BRICS arrives at its 18th summit in New Delhi with an expanded membership of 11 countries and 10 partners, together accounting for close to half the world's population and roughly 40 per cent of global GDP.&nbsp;According to a briefing by the research group Climate Trends, over the past year, India's chairship has convened more than 350 meetings across 25 cities, producing around 20 sectoral agreements on energy, agriculture and urban planning. But the same briefing flags a consistent pattern behind those numbers: the outcomes are voluntary and non-binding, and none of them is backed by a dedicated financing mechanism — a gap that becomes harder to ignore against the New Development Bank's own reported climate-lending figures, which sit below the target the bank has set for itself.&nbsp;On energy specifically, that BRICS has adopted guiding principles on energy storage and smart grids, and launched a Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage, with cooperation extending to hydrogen, biofuels, critical minerals and carbon capture. The bloc's membership spans both major energy producers and consumers, alongside countries holding significant renewable-energy capacity.&nbsp;Dammu Ravi, former Secretary for Economic Affairs at India's Ministry of External Affairs, frames this as an opening for joint projects rather than parallel national ones. "No single country can do these energy projects alone," he said, citing China's capital, technology and critical-mineral capacity, India's renewable-energy investment base, Brazil's experience with flex-fuel biofuels and Russia's nuclear expertise, including small modular reactors. Combined, he said, these strengths could support what he called "gigawatt scale mega projects." He added that "political and bilateral issues" among members would still need to be resolved.&nbsp;Beyond energy generation, the briefing lists BRICS principles on community-based climate adaptation and traditional and indigenous knowledge systems, along with initiatives on regenerative agriculture, digital farming and climate-resilient logistics, and a proposed urban mobility and research network aimed at building climate and disaster risk into city planning. It characterizes all of these as cooperation and knowledge-sharing platforms rather than binding commitments.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/economic-bridges-not-barriers-pm-modi-flags-trade-barriers-seafarer-safety-at-brics-business-forum-1789132762442">‘Economic bridges, not barriers’: PM Modi flags trade barriers, seafarer safety at BRICS Business Forum</a>&nbsp;On financing, according to &nbsp;the New Development Bank's own figures, it’s authorized capital of $100 billion, against $53.4 billion subscribed and roughly $42.9 billion in cumulative approvals across 139 projects. The Bank reported climate finance stood at $8.1 billion at the end of 2024, or 23 per cent of the Bank's portfolio, with mitigation lending far outpacing adaptation.&nbsp;Ravi argues that renewable-energy models developed in India and China could be replicated in other parts of the Global South, particularly Africa, but says the missing elements are financing structures, incentives and mechanisms to reduce investment risk.&nbsp;Experts also raise a technology question that BRICS has not yet addressed: rising electricity demand from data centres tied to AI and digital agriculture initiatives, in economies where additional power generation still relies significantly on coal.&nbsp;On fossil fuels, the briefing notes that BRICS energy ministers have emphasized flexibility based on national circumstances and development priorities, and that the bloc continues to recognize a continuing role for fossil fuels alongside its just-transition language — a position it describes as consistent with the bloc's stance in prior years rather than a new shift.&nbsp;Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, described the bloc's approach as "variable geometry" — cooperation where interests overlap even amid disagreement elsewhere. "Climate change is clearly one area where this diverse group has a shared interest," he said, pointing to falling clean-energy costs and mounting climate impacts as reasons for collective action.&nbsp;The period after the summit is the real test of the chairship: whether the agreements reached this year convert into investment, technology partnerships and actual projects. With COP31 set to open in Antalya in November, &nbsp;that BRICS' positions on adaptation finance, just transition and carbon accounting could shape what a large share of the Global South brings into those negotiations.

BRICS’ expanded climate cooperation under India’s chairship has produced hundreds of meetings and sectoral agreements, but experts flag the lack of dedicated financing and binding commitments as the bloc’s key challenge in turning plans into projects.

BRICS arrives at its 18th summit in New Delhi with an expanded membership of 11 countries and 10 partners, together accounting for close to half the world's population and roughly 40 per cent of global GDP. According to a briefing by the research group Climate Trends, over the past year, India's chairship has convened more than 350 meetings across 25 cities, producing around 20 sectoral agreements on energy, agriculture and urban planning. But the same briefing flags a consistent pattern behind those numbers: the outcomes are voluntary and non-binding, and none of them is backed by a dedicated financing mechanism — a gap that becomes harder to ignore against the New Development Bank's own reported climate-lending figures, which sit below the target the bank has set for itself. On energy specifically, that BRICS has adopted guiding principles on energy storage and smart grids, and launched a Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage, with cooperation extending to hydrogen, biofuels, critical minerals and carbon capture. The bloc's membership spans both major energy producers and consumers, alongside countries holding significant renewable-energy capacity. Dammu Ravi, former Secretary for Economic Affairs at India's Ministry of External Affairs, frames this as an opening for joint projects rather than parallel national ones. "No single country can do these energy projects alone," he said, citing China's capital, technology and critical-mineral capacity, India's renewable-energy investment base, Brazil's experience with flex-fuel biofuels and Russia's nuclear expertise, including small modular reactors. Combined, he said, these strengths could support what he called "gigawatt scale mega projects." He added that "political and bilateral issues" among members would still need to be resolved. Beyond energy generation, the briefing lists BRICS principles on community-based climate adaptation and traditional and indigenous knowledge systems, along with initiatives on regenerative agriculture, digital farming and climate-resilient logistics, and a proposed urban mobility and research network aimed at building climate and disaster risk into city planning. It characterizes all of these as cooperation and knowledge-sharing platforms rather than binding commitments. Also Read: ‘Economic bridges, not barriers’: PM Modi flags trade barriers, seafarer safety at BRICS Business Forum On financing, according to the New Development Bank's own figures, it’s authorized capital of $100 billion, against $53.4 billion subscribed and roughly $42.9 billion in cumulative approvals across 139 projects. The Bank reported climate finance stood at $8.1 billion at the end of 2024, or 23 per cent of the Bank's portfolio, with mitigation lending far outpacing adaptation. Ravi argues that renewable-energy models developed in India and China could be replicated in other parts of the Global South, particularly Africa, but says the missing elements are financing structures, incentives and mechanisms to reduce investment risk. Experts also raise a technology question that BRICS has not yet addressed: rising electricity demand from data centres tied to AI and digital agriculture initiatives, in economies where additional power generation still relies significantly on coal. On fossil fuels, the briefing notes that BRICS energy ministers have emphasized flexibility based on national circumstances and development priorities, and that the bloc continues to recognize a continuing role for fossil fuels alongside its just-transition language — a position it describes as consistent with the bloc's stance in prior years rather than a new shift. Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, described the bloc's approach as "variable geometry" — cooperation where interests overlap even amid disagreement elsewhere. "Climate change is clearly one area where this diverse group has a shared interest," he said, pointing to falling clean-energy costs and mounting climate impacts as reasons for collective action. The period after the summit is the real test of the chairship: whether the agreements reached this year convert into investment, technology partnerships and actual projects. With COP31 set to open in Antalya in November, that BRICS' positions on adaptation finance, just transition and carbon accounting could shape what a large share of the Global South brings into those negotiations.

BRICS’ expanded climate cooperation under India’s chairship has produced hundreds of meetings and sectoral agreements, but experts flag the lack of dedicated financing and binding commitments as the bloc’s key challenge in turning plans into projects.

BRICS built 350 meetings' worth of climate cooperation this year, almost none of it comes with money

Sumit Roy, personal aide to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, has been arrested by the West Bengal CID in the alleged government land fraud case in Salboni, West Midnapore.The arrest came hours after the Supreme Court rejected Roy’s anticipatory bail plea and vacated its August 6 order staying his arrest.CID officers picked Roy up from Abhishek Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, where they had gone looking for him. The action came after the Supreme Court cleared the way for his arrest.The case concerns the alleged illegal transfer and sale of government land using forged documents. Investigators say forged title deeds have emerged in the probe. The case has been registered under provisions relating to cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy.Roy had earlier been denied anticipatory bail by the Calcutta High Court on August 3. The Supreme Court subsequently gave him interim protection and directed him to cooperate with the CID investigation. He had appeared before the CID several times, including for lengthy questioning.The State had opposed further protection, arguing that Roy’s custodial interrogation was necessary.And the BJP is now turning the arrest into a larger political issue.Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar described Roy as the “ear” of a larger chain and suggested that the “head” would follow — a clear hint that Abhishek Banerjee could be next. Majumdar also alleged that Roy handled administrative matters on Banerjee’s behalf, including contacting senior government officials.The Trinamool Congress has not yet issued an official response.Since the BJP government led by Suvendu Adhikari took office in May, more than 100 TMC leaders, functionaries and workers have reportedly been arrested in cases involving corruption, extortion, post-poll violence, land and recruitment-related allegations, as well as older cases.For now, the focus is on Roy’s custodial questioning and what the CID uncovers in the Salboni land case. &nbsp;

Roy had earlier been denied anticipatory bail by the Calcutta High Court on August 3. The Supreme Court subsequently gave him interim protection and directed him to cooperate with the CID investigation.

Sumit Roy, personal aide to TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, has been arrested by the West Bengal CID in the alleged government land fraud case in Salboni, West Midnapore. The arrest came hours after the Supreme Court rejected Roy’s anticipatory bail plea and vacated its August 6 order staying his arrest. CID officers picked Roy up from Abhishek Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, where they had gone looking for him. The action came after the Supreme Court cleared the way for his arrest. The case concerns the alleged illegal transfer and sale of government land using forged documents. Investigators say forged title deeds have emerged in the probe. The case has been registered under provisions relating to cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, use of forged documents and criminal conspiracy. Roy had earlier been denied anticipatory bail by the Calcutta High Court on August 3. The Supreme Court subsequently gave him interim protection and directed him to cooperate with the CID investigation. He had appeared before the CID several times, including for lengthy questioning. The State had opposed further protection, arguing that Roy’s custodial interrogation was necessary. And the BJP is now turning the arrest into a larger political issue. Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar described Roy as the “ear” of a larger chain and suggested that the “head” would follow — a clear hint that Abhishek Banerjee could be next. Majumdar also alleged that Roy handled administrative matters on Banerjee’s behalf, including contacting senior government officials. The Trinamool Congress has not yet issued an official response. Since the BJP government led by Suvendu Adhikari took office in May, more than 100 TMC leaders, functionaries and workers have reportedly been arrested in cases involving corruption, extortion, post-poll violence, land and recruitment-related allegations, as well as older cases. For now, the focus is on Roy’s custodial questioning and what the CID uncovers in the Salboni land case.

Roy had earlier been denied anticipatory bail by the Calcutta High Court on August 3. The Supreme Court subsequently gave him interim protection and directed him to cooperate with the CID investigation.

Abhishek Banerjee’s aide arrested after SC relief ends: BJP hints ‘head’ could be next

As Ranna Puja approaches, Bengali kitchens across Kolkata and West Bengal are staring at an unusual gap on the plate — Padma and Meghna hilsa, the fish most synonymous with the festival, is simply not arriving. Markets this year are being propped up instead by Myanmar hilsa, and in a twist few saw coming, by hilsa shipped in from Gujarat, a large share of which is now being re-exported to Bangladesh itself.&nbsp;Ranna Puja is a Bengali festival, falling on September 17 this year, honoring Goddess Manasa, where elaborate cooking (often with hilsa) happens the night before, followed by a no-cooking day when the meal is eaten cold. It remains a strong tradition in rural Bengal and Kolkata's suburbs.&nbsp;Weather has kept the fish at sea. According to trade sources, as many as a dozen low-pressure systems have formed in the Bay of Bengal near Bangladesh over just 51 days this monsoon. The resulting heavy rain has pushed hilsa to stay put in the saline waters of the deep sea rather than migrate toward the coast, while repeated weather-related restrictions have kept Bangladeshi fishermen from venturing into deep water at all.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-919-kolkata-hotels-receive-temporary-closure-notices-over-fire-safety-lapses-1789023488468">Over 919 Kolkata hotels receive temporary closure notices over fire safety lapses</a><h2>The river catch has collapsed&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;With the fish reluctant to move, hilsa have largely failed to enter the freshwater stretches and estuaries of the Padma and Meghna — the very zones that produce Bangladesh's prized, high-value catch. Production this season is described as almost negligible.Bangladesh is keeping what little it has.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whatever hilsa Bangladeshi fishermen have managed to land is reportedly not even enough to satisfy domestic demand. Padma-Meghna hilsa is currently selling at record prices within Bangladesh itself, leaving little incentive — or surplus — to export.&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>Indian importers came back empty-handed</h2>&nbsp;On August 17, a delegation of eight Indian importing agencies travelled to Dhaka and met Bangladesh's Commerce Secretary, the Commerce Minister, and India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi. They were told plainly: there is no fish available. Officials indicated that if supply improves, an attempt would be made to send consignments before Durga Puja — offering no comfort for Ranna Puja itself.A pattern of shrinking shipments.&nbsp;The numbers tell their own story. In 2024, Bangladesh had intended to send 4,600 metric tonnes of hilsa to India; in the end, only about 1,250 metric tonnes actually crossed over. In 2025, the situation was starker still — just 125 metric tonnes of Bangladeshi hilsa entered India, and even that arrived only on the night after Ranna Puja, coinciding with Vishwakarma Puja. Throughout that period, prices stayed well beyond the reach of middle-class households.<h2>A reversal nobody predicted</h2>&nbsp;In an ironic twist to the annual hilsa story, it is now India that is exporting to Bangladesh — a sizeable quantity of hilsa from Gujarat's waters is currently making its way across the border, even as Bengal's own festive tables go without the fish of the Padma and Meghna."This year the picture has simply flipped," says Atul Chandra Das, President of the West Bengal Hilsa Export Import Association, summing up a season in which erratic weather, restricted fishing, and Bangladesh's own shortage have combined to keep the silvery treasure off Bengali plates just when tradition demands it most.

Bengal's traditional Ranna Puja celebrations will miss out on authentic Bangladeshi Hilsa this year, as market scarcity and import restrictions leave festive menus incomplete.

As Ranna Puja approaches, Bengali kitchens across Kolkata and West Bengal are staring at an unusual gap on the plate — Padma and Meghna hilsa, the fish most synonymous with the festival, is simply not arriving. Markets this year are being propped up instead by Myanmar hilsa, and in a twist few saw coming, by hilsa shipped in from Gujarat, a large share of which is now being re-exported to Bangladesh itself. Ranna Puja is a Bengali festival, falling on September 17 this year, honoring Goddess Manasa, where elaborate cooking (often with hilsa) happens the night before, followed by a no-cooking day when the meal is eaten cold. It remains a strong tradition in rural Bengal and Kolkata's suburbs. Weather has kept the fish at sea. According to trade sources, as many as a dozen low-pressure systems have formed in the Bay of Bengal near Bangladesh over just 51 days this monsoon. The resulting heavy rain has pushed hilsa to stay put in the saline waters of the deep sea rather than migrate toward the coast, while repeated weather-related restrictions have kept Bangladeshi fishermen from venturing into deep water at all. Also read: Over 919 Kolkata hotels receive temporary closure notices over fire safety lapses The river catch has collapsed With the fish reluctant to move, hilsa have largely failed to enter the freshwater stretches and estuaries of the Padma and Meghna — the very zones that produce Bangladesh's prized, high-value catch. Production this season is described as almost negligible. Bangladesh is keeping what little it has. Whatever hilsa Bangladeshi fishermen have managed to land is reportedly not even enough to satisfy domestic demand. Padma-Meghna hilsa is currently selling at record prices within Bangladesh itself, leaving little incentive — or surplus — to export. Also read: West Bengal rolls out digital spot fines; ₹200 for littering, banned plastic, public urination Indian importers came back empty-handed On August 17, a delegation of eight Indian importing agencies travelled to Dhaka and met Bangladesh's Commerce Secretary, the Commerce Minister, and India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi. They were told plainly: there is no fish available. Officials indicated that if supply improves, an attempt would be made to send consignments before Durga Puja — offering no comfort for Ranna Puja itself. A pattern of shrinking shipments. The numbers tell their own story. In 2024, Bangladesh had intended to send 4,600 metric tonnes of hilsa to India; in the end, only about 1,250 metric tonnes actually crossed over. In 2025, the situation was starker still — just 125 metric tonnes of Bangladeshi hilsa entered India, and even that arrived only on the night after Ranna Puja, coinciding with Vishwakarma Puja. Throughout that period, prices stayed well beyond the reach of middle-class households. A reversal nobody predicted In an ironic twist to the annual hilsa story, it is now India that is exporting to Bangladesh — a sizeable quantity of hilsa from Gujarat's waters is currently making its way across the border, even as Bengal's own festive tables go without the fish of the Padma and Meghna. "This year the picture has simply flipped," says Atul Chandra Das, President of the West Bengal Hilsa Export Import Association, summing up a season in which erratic weather, restricted fishing, and Bangladesh's own shortage have combined to keep the silvery treasure off Bengali plates just when tradition demands it most.

Bengal's traditional Ranna Puja celebrations will miss out on authentic Bangladeshi Hilsa this year, as market scarcity and import restrictions leave festive menus incomplete.

Ilish missing in action: No Bangladeshi hilsa for Bengal’s Ranna puja this year

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has issued temporary closure notices to 919 hotels and guest houses after a citywide fire safety inspection drive found most establishments falling short of basic safety norms. Of the 960 properties inspected, only 41 passed the final compliance check.<h2>Crackdown follows deadly hotel fire</h2>The stepped-up enforcement follows the fire last month at Hotel Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street, which killed at least nine people, including seven Bangladeshi nationals. The tragedy exposed long-standing safety gaps in the area's dense cluster of small, ageing hotels and prompted authorities to tighten inspection protocols across the city. KMC Commissioner Smita Pandey said the standards being enforced are basic and cannot be compromised, stressing that functioning fire exits are a minimum requirement for any establishment to operate.<h2>Old buildings, missing paperwork</h2>Many hotel owners in the Mirza Ghalib Street area, a neighbourhood popular with Bangladeshi visitors seeking medical treatment in Kolkata, say they are caught in a bureaucratic bind. Several properties have operated for decades, but the buildings themselves are far older, and owners who lease rather than own the premises say they cannot produce the original construction plans that fire officials are asking for. The wave of closures has reduced available rooms sharply in the area, and visitors have reported steep price increases at the handful of hotels still permitted to operate.<h2>Path to reopening</h2>The KMC, which has issued more than 3,000 hotel licences overall, says non-compliant owners can rectify deficiencies and reapply for licences on their own initiative. However, officials have drawn a firm line on residential buildings illegally converted into commercial guest houses, which will be barred permanently from relicensing due to safety risks. Around a dozen compliance review applications have been received so far, with formal hearings underway. A three-day camp has also been launched to address assessment-related grievances directly.<h2>Audits extend to shopping malls ahead of Durga Puja</h2>With Durga Puja approaching and large crowds expected at commercial hubs, the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department has widened its audit to major shopping malls and retail centres across several districts, including Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Darjeeling, and Paschim Bardhaman. Malls under review include South City, Mani Square, Forum Courtyard, City Centre 1 and 2, Acropolis, Quest Mall, Avani Riverside Mall, and Durgapur's Junction Mall, along with retail outlets such as Westside on Free School Street. Inspectors are checking firefighting equipment, evacuation routes, and safety clearances, particularly in high-footfall zones like food courts. Establishments that fail the audit face immediate operating restrictions until certified upgrades are completed.

A citywide fire safety inspection drive found most establishments falling short of basic safety norms

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has issued temporary closure notices to 919 hotels and guest houses after a citywide fire safety inspection drive found most establishments falling short of basic safety norms. Of the 960 properties inspected, only 41 passed the final compliance check. Crackdown follows deadly hotel fire The stepped-up enforcement follows the fire last month at Hotel Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street, which killed at least nine people, including seven Bangladeshi nationals. The tragedy exposed long-standing safety gaps in the area's dense cluster of small, ageing hotels and prompted authorities to tighten inspection protocols across the city. KMC Commissioner Smita Pandey said the standards being enforced are basic and cannot be compromised, stressing that functioning fire exits are a minimum requirement for any establishment to operate. Old buildings, missing paperwork Many hotel owners in the Mirza Ghalib Street area, a neighbourhood popular with Bangladeshi visitors seeking medical treatment in Kolkata, say they are caught in a bureaucratic bind. Several properties have operated for decades, but the buildings themselves are far older, and owners who lease rather than own the premises say they cannot produce the original construction plans that fire officials are asking for. The wave of closures has reduced available rooms sharply in the area, and visitors have reported steep price increases at the handful of hotels still permitted to operate. Path to reopening The KMC, which has issued more than 3,000 hotel licences overall, says non-compliant owners can rectify deficiencies and reapply for licences on their own initiative. However, officials have drawn a firm line on residential buildings illegally converted into commercial guest houses, which will be barred permanently from relicensing due to safety risks. Around a dozen compliance review applications have been received so far, with formal hearings underway. A three-day camp has also been launched to address assessment-related grievances directly. Audits extend to shopping malls ahead of Durga Puja With Durga Puja approaching and large crowds expected at commercial hubs, the West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Department has widened its audit to major shopping malls and retail centres across several districts, including Kolkata, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, Darjeeling, and Paschim Bardhaman. Malls under review include South City, Mani Square, Forum Courtyard, City Centre 1 and 2, Acropolis, Quest Mall, Avani Riverside Mall, and Durgapur's Junction Mall, along with retail outlets such as Westside on Free School Street. Inspectors are checking firefighting equipment, evacuation routes, and safety clearances, particularly in high-footfall zones like food courts. Establishments that fail the audit face immediate operating restrictions until certified upgrades are completed.

A citywide fire safety inspection drive found most establishments falling short of basic safety norms. Of the 960 properties inspected, only 41 passed the final compliance check

Over 919 Kolkata hotels receive temporary closure notices over fire safety lapses

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

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