas away from the venue. The VHP said it wasn't seeking to enforce vegetarianism outright.&nbsp;The row gained real momentum on Sunday, when Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, head priest of Bageshwar Dham and a spiritual leader known for his weekly ‘divya darbar’ sessions in Madhya Pradesh, made a near-identical appeal in Kolkata, “I am appealing to the Hindus of Bengal, that during Navratri, even if you don't keep the idols of the Goddess, do not sell non-veg near the idols.” He also said, “Bangal ke pagalon sab rahenge par kayede mein rahenge toh fayede mein rahenge”. His remarks carried extra political weight because West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had shared the stage with him and publicly invited him to set up spiritual centre &nbsp;in the state: "Baba Maharaj Ji, please open a center here. There should also be a Bageshwar Dham centre… This is the land of the saints."&nbsp;Many in Bengal have read the appeals as a thinly-veiled attempt to impose vegetarianism on a state where fish and meat are woven into festival culture, a charge the BJP has been fighting since the 2026 Assembly polls, when its leaders posed with fish to reassure voters. &nbsp;Content creator Priyam Ghose captured the mood online, "Bageshwar Baba is just 30 years old. First recorded Durga Pujo in Kolkata was in 1610... Don't think Bengalis need a certificate on how to celebrate their age old festival from someone who is about my age."&nbsp;Durga Puja isn't just a festival in Bengal, it's UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage, inscribed in December 2021 for its unique community character, where, as UNESCO put it, the divides of class, religion and ethnicities collapse. Over 40,000 community pujas are held across the state, roughly 3,000 in Kolkata alone. Bhattacharya's clarification came, notably, while he was unveiling the BJP's month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, &nbsp;a campaign marking 25 years of Narendra Modi in top office. The timing underlines the balancing act: distancing the party from a row that risks alienating Bengali voters, without publicly rebuking Hindu religious figures aligned with the wider Hindutva movement.&nbsp;The seva sankalp abhiyan campaign will begin on the Prime Minister’s birthday on September 17 and continue till October 17. On September 17, at least 25 lamps will be lit at every booth in the state to pray for the Prime Minister’s good health, long life and success. Party workers have already begun preparations for this, Bhattacharya informed. He further added that a key component of the campaign will be the ‘Seva Setu Abhiyan’. Through three-day special camps, eligible people who have been deprived of the benefits of various central and state government welfare schemes will be assisted. A documentary and theme song titled ‘Namo Seva Gatha’ will be released to take the Prime Minister’s 25-year administrative journey to the common people.

The controversy started on August 26, when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad issued an advisory asking that non-vegetarian food be kept away from Durga Puja pandals to preserve the festival's ‘sanctity’

A row over what people eat near Durga Puja pandals has snowballed into a full-blown political headache for the BJP in West Bengal, and on Monday, the party's state chief moved fast to distance himself from it. West Bengal BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Shamik Bhattacharya, addressing reporters in Salt Lake, flatly ruled out any party position on Bengali food habits. "The BJP has no statement on what people in West Bengal will eat or wear," he said, adding that dietary choices, fish, meat, or vegetarian, is a matter of individual preference. It is not the BJP's position to decide what anyone should eat." The controversy began on August 26, when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad issued an advisory asking that non-vegetarian food be kept away from Durga Puja pandals to preserve the festival's ‘sanctity’. Sanatan Sanskriti Sansad secretary Swami Nirgunananda told puja organisers, "It is the duty of Sanatanis to protect the sanctity of the idol and maintain cleanliness in and around the pandal," adding that non-veg stalls should be restricted to areas away from the venue. The VHP said it wasn't seeking to enforce vegetarianism outright. The row gained real momentum on Sunday, when Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, head priest of Bageshwar Dham and a spiritual leader known for his weekly ‘divya darbar’ sessions in Madhya Pradesh, made a near-identical appeal in Kolkata, “I am appealing to the Hindus of Bengal, that during Navratri, even if you don't keep the idols of the Goddess, do not sell non-veg near the idols.” He also said, “Bangal ke pagalon sab rahenge par kayede mein rahenge toh fayede mein rahenge”. His remarks carried extra political weight because West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had shared the stage with him and publicly invited him to set up spiritual centre in the state: "Baba Maharaj Ji, please open a center here. There should also be a Bageshwar Dham centre… This is the land of the saints." Many in Bengal have read the appeals as a thinly-veiled attempt to impose vegetarianism on a state where fish and meat are woven into festival culture, a charge the BJP has been fighting since the 2026 Assembly polls, when its leaders posed with fish to reassure voters. Content creator Priyam Ghose captured the mood online, "Bageshwar Baba is just 30 years old. First recorded Durga Pujo in Kolkata was in 1610... Don't think Bengalis need a certificate on how to celebrate their age old festival from someone who is about my age." Durga Puja isn't just a festival in Bengal, it's UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage, inscribed in December 2021 for its unique community character, where, as UNESCO put it, the divides of class, religion and ethnicities collapse. Over 40,000 community pujas are held across the state, roughly 3,000 in Kolkata alone. Bhattacharya's clarification came, notably, while he was unveiling the BJP's month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, a campaign marking 25 years of Narendra Modi in top office. The timing underlines the balancing act: distancing the party from a row that risks alienating Bengali voters, without publicly rebuking Hindu religious figures aligned with the wider Hindutva movement. The seva sankalp abhiyan campaign will begin on the Prime Minister’s birthday on September 17 and continue till October 17. On September 17, at least 25 lamps will be lit at every booth in the state to pray for the Prime Minister’s good health, long life and success. Party workers have already begun preparations for this, Bhattacharya informed. He further added that a key component of the campaign will be the ‘Seva Setu Abhiyan’. Through three-day special camps, eligible people who have been deprived of the benefits of various central and state government welfare schemes will be assisted. A documentary and theme song titled ‘Namo Seva Gatha’ will be released to take the Prime Minister’s 25-year administrative journey to the common people.

The controversy started on August 26, when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad issued an advisory asking that non-vegetarian food be kept away from Durga Puja pandals to preserve the festival's ‘sanctity’

Bengal's Durga Puja plate turns political: BJP tries to duck the non-veg row

The Union government has cleared a Rs 2,077.18 crore project to four-lane a 31.02-km stretch of National Highway 327 in West Bengal's Darjeeling district, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on X. The approved stretch runs from Bagdogra through Panitanki and Kharibari to Galgalia, cutting through the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow strip of land often called India's "Chicken's Neck" that links the country's mainland to its entire Northeast region.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">📢West Bengal🛣️ In West Bengal, we have approved ₹2,077.18 crore for the 4️⃣-laning of the 31.02-km Bagdogra–Panitanki–Kharibari–Galgalia section of NH-327 in Darjeeling district. The project will include the construction of 3️⃣ major bridges, 1️⃣ Road Over Bridge (ROB), 5️⃣…&mdash; Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) <a href="https://x.com/nitin_gadkari/status/2095400632681439404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;<h2>What the Project Includes</h2>The four-laning work will come with three major bridges, one road-over-bridge, and five elephant underpasses built along the route, along with service roads on both sides of the highway. The elephant underpasses are aimed at reducing human-animal conflict and vehicle collisions in a region where wild elephant movement is common near the forested belts around Siliguri.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-rolls-out-digital-spot-fines-200-for-littering-banned-plastic-public-urination-1788250267843">West Bengal rolls out digital spot fines; ₹200 for littering, banned plastic, public urination</a><h2>Why the Corridor Matters</h2>The Siliguri Corridor narrows to as little as 20-22 km at some points, squeezed between the international borders of Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. It is the only land route connecting Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh to the rest of India, which makes any infrastructure work here carry weight well beyond local traffic concerns.&nbsp;Gadkari said the project would strengthen connectivity to Northeast India and improve access toward Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, positioning it as both a regional development project and a piece of a longer-term push to build up alternate and redundant connectivity around the corridor.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/farakka-flow-fight-bengal-pushes-back-as-india-bangladesh-water-treaty-deadline-looms-1788183893041">West Bengal urges Centre to safeguard state's rivers, ports before Ganga-Padma Treaty renewal</a><h2>Local Impact</h2>Officials expect the widened highway to ease congestion in Bagdogra, Naxalbari, Kharibari and Panitanki, all towns that currently see heavy traffic bottlenecks. The project is also expected to improve access to Bagdogra Airport, a key aviation hub for the region that also has military significance.&nbsp;For the local economy, faster road access is expected to help move tea, horticultural and other agricultural produce from North Bengal's farms to larger markets more quickly, cutting down transit time for perishable goods.&nbsp;The project adds to a series of connectivity upgrades the Centre has undertaken in and around the Siliguri Corridor in recent years, part of a broader strategy to reduce the region's dependence on a single, narrow land link to the rest of India. &nbsp;

The Centre has approved ₹2,077 crore to convert NH-327 into a four-lane highway in the strategic Siliguri corridor. 

The Union government has cleared a Rs 2,077.18 crore project to four-lane a 31.02-km stretch of National Highway 327 in West Bengal's Darjeeling district, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on X. The approved stretch runs from Bagdogra through Panitanki and Kharibari to Galgalia, cutting through the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow strip of land often called India's "Chicken's Neck" that links the country's mainland to its entire Northeast region.

The Centre has approved ₹2,077 crore to convert NH-327 into a four-lane highway in the strategic Siliguri corridor.&nbsp;

Centre approves Rs 2,077 crore for four-laning of NH-327 through strategic Siliguri corridor

Six people have been detained for questioning by Kolkata Police in connection with the alleged early-morning break-in and vandalism at Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee’s party office on Camac Street in central Kolkata. The incident, reported around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, has triggered sharp political exchanges between the TMC and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal. According to TMC accounts and CCTV footage shared by the party, a group of masked and helmeted men armed with weapons entered the premises, assaulted staff and security personnel present, snatched mobile phones, smashed furniture, ransacked rooms, and removed electronic equipment including air purifiers, printers, televisions and other gadgets before fleeing. Banerjee, who was in New Delhi at the time, described the episode as a “well-planned attack.” In a series of posts on X, Banerjee wrote: “This is what the BJP has done to my party office in the early hours of this morning.” He continued: “What happened at Camac Street this morning is a disgraceful assault on the rule of law. At around 4.30 am, BJP hooligans, armed with weapons, stormed our party office in the heart of Kolkata. They attacked our people, snatched their phones, smashed furniture, ransacked the premises and destroyed electronic equipment. And where was Kolkata Police? For nearly TWO HOURS, despite repeated calls and emails from our people and lawyers, there was no response. This is outrageous and unacceptable.” Banerjee demanded the immediate arrest of those involved and an investigation into who planned and directed the alleged violence. He questioned the response of state and central authorities, asking whether the West Bengal Governor, Union Home Minister or Prime Minister’s Office would act, and urged the Calcutta High Court to intervene to uphold the rule of law.&nbsp; Addressing Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, he said: “Why are you so scared of the Trinamool Congress and of me that you have to resort to this kind of intimidation? If this is how the Opposition is to be treated in West Bengal, through violence, vandalism and intimidation, then the Chief Minister have no moral authority to remain in office. He must resign. This is not democracy. This is political thuggery.” He added that every such act “will be remembered” and “nothing will be forgotten.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-records-highest-monthly-dengue-count-this-year-with-90-cases-in-august-check-total-casualties-1788415383280">Delhi records highest monthly dengue count this year with 90 cases in August: Check total casualties</a> A TMC statement&nbsp;&nbsp;described the incident similarly, stating that those responsible “knew Shri Abhishek Banerjee is not in town and left for New Delhi last night” and that “BJP goons stormed the office around 4.30 am and ransacked the entire office, assaulted office staff and took away air purifiers, printers, TVs.” Party leaders, including TMC IT cell in-charge Upashna Chaudhary, also alleged involvement by people associated with the BJP and criticised the police for a delayed response. The BJP rejected the allegations. Baranagar MLA Sajal Ghosh stated that no party worker was involved, saying he could “say with responsibility that no one from the BJP is involved in this incident.” He questioned the presence of TMC workers at the office at that hour and suggested the episode may have been staged. Kolkata Police have detained six individuals for questioning in connection with the alleged break-in and vandalism. Investigation is underway. No further official details on the identities of those detained or specific charges were immediately available in public statements at the time of reporting. Police sources confirmed the probe is active following the TMC’s complaint and the circulating footage. The episode occurs against the backdrop of recent tensions surrounding the same Camac Street premises. In late August, Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials, accompanied by police, removed an allegedly unauthorised TMC billboard from the building, leading to a scuffle.&nbsp; Three FIRs were registered naming Banerjee, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and others on charges including unlawful assembly, obstruction of public servants and assault; 13 people were arrested in that earlier matter and sent to judicial custody. Banerjee and other TMC leaders had accused the authorities of political targeting in that case.

Kolkata Police have detained six individuals for questioning in connection with the alleged break-in and vandalism. Investigation is underway. No further official details on the identities of those detained or specific charges were immediately available.

Six people have been detained for questioning by Kolkata Police in connection with the alleged early-morning break-in and vandalism at Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary and MP Abhishek Banerjee’s party office on Camac Street in central Kolkata. The incident, reported around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, has triggered sharp political exchanges between the TMC and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal. According to TMC accounts and CCTV footage shared by the party, a group of masked and helmeted men armed with weapons entered the premises, assaulted staff and security personnel present, snatched mobile phones, smashed furniture, ransacked rooms, and removed electronic equipment including air purifiers, printers, televisions and other gadgets before fleeing. Banerjee, who was in New Delhi at the time, described the episode as a “well-planned attack.” In a series of posts on X, Banerjee wrote: “This is what the BJP has done to my party office in the early hours of this morning.” He continued: “What happened at Camac Street this morning is a disgraceful assault on the rule of law. At around 4.30 am, BJP hooligans, armed with weapons, stormed our party office in the heart of Kolkata. They attacked our people, snatched their phones, smashed furniture, ransacked the premises and destroyed electronic equipment. And where was Kolkata Police? For nearly TWO HOURS, despite repeated calls and emails from our people and lawyers, there was no response. This is outrageous and unacceptable.” Banerjee demanded the immediate arrest of those involved and an investigation into who planned and directed the alleged violence. He questioned the response of state and central authorities, asking whether the West Bengal Governor, Union Home Minister or Prime Minister’s Office would act, and urged the Calcutta High Court to intervene to uphold the rule of law. Addressing Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, he said: “Why are you so scared of the Trinamool Congress and of me that you have to resort to this kind of intimidation? If this is how the Opposition is to be treated in West Bengal, through violence, vandalism and intimidation, then the Chief Minister have no moral authority to remain in office. He must resign. This is not democracy. This is political thuggery.” He added that every such act “will be remembered” and “nothing will be forgotten.” Also read: Delhi records highest monthly dengue count this year with 90 cases in August: Check total casualties A TMC statement described the incident similarly, stating that those responsible “knew Shri Abhishek Banerjee is not in town and left for New Delhi last night” and that “BJP goons stormed the office around 4.30 am and ransacked the entire office, assaulted office staff and took away air purifiers, printers, TVs.” Party leaders, including TMC IT cell in-charge Upashna Chaudhary, also alleged involvement by people associated with the BJP and criticised the police for a delayed response. The BJP rejected the allegations. Baranagar MLA Sajal Ghosh stated that no party worker was involved, saying he could “say with responsibility that no one from the BJP is involved in this incident.” He questioned the presence of TMC workers at the office at that hour and suggested the episode may have been staged. Kolkata Police have detained six individuals for questioning in connection with the alleged break-in and vandalism. Investigation is underway. No further official details on the identities of those detained or specific charges were immediately available in public statements at the time of reporting. Police sources confirmed the probe is active following the TMC’s complaint and the circulating footage. The episode occurs against the backdrop of recent tensions surrounding the same Camac Street premises. In late August, Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials, accompanied by police, removed an allegedly unauthorised TMC billboard from the building, leading to a scuffle. Three FIRs were registered naming Banerjee, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien and others on charges including unlawful assembly, obstruction of public servants and assault; 13 people were arrested in that earlier matter and sent to judicial custody. Banerjee and other TMC leaders had accused the authorities of political targeting in that case.

Kolkata Police have detained six individuals for questioning in connection with the alleged break-in and vandalism. Investigation is underway. No further official details on the identities of those detained or specific charges were immediately available.

Six detained after alleged vandalism at Abhishek Banerjee’s Camac Street TMC office in Kolkata

A small herb that's been growing quietly in the shade along Satargaon Road in Kamrup Metropolitan district has turned out to be something no one had ever formally catalogued. Scientists say it's a species new to science altogether.The plant now has a name, Ophiorrhiza assamensis, credited to Birina Bhuyan, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Girijananda Chowdhury University's Azara campus, who worked on the discovery with Guwahati-based botanist Selim Mehmud. Their findings appear in the international taxonomy journal Phytotaxa, in a paper titled "Ophiorrhiza assamensis (Rubiaceae), a new species from Assam, India."<h2>A quiet find</h2>Ophiorrhiza assamensis is a perennial herb with large, ribbed leaves and clusters of small white flowers. Researchers found it growing in a moist, shaded patch of habitat. It belongs to the genus Ophiorrhiza, which sits in the Rubiaceae family, the same family that gives us coffee.The published paper says the plant closely resembles two known relatives, O. mussaendiformis and O. nepalensis. To help tell them apart, the authors included a full taxonomic description, illustrations, and a dichotomous key covering the Ophiorrhiza species already known in Assam.That detail is worth pausing on. Assam already hosts a cluster of closely related Ophiorrhiza species, several described only in the last few years by researchers working across Northeast India. Bhuyan's own 2024 study, which mapped the taxonomy and distribution of the genus across the state, helped lay the groundwork for this latest find.<h2>Why the genus matters</h2>Ophiorrhiza isn't just another line item on a botanical checklist. Species in this genus produce camptothecin, a compound that several modern cancer drugs are built on, including treatments used against colon cancer. So a newly identified member of the genus draws interest well beyond taxonomy circles, into the world of plant-derived medicine.<h2>A narrow window</h2>There's a catch to the excitement. Ophiorrhiza assamensis is currently known from just one small, localised population near Satargaon Road. As far as science knows right now, that patch of habitat is the plant's entire home on Earth.That kind of narrow range makes a newly described species vulnerable. A road-widening project, a change in land use, or creeping deforestation could erase the population before researchers get much further into studying it.Bhuyan and Mehmud have recommended classifying the species provisionally as "Data Deficient" under IUCN guidelines. It's the category used when there isn't yet enough information to assign a firm threat status, but it's also a flag that keeps the species on the radar for closer monitoring and further study.&nbsp;

Botanists discovered a new plant species, Ophiorrhiza assamensis, near Guwahati. Belonging to a genus known for producing the cancer-fighting compound camptothecin, the vulnerable herb requires immediate protection and further study.

A small herb that's been growing quietly in the shade along Satargaon Road in Kamrup Metropolitan district has turned out to be something no one had ever formally catalogued. Scientists say it's a species new to science altogether. The plant now has a name, Ophiorrhiza assamensis, credited to Birina Bhuyan, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at Girijananda Chowdhury University's Azara campus, who worked on the discovery with Guwahati-based botanist Selim Mehmud. Their findings appear in the international taxonomy journal Phytotaxa, in a paper titled "Ophiorrhiza assamensis (Rubiaceae), a new species from Assam, India." A quiet find Ophiorrhiza assamensis is a perennial herb with large, ribbed leaves and clusters of small white flowers. Researchers found it growing in a moist, shaded patch of habitat. It belongs to the genus Ophiorrhiza, which sits in the Rubiaceae family, the same family that gives us coffee. The published paper says the plant closely resembles two known relatives, O. mussaendiformis and O. nepalensis. To help tell them apart, the authors included a full taxonomic description, illustrations, and a dichotomous key covering the Ophiorrhiza species already known in Assam. That detail is worth pausing on. Assam already hosts a cluster of closely related Ophiorrhiza species, several described only in the last few years by researchers working across Northeast India. Bhuyan's own 2024 study, which mapped the taxonomy and distribution of the genus across the state, helped lay the groundwork for this latest find. Why the genus matters Ophiorrhiza isn't just another line item on a botanical checklist. Species in this genus produce camptothecin, a compound that several modern cancer drugs are built on, including treatments used against colon cancer. So a newly identified member of the genus draws interest well beyond taxonomy circles, into the world of plant-derived medicine. A narrow window There's a catch to the excitement. Ophiorrhiza assamensis is currently known from just one small, localised population near Satargaon Road. As far as science knows right now, that patch of habitat is the plant's entire home on Earth. That kind of narrow range makes a newly described species vulnerable. A road-widening project, a change in land use, or creeping deforestation could erase the population before researchers get much further into studying it. Bhuyan and Mehmud have recommended classifying the species provisionally as "Data Deficient" under IUCN guidelines. It's the category used when there isn't yet enough information to assign a firm threat status, but it's also a flag that keeps the species on the radar for closer monitoring and further study.

Botanists discovered a new plant species, Ophiorrhiza assamensis, near Guwahati. Belonging to a genus known for producing the cancer-fighting compound camptothecin, the vulnerable herb requires immediate protection and further study.

New flowering plant found in India's Assam turns out to carry cancer-fighting compound

On Tuesday afternoon, a group of men dressed in saffron robes walked up to the Anandabazar Patrika office near Chandni Chowk and began painting two pillars at the main entrance the same colour. Police from Bowbazar station stood by and watched. Some officers even recorded the scene on their phones.The demonstration started around 1:30 pm and lasted nearly an hour. The men raised slogans in Hindi and Bengali: “Bhagwa ka apmaan nahi sahega” (We will not tolerate the insult of Bhagwa) and “Anandabazar Patrika haye haye" , “This land belongs to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. This land belongs to Swami Vivekananda. This land is Saffron.” In some videos someone calls the newspaper a “Dimagi Naxal paper” . Police later escorted them away. No FIR has been registered yet over the painting, Bowbazar police confirmed.The incident came days after West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly demanded an apology from the state’s largest daily. On August 21, Anandabazar Patrika had carried the front-page headline “Saffron Hooliganism: Logo broken during raid on JU campus,” describing violence at Jadavpur University as “gerua gundami.” Adhikari objected strongly. At a Raksha Bandhan rally in Jadavpur on August 28 he said: “I am not threatening the media. But an apology will have to be made. Otherwise thousands of sadhus in saffron robes are getting ready. They only want my consent. I have said [to them], ‘wait’.” He added that the paper could write about “Suvendu’s forces’ rampage” or “the BJP’s rampage” but not use the colour saffron that way. “It has struck many people in the heart,” he told reporters.The newspaper did not apologise or retract the report. It published Adhikari’s remarks on its front page instead.Anandabazar Patrika has a long history in Bengal. Founded on 13 March 1922 by Prafulla Kumar Sarkar and Suresh Chandra Majumdar as a four-page evening paper printed in red ink, it was born in the nationalist struggle against British rule. Contemporary English papers called its red first edition a “danger signal.” Over a century it grew into the state’s most widely read Bengali daily, known for its independent voice.A senior editor at the paper said extra security had been posted at the office since Saturday after Adhikari’s comments. “We had a hunch something like this might happen. We were told not to go to office today. Police officials had come with them and left with them as well,” the editor told Alt News. Most of the men appeared non-Bengali and carried no organisational banners. A few hours after the painting, editor Ishani Datta Ray posted a photo of the pillars freshly painted white again, captioned with a line from Tagore’s poem: “উচ্চ যেথা শির” (Where the head is held high).Kolkata Police had already registered an FIR against Datta Ray, chief reporter Soma Mukherjee and other editorial staff after a complaint by saffron-clad monk Sanjay Shastri Maharaj. He claimed the original headline hurt Hindu sentiments and disturbed public peace.Press bodies reacted sharply. The Indian Women’s Press Corps and Press Association demanded the FIR be withdrawn immediately. “We demand that the state and its machinery desist from using tools like the registration of FIRs to intimidate and suppress journalists and instead support a free press,” their joint statement said. They noted the similarity between the monk’s language and the chief minister’s public remarks.&nbsp; Former journalist and TMC leader Sagarika Ghose called the painting “condemnable in the extreme” on X, asking why police stood by as bystanders and saying Bengal had entered a “dark age” under the BJP.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">&quot;Bhagwa ka apman nehi sahega Hindustan&quot; Hindutva men paint the walls of the iconic Anandabazar Patrika office saffron, in the presence of Kolkata Police. <a href="https://t.co/gHbHtLiuUH">pic.twitter.com/gHbHtLiuUH</a>&mdash; The Indian Idiot (@theindianidiot) <a href="https://x.com/theindianidiot/status/2094767242395443506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Saffron-clad men painted pillars outside the Anandabazar Patrika office in Kolkata amid a row over its ‘saffron hooliganism’ headline on Jadavpur University violence.

On Tuesday afternoon, a group of men dressed in saffron robes walked up to the Anandabazar Patrika office near Chandni Chowk and began painting two pillars at the main entrance the same colour. Police from Bowbazar station stood by and watched. Some officers even recorded the scene on their phones. The demonstration started around 1:30 pm and lasted nearly an hour. The men raised slogans in Hindi and Bengali: “Bhagwa ka apmaan nahi sahega” (We will not tolerate the insult of Bhagwa) and “Anandabazar Patrika haye haye" , “This land belongs to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. This land belongs to Swami Vivekananda. This land is Saffron.” In some videos someone calls the newspaper a “Dimagi Naxal paper” . Police later escorted them away. No FIR has been registered yet over the painting, Bowbazar police confirmed. The incident came days after West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly demanded an apology from the state’s largest daily. On August 21, Anandabazar Patrika had carried the front-page headline “Saffron Hooliganism: Logo broken during raid on JU campus,” describing violence at Jadavpur University as “gerua gundami.” Adhikari objected strongly. At a Raksha Bandhan rally in Jadavpur on August 28 he said: “I am not threatening the media. But an apology will have to be made. Otherwise thousands of sadhus in saffron robes are getting ready. They only want my consent. I have said [to them], ‘wait’.” He added that the paper could write about “Suvendu’s forces’ rampage” or “the BJP’s rampage” but not use the colour saffron that way. “It has struck many people in the heart,” he told reporters. The newspaper did not apologise or retract the report. It published Adhikari’s remarks on its front page instead. Anandabazar Patrika has a long history in Bengal. Founded on 13 March 1922 by Prafulla Kumar Sarkar and Suresh Chandra Majumdar as a four-page evening paper printed in red ink, it was born in the nationalist struggle against British rule. Contemporary English papers called its red first edition a “danger signal.” Over a century it grew into the state’s most widely read Bengali daily, known for its independent voice. A senior editor at the paper said extra security had been posted at the office since Saturday after Adhikari’s comments. “We had a hunch something like this might happen. We were told not to go to office today. Police officials had come with them and left with them as well,” the editor told Alt News. Most of the men appeared non-Bengali and carried no organisational banners. A few hours after the painting, editor Ishani Datta Ray posted a photo of the pillars freshly painted white again, captioned with a line from Tagore’s poem: “উচ্চ যেথা শির” (Where the head is held high). Kolkata Police had already registered an FIR against Datta Ray, chief reporter Soma Mukherjee and other editorial staff after a complaint by saffron-clad monk Sanjay Shastri Maharaj. He claimed the original headline hurt Hindu sentiments and disturbed public peace. Press bodies reacted sharply. The Indian Women’s Press Corps and Press Association demanded the FIR be withdrawn immediately. “We demand that the state and its machinery desist from using tools like the registration of FIRs to intimidate and suppress journalists and instead support a free press,” their joint statement said. They noted the similarity between the monk’s language and the chief minister’s public remarks. Former journalist and TMC leader Sagarika Ghose called the painting “condemnable in the extreme” on X, asking why police stood by as bystanders and saying Bengal had entered a “dark age” under the BJP.

Saffron-clad men painted pillars outside the Anandabazar Patrika office in Kolkata amid a row over its ‘saffron hooliganism’ headline on Jadavpur University violence.

Anandabazar Patrika office pillars painted saffron over newspaper's headline

US President Donald Trump has sent a warm letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman thanking him for Dhaka's commitment to purchase Boeing aircraft, while expressing optimism about the country's future and signalling a desire to meet the premier in person soon. In the letter, dated August 31, 2026, and sent on White House letterhead, Trump conveyed his warmest regards and love to the people of Bangladesh, according to the Prime Minister's Press Wing. Trump thanked the Prime Minister for his decision to purchase Boeing aircraft, saying Boeing would not let Bangladesh down. The US president told Rahman that Boeing "will not let you down, and I will not forget," and expressed confidence in a bright future for Bangladesh.&nbsp;<h2>The Boeing Deal</h2> The letter follows an expansion of Bangladesh's aircraft procurement commitments to the United States.US Ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs Sergio Gor said in a post on X on August 30 that Trump and Rahman had reached an "incredible Deal" under which Bangladesh would significantly increase its initial order for Boeing aircraft, with Bangladesh committing to spend billions of dollars on additional aircraft, significantly increasing its initial order.&nbsp;However, Gor did not specify the number or models of aircraft involved, the total value of the commitment, or whether a purchase agreement had been formally signed. Gor's statement came nearly a month after his three-day official visit to Bangladesh from July 30 to August 1, during which he met senior government officials to discuss bilateral relations, trade and economic issues. Notably, Bangladesh had already increased its planned purchase of Boeing aircraft from 14 to 25 back in July.<h2>Broader Bilateral Relationship &nbsp;</h2>This exchange builds on a warming US-Bangladesh relationship since Rahman took office. Trump had congratulated Rahman on February 18, following a February 9 signing of an "Agreement on Reciprocal Trade" under the prior interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.&nbsp;That deal reduced additional US "reciprocal tariffs" on select Bangladeshi exports from 20 per cent to 19 per cent, averting an earlier threat of 37 per cent tariffs, and included commitments on LNG purchases over fifteen years, the original acquisition of fourteen Boeing aircraft for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and expanded procurement of US military systems. In a February 18 letter, Trump had congratulated Rahman on his election victory and emphasised US intentions to deepen bilateral ties through trade, aviation cooperation and defence engagement, including provisions encouraging Bangladesh's Boeing procurement.Trump's latest letter closes with an expression of hope for an in-person meeting with Rahman "in the not too distant future," though no date has been announced.

US President Donald Trump thanked Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman for Dhaka’s Boeing aircraft commitment and expressed hope for an in-person meeting soon.

US President Donald Trump has sent a warm letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman thanking him for Dhaka's commitment to purchase Boeing aircraft, while expressing optimism about the country's future and signalling a desire to meet the premier in person soon. In the letter, dated August 31, 2026, and sent on White House letterhead, Trump conveyed his warmest regards and love to the people of Bangladesh, according to the Prime Minister's Press Wing. Trump thanked the Prime Minister for his decision to purchase Boeing aircraft, saying Boeing would not let Bangladesh down. The US president told Rahman that Boeing "will not let you down, and I will not forget," and expressed confidence in a bright future for Bangladesh. The Boeing Deal The letter follows an expansion of Bangladesh's aircraft procurement commitments to the United States. US Ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs Sergio Gor said in a post on X on August 30 that Trump and Rahman had reached an "incredible Deal" under which Bangladesh would significantly increase its initial order for Boeing aircraft, with Bangladesh committing to spend billions of dollars on additional aircraft, significantly increasing its initial order. However, Gor did not specify the number or models of aircraft involved, the total value of the commitment, or whether a purchase agreement had been formally signed. Gor's statement came nearly a month after his three-day official visit to Bangladesh from July 30 to August 1, during which he met senior government officials to discuss bilateral relations, trade and economic issues. Notably, Bangladesh had already increased its planned purchase of Boeing aircraft from 14 to 25 back in July. Broader Bilateral Relationship This exchange builds on a warming US-Bangladesh relationship since Rahman took office. Trump had congratulated Rahman on February 18, following a February 9 signing of an "Agreement on Reciprocal Trade" under the prior interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. That deal reduced additional US "reciprocal tariffs" on select Bangladeshi exports from 20 per cent to 19 per cent, averting an earlier threat of 37 per cent tariffs, and included commitments on LNG purchases over fifteen years, the original acquisition of fourteen Boeing aircraft for Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and expanded procurement of US military systems. In a February 18 letter, Trump had congratulated Rahman on his election victory and emphasised US intentions to deepen bilateral ties through trade, aviation cooperation and defence engagement, including provisions encouraging Bangladesh's Boeing procurement. Trump's latest letter closes with an expression of hope for an in-person meeting with Rahman "in the not too distant future," though no date has been announced.

US President Donald Trump thanked Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman for Dhaka’s Boeing aircraft commitment and expressed hope for an in-person meeting soon.

Trump thanks Bangladesh PM for Boeing deal, hints at meeting

The West Bengal government has introduced a digital spot-fine system across municipalities from September 1, imposing penalties for littering, illegal dumping, use or carrying of banned plastic bags, public urination and defecation, and spitting in public places. According to a government notification issued by the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department, public urination or defecation and littering will attract a ₹200 fine, while spitting in public places will invite a ₹100 penalty.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/panic-at-kolkata-s-sealdah-station-as-fire-engulfs-food-stalls-1788187819929">Panic at Kolkata's Sealdah Station as fire engulfs food stalls</a>&nbsp;The government has clarified that the initiative is not aimed at revenue generation, but at increasing public awareness and bringing about a long-term change in civic behaviour to create a cleaner and more responsible society. Under the system, municipal employees will be trained to undertake awareness campaigns and encourage citizens to follow civic rules. They will also inform people that repeated violations could result in fines being imposed as per the prescribed rates.&nbsp;The notification states that the digital spot-fine mechanism will be transparent, cashless and accountable. Authorised municipal personnel will record violations at the spot, with geo-tagged photographs used where necessary as evidence. Digital challans will be generated and fines collected through QR codes or online payment, following which citizens will receive a digital receipt.Initially, fines will be collected digitally or online. However, cash collection may be permitted in specific circumstances, subject to the prescribed rules. The government has also directed municipalities to consider local requirements and arrange community bins and other waste-collection infrastructure where necessary.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bengal-cm-pushes-behala-airport-revival-aviation-minister-ram-mohan-naidu-responds-positively-1788193475830">Bengal CM pushes Behala airport revival</a>

The system will cover violations including throwing waste in public places, illegal dumping, carrying or using banned plastic carry bags, spitting, and public urination or defecation. Enforcement will be carried out in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and directions of the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal.&nbsp;The notification also says that the mobile number of a violator will be recorded when a fine is imposed. This will allow authorities to identify repeated offenders and take appropriate action against habitual violations. Citizens have been urged to use toilets, dispose of waste only at designated places, avoid spitting in public, refrain from using or carrying banned plastic bags, and avoid illegal dumping. The government has emphasised that the digital spot-fine system is being implemented with three broad objectives — a clean city, responsible citizens and clean municipal administration.West Bengal's move is less a standalone policy than the latest entry in a rapidly expanding, cross-party civic-enforcement trend sweeping urban India.&nbsp;Mumbai's BMC introduced fines up to ₹25,000 for 21 civic offences back in February 2026; Assam's BJP-run Guwahati Municipal Corporation rolled out its own spot-fine schedule in July; and Chandigarh hiked open-defecation fines to a steep ₹10,000 in May, explicitly citing Swachh Survekshan guidelines from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. What sets Bengal apart isn't the fine itself, but the delivery mechanism- a fully cashless, geo-tagged, QR-code-based digital challan system that Minister Agnimitra Paul described in terms of both technology and enforcement: "The conservancy workers will carry machines to collect spot fines through digital mode if anybody violates the order. We will also be taking help from the cops to keep vigilance." That pairing of hardware-in-hand enforcement with police backup marks a shift from paper-based challans toward a more traceable, harder-to-negotiate-with system- one likely to be watched closely by other states weighing similar upgrades.

West Bengal has introduced a digital spot-fine system across municipalities for littering, illegal dumping, spitting, public urination and banned plastic bags. The cashless, geo-tagged system aims to improve civic discipline, track repeat offenders and promote cleaner cities.

The West Bengal government has introduced a digital spot-fine system across municipalities from September 1, imposing penalties for littering, illegal dumping, use or carrying of banned plastic bags, public urination and defecation, and spitting in public places. According to a government notification issued by the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department, public urination or defecation and littering will attract a ₹200 fine, while spitting in public places will invite a ₹100 penalty. Also Read: Panic at Kolkata's Sealdah Station as fire engulfs food stalls The government has clarified that the initiative is not aimed at revenue generation, but at increasing public awareness and bringing about a long-term change in civic behaviour to create a cleaner and more responsible society. Under the system, municipal employees will be trained to undertake awareness campaigns and encourage citizens to follow civic rules. They will also inform people that repeated violations could result in fines being imposed as per the prescribed rates. The notification states that the digital spot-fine mechanism will be transparent, cashless and accountable. Authorised municipal personnel will record violations at the spot, with geo-tagged photographs used where necessary as evidence. Digital challans will be generated and fines collected through QR codes or online payment, following which citizens will receive a digital receipt. Initially, fines will be collected digitally or online. However, cash collection may be permitted in specific circumstances, subject to the prescribed rules. The government has also directed municipalities to consider local requirements and arrange community bins and other waste-collection infrastructure where necessary. Also Read: Bengal CM pushes Behala airport revival

West Bengal has introduced a digital spot-fine system across municipalities for littering, illegal dumping, spitting, public urination and banned plastic bags. The cashless, geo-tagged system aims to improve civic discipline, track repeat offenders and promote cleaner cities.

West Bengal rolls out digital spot fines; ₹200 for littering, banned plastic, public urination

The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body representing the Kuki community in the state, has directed all Kuki-Zo legislators to stay away from the upcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly session, set to begin September 2 and run through September 7 with three sittings scheduled.&nbsp;In its statement, KIM instructed Kuki-Zo MLAs not to travel to Imphal, warning that any legislator who defies the directive risks being seen as acting against the community's collective political stance. The body reiterated its long-standing demand for a separate political administration for the Kuki-Zo people, asserting that normal legislative business should not resume while Manipur's political crisis remains unresolved.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/manipur-census-deferred-till-october-12-after-high-court-order-amidst-nrc-demands-1788185413954">Manipur census deferred till October 12 after high court order amidst NRC demands</a>&nbsp;KIM argued that legislators' participation could wrongly signal that normalcy has returned to the state, potentially weakening the push for a political settlement. It called on the MLAs to act with "political responsibility" in line with community aspirations, and questioned why routine Assembly proceedings were continuing at all given the ongoing unrest.&nbsp;While the directive reflects KIM's official position, it remains unclear how individual legislators will respond. The Kuki-Zo community holds nine seats in the 60-member Assembly, including Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and six other BJP MLAs — meaning their absence, if it materializes, could carry significant political weight.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/a-day-after-peace-talks-bullets-on-manipur-s-it-road-4-naga-civilians-dead-1787829046789">A day after peace talks, bullets on Manipur's IT road: 4 Naga civilians dead</a>

<h2>Fresh Violence in Kangpokpi</h2>The boycott call comes day after a deadly attack in N. Teikhang village, Kangpokpi district, on August 31, in which three villagers — including two women — were killed and four others injured. Chief Minister N. Biren-successor Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the killings on social media, offering condolences to the bereaved families and vowing that the state would not tolerate such violence. He assured that those responsible would be arrested and prosecuted, and said an investigation was underway. &nbsp;

The Kuki Inpi Manipur has directed all Kuki-Zo MLAs to stay away from the Manipur Assembly session starting September 2, warning against travelling to Imphal. The apex body said participation could signal normalcy and weaken the community’s demand for a separate political administration.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body representing the Kuki community in the state, has directed all Kuki-Zo legislators to stay away from the upcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly session, set to begin September 2 and run through September 7 with three sittings scheduled. In its statement, KIM instructed Kuki-Zo MLAs not to travel to Imphal, warning that any legislator who defies the directive risks being seen as acting against the community's collective political stance. The body reiterated its long-standing demand for a separate political administration for the Kuki-Zo people, asserting that normal legislative business should not resume while Manipur's political crisis remains unresolved. Also Read: Manipur census deferred till October 12 after high court order amidst NRC demands KIM argued that legislators' participation could wrongly signal that normalcy has returned to the state, potentially weakening the push for a political settlement. It called on the MLAs to act with "political responsibility" in line with community aspirations, and questioned why routine Assembly proceedings were continuing at all given the ongoing unrest. While the directive reflects KIM's official position, it remains unclear how individual legislators will respond. The Kuki-Zo community holds nine seats in the 60-member Assembly, including Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen and six other BJP MLAs — meaning their absence, if it materializes, could carry significant political weight. Also Read: A day after peace talks, bullets on Manipur's IT road: 4 Naga civilians dead

The Kuki Inpi Manipur has directed all Kuki-Zo MLAs to stay away from the Manipur Assembly session starting September 2, warning against travelling to Imphal. The apex body said participation could signal normalcy and weaken the community’s demand for a separate political administration.

Kuki body directs legislators to boycott Manipur Assembly session amid ongoing crisis

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