Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/from-strength-to-strength-pm-modi-tells-donald-trump-on-the-phone-272616">Narendra Modi</a> will visit Kolkata for two days on January 11 and 12 where he will be taking part in various programs. 
 
In a series of tweets today, the Office of the Prime Minister of India (PMO) said, "Prime Minister Modi will visit Kolkata on 11th and 12th January 2020. He will be taking part in various programs during his visit."

"On January 11, the Prime Minister shall dedicate to the Nation Four Refurbished Heritage Buildings in Kolkata to the Nation," the PMO said.

The Prime Minister shall also participate in the grand Sesquicentenary Celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on January 11 and 12.

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The Prime Minister shall also inaugurate the upgraded Ship Repair Faciility of Cochin Kolkata Ship Repair Unit at Netaji Subhas Dry Dock.
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1215587743419387904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Prime Minister Modi shall also inaugurate the upgraded Ship Repair Facility of Cochin Kolkata Ship Repair Unit at Netaji Subhas Dry Dock. 
 
The Prime Minister shall inaugurate the Full Rake Handling Facility while dedicating the upgraded Railway Infrastructure of Kolkata Dock System of KoPT for smooth cargo movement and improving turnaround time. 
 
The Mechanisation of Berth No.3 at Haldia Dock Complex of KoPT and a proposed riverfront development scheme will also be launched by Prime Minister. 
 
He shall also inaugurate Kaushal Vikas Kendra and Pritilata Chhatri Avas for 200 Tribal girl students of Sunderbans, a project undertaken by KoPT with Purvanchal Kalyan Ashram, Gosaba, Sunderbans affiliated to Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kolkata for two days on January 11 and 12 where he will be taking part in various programs. In a series of tweets today, the Office of the Prime Minister of India (PMO) said, "Prime Minister Modi will visit Kolkata on 11th and 12th January 2020.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kolkata for two days on January 11 and 12 where he will be taking part in various programs. In a series of tweets today, the Office of the Prime Minister of India (PMO) said, "Prime Minister Modi will visit Kolkata on 11th and 12th January 2020. He will be taking part in various programs during his visit." "On January 11, the Prime Minister shall dedicate to the Nation Four Refurbished Heritage Buildings in Kolkata to the Nation," the PMO said. The Prime Minister shall also participate in the grand Sesquicentenary Celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on January 11 and 12. The Prime Minister shall also inaugurate the upgraded Ship Repair Faciility of Cochin Kolkata Ship Repair Unit at Netaji Subhas Dry Dock. — PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 10, 2020 × Prime Minister Modi shall also inaugurate the upgraded Ship Repair Facility of Cochin Kolkata Ship Repair Unit at Netaji Subhas Dry Dock. The Prime Minister shall inaugurate the Full Rake Handling Facility while dedicating the upgraded Railway Infrastructure of Kolkata Dock System of KoPT for smooth cargo movement and improving turnaround time. The Mechanisation of Berth No.3 at Haldia Dock Complex of KoPT and a proposed riverfront development scheme will also be launched by Prime Minister. He shall also inaugurate Kaushal Vikas Kendra and Pritilata Chhatri Avas for 200 Tribal girl students of Sunderbans, a project undertaken by KoPT with Purvanchal Kalyan Ashram, Gosaba, Sunderbans affiliated to Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.

PM Narendra Modi to take part in various programs during his Kolkata visit

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-leads-protest-march-against-caa-in-kolkata-on-monday-269999">West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee</a> on Thursday led another mass rally in Kolkata against the Citizenship Amendment Act. She asked the students to continue their protest in a democratic manner.&nbsp;

"I will tell all the students to continue their protest for their democratic rights, in a democratic way," she said today.&nbsp;

The chief minister also announced Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of those who lost their lives in Karnataka's Mangaluru during protests.

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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during protest against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CitizenshipAmendmentAct?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CitizenshipAmendmentAct</a> &amp; NRC, in Kolkata: We will pay cheque of Rs. 5 lakhs each to the families of those who lost their lives in Mangaluru during protests. <a href="https://t.co/tq8CCxD0hF">pic.twitter.com/tq8CCxD0hF</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1210123083673030656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The West Bengal chief minister has been calling for rallies against the new citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Citizenship Amendment Act seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, Banerjee led a march from Gandhi Statue to Vivekananda House in Kolkata. Many TMC workers, senior party leaders, and protesters joined her as she took to the streets.

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during protest march against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CitizenshipAmendmentAct?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CitizenshipAmendmentAct</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalRegisterofCitizens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalRegisterofCitizens</a>, in Kolkata: I will tell all the students to continue their protest for their democratic rights, in a democratic way <a href="https://t.co/WE5KmaY5BJ">https://t.co/WE5KmaY5BJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/E8z3RqhvAy">pic.twitter.com/E8z3RqhvAy</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1210110704650350592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Last week also she had taken out a massive march to protest against the Act.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mamata-has-taken-unconstitutional-route-by-seeking-outside-intervention-on-caa-wb-guv-269261">West Bengal Governor</a> has called Banerjee's stance against the implementation of the CAA as unconstitutional.&nbsp;

In a series of tweets last week, Governor Jagdeep Dhankar said that Banerjee has taken an "unconstitutional route by her public stance on CAA and ignored my appeal. This has immeasurably caused damage to our democratic fabric".&nbsp;

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday led another mass rally in Kolkata against the Citizenship Amendment Act. She asked the students to continue their protest in a democratic manner.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday led another mass rally in Kolkata against the Citizenship Amendment Act. She asked the students to continue their protest in a democratic manner. "I will tell all the students to continue their protest for their democratic rights, in a democratic way," she said today. The chief minister also announced Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of those who lost their lives in Karnataka's Mangaluru during protests. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during protest against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct & NRC, in Kolkata: We will pay cheque of Rs. 5 lakhs each to the families of those who lost their lives in Mangaluru during protests. pic.twitter.com/tq8CCxD0hF — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2019 × The West Bengal chief minister has been calling for rallies against the new citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Citizenship Amendment Act seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. On Tuesday, Banerjee led a march from Gandhi Statue to Vivekananda House in Kolkata. Many TMC workers, senior party leaders, and protesters joined her as she took to the streets. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during protest march against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct and #NationalRegisterofCitizens, in Kolkata: I will tell all the students to continue their protest for their democratic rights, in a democratic way https://t.co/WE5KmaY5BJ pic.twitter.com/E8z3RqhvAy — ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2019 × Last week also she had taken out a massive march to protest against the Act. West Bengal Governor has called Banerjee's stance against the implementation of the CAA as unconstitutional. In a series of tweets last week, Governor Jagdeep Dhankar said that Banerjee has taken an "unconstitutional route by her public stance on CAA and ignored my appeal. This has immeasurably caused damage to our democratic fabric".

Kolkata: Mamata leads another anti-CAA march, tells students to continue their protest

Former President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-uae-have-transformed-and-matured-into-strategic-partnership-pranab-mukherjee-248953">Pranab Mukherjee</a> on Wednesday said that he is not worried over the slow growth of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/economy-debate-narendra-modis-nda-versus-manmohan-singhs-upa-267271">Gross Domestic Product</a> (GDP) as 'certain things' that happened had its impact.

"I am not very much worried over the slow <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/wall-street-week-ahead-tariff-deadline-keeps-focus-on-trade-as-2019-draws-to-close-266795">GDP growth</a> because certain things happened, which had its impact," said Mukherjee at a felicitation programme at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata on Wednesday.

The former finance minister in the UPA government further stated that "the sanctity of data as fact has to be kept intact, it cannot be manipulated or designed in any particular way. That will be disastrous."

"Sometimes I read in newspapers that data is questioned, I feel sad. I used to take pride in the authenticity of the Economic Survey, which was brought out every year before the presentation of the budget," he added.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said that he is not worried over the slow growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as 'certain things' that happened had its impact.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said that he is not worried over the slow growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as 'certain things' that happened had its impact. "I am not very much worried over the slow GDP growth because certain things happened, which had its impact," said Mukherjee at a felicitation programme at the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata on Wednesday. The former finance minister in the UPA government further stated that "the sanctity of data as fact has to be kept intact, it cannot be manipulated or designed in any particular way. That will be disastrous." "Sometimes I read in newspapers that data is questioned, I feel sad. I used to take pride in the authenticity of the Economic Survey, which was brought out every year before the presentation of the budget," he added.

Not worried over slow GDP growth: Pranab Mukherjee

A Romanian national was arrested by Kolkata Police on Monday for duping dozens for lakhs from Delhi.

“Romanian national Siliviu Florin Spiridon, a resident of Constanta, Romania has been arrested from Greater Kailash by officials of Detective Department of Kolkata Police,” said a senior official of Detective Department of Kolkata Police.

Kolkata Police officials recovered skimming devices, other accessories, magnetic chips, batteries, PIN hole camera chip from his possession.

While sources in Kolkata Police said that the arrested Romanian national confessed to have committed the crime, his associates are still at large and a lookout for them has begun.

Last Monday people residing in Jadavpur, West Bengal woke up to a shock when thousands and lacs were withdrawn from their bank accounts.

Over a span of two days, as many as 59 complaints were registered – 44 from Jadavpur area, 13 from Charu Market area, one from Karaya and one Netaji Nagar area.

According to officers in Lalbazar, Kolkata Police headquarters, 13.2 lakh rupees had been duped by the skimmers and the withdrawals were made between November 28 and December 3 from ATMs in Delhi.

Officers were also contemplating of questioning arrested Romanian nationals lodged in Bengal’s jails who had duped more than 70 people early this year.

Immediately after the scam coming to light, Kolkata Police began an awareness program on social media through its Twitter handle and Facebook page asking people to check for skimmers, suspecting cameras and other devices before transacting at any ATM.

A Romanian national was arrested by Kolkata Police on Monday for duping dozens for lakhs from Delhi. “Romanian national Siliviu Florin Spiridon, a resident of Constanta, Romania has been arrested from Greater Kailash by officials of Detective Department of Kolkata Police,” said a senior official of Detective Department of Kolkata Police.

A Romanian national was arrested by Kolkata Police on Monday for duping dozens for lakhs from Delhi. “Romanian national Siliviu Florin Spiridon, a resident of Constanta, Romania has been arrested from Greater Kailash by officials of Detective Department of Kolkata Police,” said a senior official of Detective Department of Kolkata Police. Kolkata Police officials recovered skimming devices, other accessories, magnetic chips, batteries, PIN hole camera chip from his possession. While sources in Kolkata Police said that the arrested Romanian national confessed to have committed the crime, his associates are still at large and a lookout for them has begun. Last Monday people residing in Jadavpur, West Bengal woke up to a shock when thousands and lacs were withdrawn from their bank accounts. Over a span of two days, as many as 59 complaints were registered – 44 from Jadavpur area, 13 from Charu Market area, one from Karaya and one Netaji Nagar area. According to officers in Lalbazar, Kolkata Police headquarters, 13.2 lakh rupees had been duped by the skimmers and the withdrawals were made between November 28 and December 3 from ATMs in Delhi. Officers were also contemplating of questioning arrested Romanian nationals lodged in Bengal’s jails who had duped more than 70 people early this year. Immediately after the scam coming to light, Kolkata Police began an awareness program on social media through its Twitter handle and Facebook page asking people to check for skimmers, suspecting cameras and other devices before transacting at any ATM.

Romanian national arrested for duping several through ATM skimming in Kolkata

Kolkata Police on Friday busted a major bomb-making module from the heart of the city.

Acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted by a team of officers of Kolkata Police at the house of one Sheikh Sahajada in Ekbalpore where three persons were engaged in making bombs using explosive substance and equipment like iron pipes, and shrapnels.

During the interception, two persons fled. However, the police managed to nab Sheikh Sahajada.

“We had the information of bombs being prepared and explosive materials being stored at a house on 39A, Dent Mission Road, 2nd floor. On challenging them, two fled but we detained Sheikh Sahajada. During our search, explosive gunpowder and other bomb-making articles were seized and subsequently the detained accused was arrested from the spot,” said a senior police official of Kolkata Police.

Later, a case was registered at Ekbalpore under section 3 and 5 of the Explosive Substance Act read with under section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

Sources in Kolkata Police revealed that the accused Sheikh Sahajada is a history-sheeter.

“The accused is a notorious criminal and has three previous cases against him including robbery, preparation to commit dacoity, and other charges against him under the Arms Act,” the official added.

This incident has left the residents fuming as they had no idea of such anti-social activities going on in their neighbourhood.

Kolkata Police on Friday busted a major bomb-making module from the heart of the city. Acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted by a team of officers of Kolkata Police at the house of one Sheikh Sahajada in Ekbalpore where three persons were engaged in making bombs using explosive substance and equipment like iron pipes, and shrapnels.

Kolkata Police on Friday busted a major bomb-making module from the heart of the city. Acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted by a team of officers of Kolkata Police at the house of one Sheikh Sahajada in Ekbalpore where three persons were engaged in making bombs using explosive substance and equipment like iron pipes, and shrapnels. During the interception, two persons fled. However, the police managed to nab Sheikh Sahajada. “We had the information of bombs being prepared and explosive materials being stored at a house on 39A, Dent Mission Road, 2nd floor. On challenging them, two fled but we detained Sheikh Sahajada. During our search, explosive gunpowder and other bomb-making articles were seized and subsequently the detained accused was arrested from the spot,” said a senior police official of Kolkata Police. Later, a case was registered at Ekbalpore under section 3 and 5 of the Explosive Substance Act read with under section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. Sources in Kolkata Police revealed that the accused Sheikh Sahajada is a history-sheeter. “The accused is a notorious criminal and has three previous cases against him including robbery, preparation to commit dacoity, and other charges against him under the Arms Act,” the official added. This incident has left the residents fuming as they had no idea of such anti-social activities going on in their neighbourhood.

Kolkata: Police busts major bomb-making module in the heart of city

Skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday registered his 27th century in the longest format of the game.

He achieved the feat in the ongoing day two of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-ban-2nd-test-hosts-finish-day-1-on-strong-note-after-pace-trio-skittles-bangladesh-cheaply-263946">day-night Test</a> against Bangladesh here at the Eden Gardens.

This is Kohli's 20th Test ton as the skipper of the side.

The 31-year-old Kohli brought up his century off 159 balls in the 68th over.

On Friday, he had become the first Indian to register 5000 runs as the Test skipper.

In the same match, Ajinkya Rahane also brought up his fourth-successive half-century. But he was sent back to the pavilion by Taijul Islam after playing a knock of 51 runs.

Before the start of day two, chess players Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen had rung the bell at Eden Gardens to kick start the proceedings.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/kolkata-turns-pink-for-historic-india-bangladesh-test-match-263812">In pictures:&nbsp;Kolkata turns pink for historic India-Bangladesh Test match</a>

In the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pink-ball-test-bangladesh-win-toss-elect-to-bat-first-263846">pink-ball Test</a>, India had ended the first day at 174/3 after bundling out Bangladesh for 106 in the first innings.

Ishant Sharma had picked up five wickets for the hosts on day one.

&nbsp;

Skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday registered his 27th century in the longest format of the game. He achieved the feat in the ongoing day two of the day-night Test against Bangladesh here at the Eden Gardens.

Skipper Virat Kohli on Saturday registered his 27th century in the longest format of the game. He achieved the feat in the ongoing day two of the day-night Test against Bangladesh here at the Eden Gardens. This is Kohli's 20th Test ton as the skipper of the side. The 31-year-old Kohli brought up his century off 159 balls in the 68th over. On Friday, he had become the first Indian to register 5000 runs as the Test skipper. In the same match, Ajinkya Rahane also brought up his fourth-successive half-century. But he was sent back to the pavilion by Taijul Islam after playing a knock of 51 runs. Before the start of day two, chess players Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen had rung the bell at Eden Gardens to kick start the proceedings. In pictures: Kolkata turns pink for historic India-Bangladesh Test match In the pink-ball Test, India had ended the first day at 174/3 after bundling out Bangladesh for 106 in the first innings. Ishant Sharma had picked up five wickets for the hosts on day one.

India versus Bangladesh 2nd Test: Virat Kohli registers 27th century

Bangladesh Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-cricket-diplomacy-bangladesh-pm-sheikh-hasina-cm-mamta-banerjee-to-meet-on-sidelines-of-pink-ball-test-in-kolkata-263781">Sheikh Hasina</a> arrived in Kolkata on Friday where she will inaugurate the first pink-ball day-night test match between India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Premier was received by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief, Sourav Ganguly as she arrived at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport.

PM Hasina along with the state chief minister Mamata Banerjee will go to the Eden Gardens Stadium where the match will be held and ring the ceremonial bell at about 12:30 pm. After the toss, the play will start at 1:00 pm.

After watching the first session of the second Test match, Hasina will return to the hotel.

After the end of the first day's play, the premier will attend a small cultural program followed by a felicitation program arranged by the Cricket Association of Bengal(CAB) at Eden Gardens Stadium.

She will also attend a one-to-one meeting with Banerjee on the sidelines of the match. The focus of the discussion is not known yet.

Meanwhile, to mark the historic occasion all major landmarks of Kolkata city like the Big Ben on Laketown, Howrah Bridge, Tata Centre, Eden Gardens, the Elliot Park, and Shahid Minar are turned pink to mark the occasion.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Kolkata on Friday where she will inaugurate the first pink-ball day-night test match between India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in Kolkata on Friday where she will inaugurate the first pink-ball day-night test match between India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh Premier was received by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief, Sourav Ganguly as she arrived at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. PM Hasina along with the state chief minister Mamata Banerjee will go to the Eden Gardens Stadium where the match will be held and ring the ceremonial bell at about 12:30 pm. After the toss, the play will start at 1:00 pm. After watching the first session of the second Test match, Hasina will return to the hotel. After the end of the first day's play, the premier will attend a small cultural program followed by a felicitation program arranged by the Cricket Association of Bengal(CAB) at Eden Gardens Stadium. She will also attend a one-to-one meeting with Banerjee on the sidelines of the match. The focus of the discussion is not known yet. Meanwhile, to mark the historic occasion all major landmarks of Kolkata city like the Big Ben on Laketown, Howrah Bridge, Tata Centre, Eden Gardens, the Elliot Park, and Shahid Minar are turned pink to mark the occasion.

'Pink ball' Test: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina arrives in Kolkata

Kolkata turns pink for historic India-Bangladesh Test match

Director of Meteorological Department, Kolkata, G.C. Das said, "In the next 12 hours, this tropical cyclone will ultimately become depression and will lose intensity". The wind speeds in most coastal regions of India peaked up to 90 km per hour (56 miles per hour). Some areas received heavy rainfall and faced waterlogging as well. Many trees were seen uprooted and huts and small houses were destroyed after the cyclone.

Cyclone 'Bulbul' left a trail of destruction along the eastern coast of India

Flight operations will remain suspended at the Kolkata Airport, east-India's busiest, in view of the fast approaching Bulbul Cyclone from 6 pm today to 6 am tomorrow.

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West Bengal: Flight operations to remain suspended at Kolkata Airport from 1800 hours today till 0600 hours tomorrow. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BulBulCyclone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BulBulCyclone</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1193111135425191936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The Meteorological Department has asked local authorities&nbsp;their highest alert, as the cyclone is expected to unleash a storm surge as high as seven feet&nbsp;in coastal districts.

Gale wind warnings for gusts ranging from 35kmph to 90kmph have been issued for the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal. Fishermen have been asked to suspend operations from November 8 at the coasts of Odisha-West Bengal. Those fishing far out in the sea have been advised to return to the coast.&nbsp;

Bulbul, packing a maximum wind speed of 120 kilometres per hour, is on course to make landfall near the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, which straddles Bangladesh and part of eastern India and is home to the endangered Bengal tigers.

The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee tweeted ''Cyclone Bulbul is about to pass through Bengal. Our state administration is closely monitoring the situation 24x7''.

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Cyclone Bulbul is about to pass through Bengal. Our State Administration is closely monitoring the situation 24x7. We are taking all measures to tackle any contingency. Special Control Rooms have been set up and NDRF-SDRF teams are deployed. (1/3)
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/MamataOfficial/status/1193114655675146241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Recently, Bangladesh authorities evacuated around 100,000 people from the country's low-lying coastal villages and islands with Cyclone Bulbul set to slam into the country later on Saturday, officials said.

The cyclone is expected to hit the Bangladesh coast at around 8 pm, disaster management secretary Shah Kamal told AFP, adding there are plans to evacuate some 1.5 million people before that.

Some 55,000 volunteers have been mobilised to go door to door and alert people about the storm.

Bangladesh's low-lying coast, home to 30 million people, is regularly battered by powerful cyclones that leave a trail of devastation in their wake.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed over the last few decades in cyclones, whose frequency and intensity have increased.

(With inputs from AFP, ANI)

Flight operations will remain suspended at the Kolkata Airport, east-India's busiest, in view of the fast approaching Bulbul Cyclone from 6 pm today to 6 am tomorrow.

Flight operations will remain suspended at the Kolkata Airport, east-India's busiest, in view of the fast approaching Bulbul Cyclone from 6 pm today to 6 am tomorrow. West Bengal: Flight operations to remain suspended at Kolkata Airport from 1800 hours today till 0600 hours tomorrow. #BulBulCyclone — ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2019 × The Meteorological Department has asked local authorities their highest alert, as the cyclone is expected to unleash a storm surge as high as seven feet in coastal districts. Gale wind warnings for gusts ranging from 35kmph to 90kmph have been issued for the coasts of Odisha, West Bengal. Fishermen have been asked to suspend operations from November 8 at the coasts of Odisha-West Bengal. Those fishing far out in the sea have been advised to return to the coast. Bulbul, packing a maximum wind speed of 120 kilometres per hour, is on course to make landfall near the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, which straddles Bangladesh and part of eastern India and is home to the endangered Bengal tigers. The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee tweeted ''Cyclone Bulbul is about to pass through Bengal. Our state administration is closely monitoring the situation 24x7''. Cyclone Bulbul is about to pass through Bengal. Our State Administration is closely monitoring the situation 24x7. We are taking all measures to tackle any contingency. Special Control Rooms have been set up and NDRF-SDRF teams are deployed. (1/3) — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 9, 2019 × Recently, Bangladesh authorities evacuated around 100,000 people from the country's low-lying coastal villages and islands with Cyclone Bulbul set to slam into the country later on Saturday, officials said. The cyclone is expected to hit the Bangladesh coast at around 8 pm, disaster management secretary Shah Kamal told AFP, adding there are plans to evacuate some 1.5 million people before that. Some 55,000 volunteers have been mobilised to go door to door and alert people about the storm. Bangladesh's low-lying coast, home to 30 million people, is regularly battered by powerful cyclones that leave a trail of devastation in their wake. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed over the last few decades in cyclones, whose frequency and intensity have increased. (With inputs from AFP, ANI)

Flight operations temporarily suspended in Kolkata as Cyclone Bulbul gains traction

Eminent poet-novelist Nabaneeta Dev Sen passed away on Thursday evening at her Kolkata residence. She was 81.

Dev Sen was reportedly suffering from cancer for a long time. Local news reports state that the body would be kept at the writer's residence through the night and the funeral will take place on Friday morning.&nbsp;

Honoured with Padmashri and Sahitya Akademi award, Dev Sen was also a well-known academician. She married Nobel laureate Amartya Sen in 1958 and the couple has two daughters, journalist Antara Dev Sen and actress Nandana Sen. They divorced in 1976 and then Dev Sen went abroad to do her higher studies and built a career in writing thereafter.&nbsp;

One of the most relevant Bengali contemporary writers of our times, her work almost always had a strong female voice.&nbsp;

Born to&nbsp;poets Narendra and Radharani Dev, she took up writing at an early age. Dev Sen breathed her last at her parents home Bhalobasha in Kolkata where she lived with her adopted daughter.

Eminent poet-novelist Nabaneeta Dev Sen passed away on Thursday evening at her Kolkata residence. She was 81. Dev Sen was reportedly suffering from cancer for a long time.

Eminent poet-novelist Nabaneeta Dev Sen passed away on Thursday evening at her Kolkata residence. She was 81. Dev Sen was reportedly suffering from cancer for a long time. Local news reports state that the body would be kept at the writer's residence through the night and the funeral will take place on Friday morning. Honoured with Padmashri and Sahitya Akademi award, Dev Sen was also a well-known academician. She married Nobel laureate Amartya Sen in 1958 and the couple has two daughters, journalist Antara Dev Sen and actress Nandana Sen. They divorced in 1976 and then Dev Sen went abroad to do her higher studies and built a career in writing thereafter. One of the most relevant Bengali contemporary writers of our times, her work almost always had a strong female voice. Born to poets Narendra and Radharani Dev, she took up writing at an early age. Dev Sen breathed her last at her parents home Bhalobasha in Kolkata where she lived with her adopted daughter.

Nabaneeta Dev Sen, legendary poet-novelist passes away at 81

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the fifth India International Science Festival at 4 pm on Tuesday and address a gathering in Kolkata through video conferencing.

The announcement was tweeted by the Prime Minister`s Office (PMO).

"The prime objective of the festival is to instill scientific temper among people, showcase India`s contribution in the field of science and technology and encourage translation of its benefits to people. It aims to build a strategy for inclusive advancement of science and technology," the PMO tweeted.

"Thus, the theme for this year`s festival is RISEN India - Research, Innovation, and Science Empowering the Nation," it said in a follow-up tweet.

Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan, along with several other Cabinet ministers and state science and technology ministers, dignitaries, scientists, academicians and government officials will be part of the event that will be held from November 5 to 8, according to an official statement.

The India International Science Festival (IISF) 2019 is an annual event organised jointly by the science and technology-related ministries and Departments of the Government of India and Vijnana Bharati (Vibha), which is being held in Kolkata this year.

This is the fifth edition since its inception in 2015.

"IISF-2019 is a festival to celebrate the achievements of India`s scientific and technological advancements with students, innovators, craftsmen, farmers, scientists and technocrats from India and abroad," the statement said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the fifth India International Science Festival at 4 pm on Tuesday and address a gathering in Kolkata through video conferencing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the fifth India International Science Festival at 4 pm on Tuesday and address a gathering in Kolkata through video conferencing. The announcement was tweeted by the Prime Minister`s Office (PMO). "The prime objective of the festival is to instill scientific temper among people, showcase India`s contribution in the field of science and technology and encourage translation of its benefits to people. It aims to build a strategy for inclusive advancement of science and technology," the PMO tweeted. "Thus, the theme for this year`s festival is RISEN India - Research, Innovation, and Science Empowering the Nation," it said in a follow-up tweet. Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan, along with several other Cabinet ministers and state science and technology ministers, dignitaries, scientists, academicians and government officials will be part of the event that will be held from November 5 to 8, according to an official statement. The India International Science Festival (IISF) 2019 is an annual event organised jointly by the science and technology-related ministries and Departments of the Government of India and Vijnana Bharati (Vibha), which is being held in Kolkata this year. This is the fifth edition since its inception in 2015. "IISF-2019 is a festival to celebrate the achievements of India`s scientific and technological advancements with students, innovators, craftsmen, farmers, scientists and technocrats from India and abroad," the statement said.

PM Modi to inaugurate 5th India International Science Festival

One couldn't help but be intrigued by the towering black and white portrait of the middle-aged man on the wall.

"That is Dr Sun Yat-sen," said James Lee.

Sun was the Chinese revolutionary who overthrew the monarchy to pave for modernity in the 1911 Xinhai Revolution. If Mao Zedong is the father of the People's Republic of China then Sun is the father of Modern China.

"The picture's more than 100 years old," added Lee. 
 
<img alt="Club" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3341a73f-7cd6-4668-ae05-a63c97fa6bf0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/thumbnail_sun1.jpg" />

As interesting as the portrait, was its location. The piece of Chinese history is kept at a club in the Eastern Indian city of Kolkata.

It may seem odd at first but this was not an ordinary club - at least culturally. The place called the 'Hupeh Association' is located in Tiretta Bazar- one of Kolkata's Chinatowns.

50-year-old Lee is the owner of the Sei Vu restaurant at the recreational club. A sustained conversation with him would make it clear that he is also the custodian of the history of the more than a century old Hupeh Association.

Lee who was born and raised in India said that he can speak 5 languages - Hindi, English, Bengali, Cantonese &amp; Nepali. He learnt the last language as his wife is from Nepal.

According to Lee, the portrait of Sun was installed in the early 1900s by Chinese workers who were funding the revolution at home.

The history of the Chinese community in India goes back to the 16th century when the first Chinese trader arrived in Kolkata from China's Guangdong or erstwhile Canton province.

Mass migration of Chinese workers to South East Asia and from there to India began in the 19th century owing to employment opportunities and political instability back at home.

Most Chinese labourers found work in Kolkata tanneries.

Lee's own family came from the coastal Guangdong or the erstwhile Canton province.

But the club's name suggested that it was established by settlers from the eponymous Hupeh or the Hubei province in China.

Despite its small size, the Hupeh Association provided a great deal into the history of the Chinese community of the city. 
 
<img alt="Hupeh Association" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="29650bcf-2475-4d81-a933-422d44fecc2c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/thumbnail_hupeh.jpg" />

Inside the club was a Taoist temple which was built with the help of donations from Chinese people. The benefactors' names have been inscribed on a plaque at the place of worship.

The Chinese people retained their traditional practices even though they have been living in India.

"We bury our dead in the cemetery at Tangra. In the past, the remains were taken out the grave after three years and stored in urns," said Lee.

However, the population of the Chinese community of India has been dwindling with many people moving abroad. Only a few thousand of them are currently living in the country. The community faced prejudice after the 1962 Indo-China War.

But Lee begged to differ. "I never faced any ethnic discrimination in Kolkata as it's a cosmopolitan and liberal city," said Lee.

Lee's brother lived in China but he had no intention of visiting his country of origin.

"My father who passed away in the 1980s had four wives," said Lee.

The 50-year-old said that he lost touch with his family in China after his father's death.

Lee added, "There were no means of communication back then. My nephews might still be in China but there's no point in going there now." 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

One couldn't help but be intrigued by the towering black and white portrait of the middle-aged man on the wall. "That is Dr Sun Yat-sen," said James Lee. Sun was the Chinese revolutionary who overthrew the monarchy to pave for modernity in the 1911 Xinhai Revolution.

One couldn't help but be intrigued by the towering black and white portrait of the middle-aged man on the wall. "That is Dr Sun Yat-sen," said James Lee. Sun was the Chinese revolutionary who overthrew the monarchy to pave for modernity in the 1911 Xinhai Revolution. If Mao Zedong is the father of the People's Republic of China then Sun is the father of Modern China. "The picture's more than 100 years old," added Lee. As interesting as the portrait, was its location. The piece of Chinese history is kept at a club in the Eastern Indian city of Kolkata. It may seem odd at first but this was not an ordinary club - at least culturally. The place called the 'Hupeh Association' is located in Tiretta Bazar- one of Kolkata's Chinatowns. 50-year-old Lee is the owner of the Sei Vu restaurant at the recreational club. A sustained conversation with him would make it clear that he is also the custodian of the history of the more than a century old Hupeh Association. Lee who was born and raised in India said that he can speak 5 languages - Hindi, English, Bengali, Cantonese & Nepali. He learnt the last language as his wife is from Nepal. According to Lee, the portrait of Sun was installed in the early 1900s by Chinese workers who were funding the revolution at home. The history of the Chinese community in India goes back to the 16th century when the first Chinese trader arrived in Kolkata from China's Guangdong or erstwhile Canton province. Mass migration of Chinese workers to South East Asia and from there to India began in the 19th century owing to employment opportunities and political instability back at home. Most Chinese labourers found work in Kolkata tanneries. Lee's own family came from the coastal Guangdong or the erstwhile Canton province. But the club's name suggested that it was established by settlers from the eponymous Hupeh or the Hubei province in China. Despite its small size, the Hupeh Association provided a great deal into the history of the Chinese community of the city. Inside the club was a Taoist temple which was built with the help of donations from Chinese people. The benefactors' names have been inscribed on a plaque at the place of worship. The Chinese people retained their traditional practices even though they have been living in India. "We bury our dead in the cemetery at Tangra. In the past, the remains were taken out the grave after three years and stored in urns," said Lee. However, the population of the Chinese community of India has been dwindling with many people moving abroad. Only a few thousand of them are currently living in the country. The community faced prejudice after the 1962 Indo-China War. But Lee begged to differ. "I never faced any ethnic discrimination in Kolkata as it's a cosmopolitan and liberal city," said Lee. Lee's brother lived in China but he had no intention of visiting his country of origin. "My father who passed away in the 1980s had four wives," said Lee. The 50-year-old said that he lost touch with his family in China after his father's death. Lee added, "There were no means of communication back then. My nephews might still be in China but there's no point in going there now." (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How a small club is preserving history of Kolkata's Chinatown

Former Mayor of Bidhannagar and Trinamool Congress (TMC)&nbsp;MLA Sabyasachi Dutta joined&nbsp;Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday.

He joined BJP in the presence of party president Amit Shah.

On Monday, Dutta had said that he will be joining the party in the presence of Amit Shah.

"I will be joining BJP tomorrow at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah," Dutta had said on Monday.

Last month, former Kolkata Mayor and TMC MLA Sovan Chatterjee joined the BJP.

In this year's Lok Sabha elections, the BJP made deep inroads in West Bengal, winning 18 out of 42 parliamentary constituencies while the TMC managed just 22, 12 less than it had won in the 2014 polls.

Since then, several TMC leaders including Biswajit Das Tusharkanti Bhattacharya, Monirul Islam and Sunil Singh have joined the BJP.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party has also lost control over five civic bodies of Bhatpara, Halisahar, Kanchrapara, Naihati and Garulia.

Former Mayor of Bidhannagar and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Sabyasachi Dutta joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. He joined BJP in the presence of party president Amit Shah.

Former Mayor of Bidhannagar and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Sabyasachi Dutta joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. He joined BJP in the presence of party president Amit Shah. On Monday, Dutta had said that he will be joining the party in the presence of Amit Shah. "I will be joining BJP tomorrow at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah," Dutta had said on Monday. Last month, former Kolkata Mayor and TMC MLA Sovan Chatterjee joined the BJP. In this year's Lok Sabha elections, the BJP made deep inroads in West Bengal, winning 18 out of 42 parliamentary constituencies while the TMC managed just 22, 12 less than it had won in the 2014 polls. Since then, several TMC leaders including Biswajit Das Tusharkanti Bhattacharya, Monirul Islam and Sunil Singh have joined the BJP. The Mamata Banerjee-led party has also lost control over five civic bodies of Bhatpara, Halisahar, Kanchrapara, Naihati and Garulia.

Trinamool Congress MLA Sabyasachi Dutta joins Bharatiya Janata Party

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to speak on National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Bill at Netaji Indoor Stadium here on October 1.

This comes after the meeting between the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Amit Shah on September 18 in Delhi over NRC.

The Chief Minister on Monday stated that six people have died due to panic created over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and asserted the exercise will not be implemented in the state.

"I am sad that 6 people have died in Bengal due to panic created over NRC. We will never allow NRC here. Please have faith in me," she said while speaking at a Trade Union meeting.

In the final NRC list published on August 31 for Assam, a total of 3,11,21,004 persons are found eligible for inclusion in final list leaving out 19,06,657 persons, including those who did not submit their claims.

The list is aimed at segregating Indian citizens living in Assam from those who had illegally entered the state from Bangladesh. 
&nbsp;

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to speak on National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Bill at Netaji Indoor Stadium here on October 1. This comes after the meeting between the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Amit Shah on September 18 in Delhi over NRC.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to speak on National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Bill at Netaji Indoor Stadium here on October 1. This comes after the meeting between the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Amit Shah on September 18 in Delhi over NRC. The Chief Minister on Monday stated that six people have died due to panic created over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and asserted the exercise will not be implemented in the state. "I am sad that 6 people have died in Bengal due to panic created over NRC. We will never allow NRC here. Please have faith in me," she said while speaking at a Trade Union meeting. In the final NRC list published on August 31 for Assam, a total of 3,11,21,004 persons are found eligible for inclusion in final list leaving out 19,06,657 persons, including those who did not submit their claims. The list is aimed at segregating Indian citizens living in Assam from those who had illegally entered the state from Bangladesh.

Amit Shah to speak on NRC, Citizenship Amendment Bill in Kolkata on October 1

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday visited the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) situated in Bhabani Bhaban area to enquire if the organisation is in contact with Rajeev Kumar.

Kumar, a former Kolkata police commissioner, is wanted in connection with the probe into Saradha chit fund scam.

The Saradha group of companies had allegedly duped scores of people to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore promising higher rates of return on their investments.

Kumar is accused of tampering with evidence in Saradha scam case. He was a part of the SIT constituted by the state government to probe the scam before the Supreme Court transferred it to the CBI.

On Monday, Kumar evaded the CBI for the third time even as the probe agency spanned out to search for him after which it moved Alipore court in the city, seeking an arrest warrant for Rajeev Kumar.

Disposing off the agency`s prayer, the court said the CBI does not need its warrant against Rajeev Kumar, as the Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court had already lifted the bar on his arrest in the chit fund case.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday visited the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) situated in Bhabani Bhaban area to enquire if the organisation is in contact with Rajeev Kumar.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday visited the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) situated in Bhabani Bhaban area to enquire if the organisation is in contact with Rajeev Kumar. Kumar, a former Kolkata police commissioner, is wanted in connection with the probe into Saradha chit fund scam. The Saradha group of companies had allegedly duped scores of people to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore promising higher rates of return on their investments. Kumar is accused of tampering with evidence in Saradha scam case. He was a part of the SIT constituted by the state government to probe the scam before the Supreme Court transferred it to the CBI. On Monday, Kumar evaded the CBI for the third time even as the probe agency spanned out to search for him after which it moved Alipore court in the city, seeking an arrest warrant for Rajeev Kumar. Disposing off the agency`s prayer, the court said the CBI does not need its warrant against Rajeev Kumar, as the Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court had already lifted the bar on his arrest in the chit fund case.

West Bengal: CBI visits CID headquarters to enquire about Kolkata ex-cop Rajeev Kumar

A court here on Tuesday reserved its order on the anticipatory bail plea of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/saradha-chit-fund-scam-former-kolkata-police-commissioner-rajeev-kumar-seeks-more-time-to-appear-before-cbi-249713">former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar</a>, who is accused of tampering with evidence in Saradha scam case.

District Sessions Judge Md Shabbar Rashidi heard the arguments from both the sides and reserved the order.

Kumar in his plea contended that he was merely a part of the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case and that there were several officers above him in the hierarchy.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/saradha-chit-fund-scam-cbi-issues-lookout-notice-against-rajeev-kumar-221738">CBI</a>, on the other hand, sought the custodial interrogation of Kumar.

Earlier today, a special court in Barasat had refused to hear the anticipatory bail plea, saying it does not have the jurisdiction to pass an order on the application.

Special Court Judge Sanjib Talukdar had asked Kumar to move Barasat's District Sessions Court for relief in the matter.

For quite some time Kumar has been avoiding appearing before the CBI despite being summoned after the Calcutta High Court withdrew protection from the arrest granted to him in the case.

Kumar was a part of the SIT constituted by the state government to probe the scam before the Supreme Court transferred it to the CBI.

Earlier, the CBI had said it needs to interrogate the former Kolkata Police Commissioner in the case.

A court here on Tuesday reserved its order on the anticipatory bail plea of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, who is accused of tampering with evidence in Saradha scam case.

A court here on Tuesday reserved its order on the anticipatory bail plea of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, who is accused of tampering with evidence in Saradha scam case. District Sessions Judge Md Shabbar Rashidi heard the arguments from both the sides and reserved the order. Kumar in his plea contended that he was merely a part of the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case and that there were several officers above him in the hierarchy. The CBI, on the other hand, sought the custodial interrogation of Kumar. Earlier today, a special court in Barasat had refused to hear the anticipatory bail plea, saying it does not have the jurisdiction to pass an order on the application. Special Court Judge Sanjib Talukdar had asked Kumar to move Barasat's District Sessions Court for relief in the matter. For quite some time Kumar has been avoiding appearing before the CBI despite being summoned after the Calcutta High Court withdrew protection from the arrest granted to him in the case. Kumar was a part of the SIT constituted by the state government to probe the scam before the Supreme Court transferred it to the CBI. Earlier, the CBI had said it needs to interrogate the former Kolkata Police Commissioner in the case.

West Bengal: Court reserves order on bail plea of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar

A video of 2 kids performing Gymnastics moves on the streets of Kolkata goes viral. Kids caught the attention of Romanian Gymnast Nadia Comaneci. Nadia Comaneci tweeted the video, says 'This is awesome.' Nadia Comaneci is a 5 times Olympic gold medalist. Watch this video to know more.

Perfect moves on Kolkata streets, Meet Indian Gymnast wonder kids

Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan on Sunday assumed charge as Eastern Army Commander.

He succeeds Lt Gen MM Naravane who took over as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) today.

"#LtGenAnilChauhan, assumed the charge of Army Commander #EasternCommand, on 01 September 2019 with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at #VijaySmarak, the Eastern Command War Memorial wherein he paid tribute to the fallen soldiers," Eastern Command said in a tweet.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LtGenAnilChauhan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LtGenAnilChauhan</a>, assumed the charge of Army Commander <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EasternCommand?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EasternCommand</a>, on 01 September 2019 with a solemn wreath laying ceremony at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VijaySmarak?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VijaySmarak</a>, the Eastern Command War Memorial wherein he paid tribute to the fallen soldiers <a href="https://twitter.com/adgpi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adgpi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SpokespersonMoD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpokespersonMoD</a> <a href="https://t.co/CWtGPBv5IK">pic.twitter.com/CWtGPBv5IK</a>
— EasternCommand_IA (@easterncomd) <a href="https://twitter.com/easterncomd/status/1168080023409971200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The General Officer was given a traditional Guard of Honour at Fort William, Kolkata on his assumption as Army Commander, Eastern Command.

Prior to assuming charge as Eastern Army Commander, he was Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO).

He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.

Lieutenant General Chauhan was commissioned into the 11th Gorkha Rifles in 1981. He has served as the United Nations military observer in Angola and also in various capacities at Army headquarters.

He has held several command, staff and instructional appointments during his career and has experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India.&nbsp;

Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan on Sunday assumed charge as Eastern Army Commander. He succeeds Lt Gen MM Naravane who took over as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) today.

Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan on Sunday assumed charge as Eastern Army Commander. He succeeds Lt Gen MM Naravane who took over as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) today. "#LtGenAnilChauhan, assumed the charge of Army Commander #EasternCommand, on 01 September 2019 with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at #VijaySmarak, the Eastern Command War Memorial wherein he paid tribute to the fallen soldiers," Eastern Command said in a tweet. #LtGenAnilChauhan, assumed the charge of Army Commander #EasternCommand, on 01 September 2019 with a solemn wreath laying ceremony at #VijaySmarak, the Eastern Command War Memorial wherein he paid tribute to the fallen soldiers @adgpi @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/CWtGPBv5IK — EasternCommand_IA (@easterncomd) September 1, 2019 × The General Officer was given a traditional Guard of Honour at Fort William, Kolkata on his assumption as Army Commander, Eastern Command. Prior to assuming charge as Eastern Army Commander, he was Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO). He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. Lieutenant General Chauhan was commissioned into the 11th Gorkha Rifles in 1981. He has served as the United Nations military observer in Angola and also in various capacities at Army headquarters. He has held several command, staff and instructional appointments during his career and has experience in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast India.

Lieutenant General Anil Chauhan takes charge as Eastern Army Commander

India's first underwater train project in Kolkata is almost complete. The metro will soon be operational soon, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-railways-minister-piyush-goyal-says-no-privatisation-of-railways-targets-congress-235451">Union Railways Minister, Piyush Goyal</a> announced.

"India's first underwater train will soon get started in Kolkata under the Hubli river. An example of impeccable engineering, this train is proof of the progress made by Indian Railways. This train will bring ease to the people of Kolkata and pride to the people of India." tweeted Piyush Goyal in Hindi.

The 16-kilometre long Kolkata Metro project will connect Salt Sector 5 with Howrah Maidan.

The phase I of the project connecting Salt Lake Sector-5 to Salt Lake Stadium will soon be operational.

The tunnel is provided with four-layers of protection to shield the tunnel from the water of Hubli river.&nbsp;

Goyal, last month, had said that there is "no question and no meaning" of privatising Railways, but the public-private partnership will be encouraged and there will be corporatisation of some units.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants of his ministry, in which 99 members participated, Goyal outlined the plans of the government to boost safety and technology and said its performance has been far better compared to that of the UPA government.&nbsp;

India's first underwater train project in Kolkata is almost complete. The metro will soon be operational soon, Union Railways Minister, Piyush Goyal announced. "India's first underwater train will soon get started in Kolkata under the Hubli river.

India's first underwater train project in Kolkata is almost complete. The metro will soon be operational soon, Union Railways Minister, Piyush Goyal announced. "India's first underwater train will soon get started in Kolkata under the Hubli river. An example of impeccable engineering, this train is proof of the progress made by Indian Railways. This train will bring ease to the people of Kolkata and pride to the people of India." tweeted Piyush Goyal in Hindi. The 16-kilometre long Kolkata Metro project will connect Salt Sector 5 with Howrah Maidan. The phase I of the project connecting Salt Lake Sector-5 to Salt Lake Stadium will soon be operational. The tunnel is provided with four-layers of protection to shield the tunnel from the water of Hubli river. Goyal, last month, had said that there is "no question and no meaning" of privatising Railways, but the public-private partnership will be encouraged and there will be corporatisation of some units. Replying to the debate on the demands for grants of his ministry, in which 99 members participated, Goyal outlined the plans of the government to boost safety and technology and said its performance has been far better compared to that of the UPA government.

India's first underwater train to be launched in Kolkata soon

As the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-two-bjp-supporters-arrested-in-connection-with-trinamool-congress-leaders-murder-224708">Trinamool Congress</a> is set to organise its annual rally on July 21, West Bengal BJP chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-conspiring-to-separate-bengal-from-india-bjp-in-lok-sabha-230301">Dilip Ghosh</a> on Saturday said that TMC`s programme would be "Didi`s Circus".

He said that the meeting would be a "condolence" meeting. TMC observes July 21 as Martyrs` Day every year in remembrance of those who died in 1993 police firing, in Kolkata.

This year`s rally gains significance as it would be the first mega show by TMC after its poll debacle in Lok Sabha elections. "All went there to see Didi`s drama and circus. Will anyone from here go tomorrow to see a circus? No gates, no flags, what is going on I can`t understand. Will that be a winning festival or a condolence meeting?" asked Dilip Ghosh.

"TMC`s condolence meeting is going on as they lost in these elections following which they are unable to celebrate the winning festival. The public should catch hold of TMC leaders who are going to Kolkata by road and ask them to return the public money which they had taken in last 7-8 years," he said.

While reacting to the FIR lodged against him for his comments on TMC rally, Ghosh said: "The people are not going to come to TMC rally and it would prove to be a flop show. The TMC needs some excuse for their failure and hence they are making Dilip Ghosh and BJP a scape-goat."

"If TMC leaders have guts then they should lodge ten more FIRs against me and I will face them all," Ghosh added.

As the Trinamool Congress is set to organise its annual rally on July 21, West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh on Saturday said that TMC`s programme would be "Didi`s Circus".

As the Trinamool Congress is set to organise its annual rally on July 21, West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh on Saturday said that TMC`s programme would be "Didi`s Circus". He said that the meeting would be a "condolence" meeting. TMC observes July 21 as Martyrs` Day every year in remembrance of those who died in 1993 police firing, in Kolkata. This year`s rally gains significance as it would be the first mega show by TMC after its poll debacle in Lok Sabha elections. "All went there to see Didi`s drama and circus. Will anyone from here go tomorrow to see a circus? No gates, no flags, what is going on I can`t understand. Will that be a winning festival or a condolence meeting?" asked Dilip Ghosh. "TMC`s condolence meeting is going on as they lost in these elections following which they are unable to celebrate the winning festival. The public should catch hold of TMC leaders who are going to Kolkata by road and ask them to return the public money which they had taken in last 7-8 years," he said. While reacting to the FIR lodged against him for his comments on TMC rally, Ghosh said: "The people are not going to come to TMC rally and it would prove to be a flop show. The TMC needs some excuse for their failure and hence they are making Dilip Ghosh and BJP a scape-goat." "If TMC leaders have guts then they should lodge ten more FIRs against me and I will face them all," Ghosh added.

Dilip Ghosh calls Trinamool Congress rally 'Didi's Circus', FIR lodged

Normal life in several districts of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fani-heading-towards-west-bengal-rain-lashes-city-215652">West Bengal</a> remains disrupted due to incessant rainfall over the past few days.

According to the Irrigation and Waterways Department, Jalpaiguri has received 154.60 mm of rainfall, Coochbehar 197.40 mm and Siliguri 97 mm, so far.

The continuous downpour has led to a rise in the water level of the Torsa river, forcing people to migrate to other places.

&nbsp;Local administration is making efforts to bring back normalcy by pumping out water from the blocked roads. The schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centers in some places have been shut by the local authorities due to waterlogging.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-meteorological-department-predicts-heavy-rainfall-in-uttarakhand-234250">Indian Meteorological Department</a> has predicted rain showers accompanied by thunderstorms for the next few days in parts of West Bengal.

Normal life in several districts of West Bengal remains disrupted due to incessant rainfall over the past few days. According to the Irrigation and Waterways Department, Jalpaiguri has received 154.

Normal life in several districts of West Bengal remains disrupted due to incessant rainfall over the past few days. According to the Irrigation and Waterways Department, Jalpaiguri has received 154.60 mm of rainfall, Coochbehar 197.40 mm and Siliguri 97 mm, so far. The continuous downpour has led to a rise in the water level of the Torsa river, forcing people to migrate to other places. Local administration is making efforts to bring back normalcy by pumping out water from the blocked roads. The schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centers in some places have been shut by the local authorities due to waterlogging. The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted rain showers accompanied by thunderstorms for the next few days in parts of West Bengal.

Incessant rainfall hits normal life in parts of West Bengal

In a bizarre incident, a SpiceJet technician was killed at the aerodrome on Wednesday after he got stuck in the main landing gear door of an aircraft he was working on.

The incident took place in the morning at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata.

The body was later removed from the landing gear with the help of the fire brigade.&nbsp;

The budget carrier, in a statement, expressed sadness over the incident.

"Extremely saddened to share that our technician Rohit Pandey passed away last night in an unfortunate incident at Kolkata airport. He was doing maintenance work in right-hand main landing gear wheel well area of a Q400 aircraft which was parked in Bay No. 32 at the airport," the statement read.&nbsp;

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SpiceJet: Inadvertently, the main landing gear hydraulic door closed &amp; he got stuck in between the hydraulic door flaps. 
The Hydraulic doors were broken to rescue Mr Pandey but he was declared dead. The entire SpiceJet family stands together in grief in this unfortunate incident <a href="https://t.co/tLFrawLuzL">https://t.co/tLFrawLuzL</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1148820674678525952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, twenty-six passengers were asked to voluntarily deplane after a Paris-bound Air France flight suffered a "technical problem" at the New Delhi airport in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The pilot and crew of Air France AF225 told passengers that their checked-in luggage would be offloaded due to an unspecified technical glitch, urging them to disembark for the plane to take off.

It is not known if the deboarded passengers were flown out on the next flight to Paris, as is commonly done in such cases.

In a bizarre incident, a SpiceJet technician was killed at the aerodrome on Wednesday after he got stuck in the main landing gear door of an aircraft he was working on.

In a bizarre incident, a SpiceJet technician was killed at the aerodrome on Wednesday after he got stuck in the main landing gear door of an aircraft he was working on. The incident took place in the morning at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. The body was later removed from the landing gear with the help of the fire brigade. The budget carrier, in a statement, expressed sadness over the incident. "Extremely saddened to share that our technician Rohit Pandey passed away last night in an unfortunate incident at Kolkata airport. He was doing maintenance work in right-hand main landing gear wheel well area of a Q400 aircraft which was parked in Bay No. 32 at the airport," the statement read. SpiceJet: Inadvertently, the main landing gear hydraulic door closed & he got stuck in between the hydraulic door flaps. The Hydraulic doors were broken to rescue Mr Pandey but he was declared dead. The entire SpiceJet family stands together in grief in this unfortunate incident https://t.co/tLFrawLuzL — ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2019 × Meanwhile, twenty-six passengers were asked to voluntarily deplane after a Paris-bound Air France flight suffered a "technical problem" at the New Delhi airport in the wee hours of Wednesday. The pilot and crew of Air France AF225 told passengers that their checked-in luggage would be offloaded due to an unspecified technical glitch, urging them to disembark for the plane to take off. It is not known if the deboarded passengers were flown out on the next flight to Paris, as is commonly done in such cases.

Kolkata: SpiceJet technician dies after getting stuck in aircraft's landing gear door

Acting on a tip-off, Kolkata Police’s Special Task Force (STF) arrested four neo-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) or Islamic State (IS) operatives from Kolkata.&nbsp;

Two operatives, identified as Md Jiaur Rahman and Mamonur Rashid, were arrested from the vicinity of Sealdah Railway Station’s parking lot; both are Bangladeshi nationals. A mobile phone, containing photos, videos, jihadi text and literature, was found on them.&nbsp;

Two other operatives identified as Md Sahin Alam and Robiul Islam were arrested from the Howrah Station. While Alam is a Bangladeshi national, Islam is an Indian national and lived in West Bengal’s Birbhum district.&nbsp;

The arrested Indian national was also a member of the banned terrorist organisation and was helping them by harbouring, recruiting and collecting fund from India.&nbsp;

The arrested Bangladeshi nationals had taken shelter in India to escape an arrest in Bangladesh and were further involved in the recruitment under the Islamic State banner and collect funds for organisation too.&nbsp;

All four were active on social media propagating their agenda. Digital documents, videos and audio files along with Jihadi booklets were recovered from their possession.

The main motive of their organisation was to overthrow democratic governments in India and Bangladesh and establish Sharia law under a caliphate.

The operatives are to be produced before the court today.&nbsp;

Acting on a tip-off, Kolkata Police’s Special Task Force (STF) arrested four neo-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) or Islamic State (IS) operatives from Kolkata.

Acting on a tip-off, Kolkata Police’s Special Task Force (STF) arrested four neo-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) or Islamic State (IS) operatives from Kolkata. Two operatives, identified as Md Jiaur Rahman and Mamonur Rashid, were arrested from the vicinity of Sealdah Railway Station’s parking lot; both are Bangladeshi nationals. A mobile phone, containing photos, videos, jihadi text and literature, was found on them. Two other operatives identified as Md Sahin Alam and Robiul Islam were arrested from the Howrah Station. While Alam is a Bangladeshi national, Islam is an Indian national and lived in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. The arrested Indian national was also a member of the banned terrorist organisation and was helping them by harbouring, recruiting and collecting fund from India. The arrested Bangladeshi nationals had taken shelter in India to escape an arrest in Bangladesh and were further involved in the recruitment under the Islamic State banner and collect funds for organisation too. All four were active on social media propagating their agenda. Digital documents, videos and audio files along with Jihadi booklets were recovered from their possession. The main motive of their organisation was to overthrow democratic governments in India and Bangladesh and establish Sharia law under a caliphate. The operatives are to be produced before the court today.

Four neo-Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh/Islamic State operatives arrested from Kolkata 

Former Miss India and actor Ushoshi Sengupta was allegedly chased and harassed by a group of men late at night on Monday in Kolkata.&nbsp; 
 
Seven persons have been arrested in connection with the incident that took place around 11.40 pm on Monday, the Kolkata police have said. The arrests were made on the basis of video grabs provided by Sengupta and CCTV footages. 
 
In a long post on Facebook, Sengupta revealed how she was returning home along with a colleague in an app-based cab when a few bike- borne youths hit her cab, dragged the driver out and roughed him up. 
 
"A few boys on a bike without any helmet hit our cab at Exide intersection and Jawaharlal Road crossing... Around 15 boys appeared from nowhere and dragged the driver out, started beating him up. This is when I stepped out and started shouting, calling the police and simultaneously started taking video of the entire incident," she said. 
 
She claimed that officers of the nearest Maidan Police Station initially did not come for help despite her repeated requests. 
 
"However, some officers of Maidan Police Station reached the spot only to be pushed by the boys before fleeing," Sengupta said. 
 
She said that around six boys on three bikes followed the cab near the Lake Gardens area in south Kolkata, where she dropped her colleague home. 
"They stopped my car, threw stones and dragged me out and tried to break my phone to delete the video. My colleague jumped out out of fear and I started shouting to attract some locals' attention there. 
 
"I managed to telephone my dad and my sister at my residence in the next lane when they escaped," Sengupta said.

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The actor also alleged that officers at the nearby Charu Market Police Station refused to take any complaint and advised her to, instead, approach the Bhawanipore Police Station. 
 
"After raising a lot of questions, the officer took my complaint but refused to take the complaint of the driver," she said in the Facebook post, recounting the incident. 
 
The Kolkata Police on Tuesday said it has arrested the seven persons and also initiated an inquiry into the alleged non-registration of FIR. 
 
"We have taken this incident very seriously and seven persons have been arrested so far. On the order of the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, an inquiry regarding the non-registration of FIR has been initiated into this incident, at a very senior level," the Kolkata Police wrote on its Twitter handle.

When contacted, a senior police officer said, "Those arrested seem to be locals who have been violating traffic rules for quite some time. We are hopeful of nabbing the others from the CCTV footages of the surrounding areas."&nbsp;

Former Miss India and actor Ushoshi Sengupta was allegedly chased and harassed by a group of men late at night on Monday in Kolkata. Seven persons have been arrested in connection with the incident that took place around 11.

Former Miss India and actor Ushoshi Sengupta was allegedly chased and harassed by a group of men late at night on Monday in Kolkata. Seven persons have been arrested in connection with the incident that took place around 11.40 pm on Monday, the Kolkata police have said. The arrests were made on the basis of video grabs provided by Sengupta and CCTV footages. In a long post on Facebook, Sengupta revealed how she was returning home along with a colleague in an app-based cab when a few bike- borne youths hit her cab, dragged the driver out and roughed him up. "A few boys on a bike without any helmet hit our cab at Exide intersection and Jawaharlal Road crossing... Around 15 boys appeared from nowhere and dragged the driver out, started beating him up. This is when I stepped out and started shouting, calling the police and simultaneously started taking video of the entire incident," she said. She claimed that officers of the nearest Maidan Police Station initially did not come for help despite her repeated requests. "However, some officers of Maidan Police Station reached the spot only to be pushed by the boys before fleeing," Sengupta said. She said that around six boys on three bikes followed the cab near the Lake Gardens area in south Kolkata, where she dropped her colleague home. "They stopped my car, threw stones and dragged me out and tried to break my phone to delete the video. My colleague jumped out out of fear and I started shouting to attract some locals' attention there. "I managed to telephone my dad and my sister at my residence in the next lane when they escaped," Sengupta said. The actor also alleged that officers at the nearby Charu Market Police Station refused to take any complaint and advised her to, instead, approach the Bhawanipore Police Station. "After raising a lot of questions, the officer took my complaint but refused to take the complaint of the driver," she said in the Facebook post, recounting the incident. The Kolkata Police on Tuesday said it has arrested the seven persons and also initiated an inquiry into the alleged non-registration of FIR. "We have taken this incident very seriously and seven persons have been arrested so far. On the order of the Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, an inquiry regarding the non-registration of FIR has been initiated into this incident, at a very senior level," the Kolkata Police wrote on its Twitter handle. When contacted, a senior police officer said, "Those arrested seem to be locals who have been violating traffic rules for quite some time. We are hopeful of nabbing the others from the CCTV footages of the surrounding areas."

Former Miss India Ushoshi Sengupta harassed by bike-borne youth in Kolkata, 7 arrested

Juniors doctors in West Bengal have resumed work at all hospitals providing relief to patients after a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-assurances-by-chief-minister-mamata-banerjee-agitating-doctors-call-off-strike-228076">week-long stir that had disrupted healthcare services</a>.

"Most of our colleagues have resumed work and they are helping the seniors in delivering regular services in the outpatient departments (OPD) since Tuesday morning," a spokesperson of a joint forum of junior doctors told media.

The patient turnout was high at all the hospitals, including the Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital, which was the epicentre of the junior doctors' agitation.

"It is a relief for us. We are poor and have no other option but to go to government hospitals. The stir had impacted our treatment. I am happy that it has been called off," Ariful Haque from Malda district, who regularly visits the NRS hospital for the treatment of his brother's cardiac ailments, said.

The joint forum of regional junior doctors on Monday evening called off the ongoing impasse after holding talks with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.&nbsp;

The delegation said they were satisfied with the meeting and measures proposed by the government.&nbsp;The chief minister directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma to deploy a nodal police officer in every hospital.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-strikes-end-supreme-court-defers-hearing-on-security-of-doctors-keeps-open-larger-issue-of-their-safety-228216">Supreme Court deferred the hearing</a> on a plea seeking protection of doctors in government hospitals, saying since doctors have called off their strike in West Bengal and other states, there is no urgency to hear the matter.

Juniors doctors in West Bengal have resumed work at all hospitals providing relief to patients after a week-long stir that had disrupted healthcare services. "Most of our colleagues have resumed work and they are helping the seniors in delivering regular services in the outpatient departments (OPD) since Tuesday morning," a spokesperson of a joint forum of junior doctors told media.

Juniors doctors in West Bengal have resumed work at all hospitals providing relief to patients after a week-long stir that had disrupted healthcare services. "Most of our colleagues have resumed work and they are helping the seniors in delivering regular services in the outpatient departments (OPD) since Tuesday morning," a spokesperson of a joint forum of junior doctors told media. The patient turnout was high at all the hospitals, including the Nil Ratan Sircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital, which was the epicentre of the junior doctors' agitation. "It is a relief for us. We are poor and have no other option but to go to government hospitals. The stir had impacted our treatment. I am happy that it has been called off," Ariful Haque from Malda district, who regularly visits the NRS hospital for the treatment of his brother's cardiac ailments, said. The joint forum of regional junior doctors on Monday evening called off the ongoing impasse after holding talks with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The delegation said they were satisfied with the meeting and measures proposed by the government. The chief minister directed Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma to deploy a nodal police officer in every hospital. The Supreme Court deferred the hearing on a plea seeking protection of doctors in government hospitals, saying since doctors have called off their strike in West Bengal and other states, there is no urgency to hear the matter.

West Bengal: Junior doctors resume work, high patient turnout at all hospitals

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/apology-from-mamata-banerjee-among-6-demands-put-forth-by-agitating-west-bengal-doctors-227140">West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee</a> Friday insisted that those living in West Bengal will have to learn to speak in Bengali as she accused the BJP of targeting Bengalis and minorities to replicate the "Gujarat model" to capture power in the state.

She said she would never allow the BJP to turn West Bengal into Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, and asserted that "we will never allow Bengalis to become homeless in Bengal".

Banerjee, a vocal critic of the prime minister, said, "We have to bring Bangla (language) forward. When we go to Delhi we speak in Hindi, when we go to Punjab we have to speak in Punjabi. I do it. When I go to Tamil Nadu, I don't know the Tamil language, but I know a few words. So in the same way if you are coming to Bengal you have to speak in Bengali...We would not allow that people will come from outside and beat up Bengalis."

The Trinamool Congress supremo was addressing a rally in Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas district. The area is the home turf of BJP leader Mukul Roy, a friend-turned-foe of the TMC president.

Roy's son Subhrangshu is the MLA from the Bijpur constituency and has recently switched over to the BJP from the TMC.

"In Naihati, Kakinara, Barrackpore, houses of Bengalis have been ransacked. We will not tolerate this. Our party cadres didn't ransack houses of non-Bengalis here. We are against this sort of violence," she said.

"Just because they have won a few seats by programming EVMs doesn't mean that you can beat up Bengalis and minorities in the state. We will not tolerate this. The police will take action against the hooligans. If someone is living in Bengal he or she has to speak in Bengali," Banerjee said.

In the fiercely fought Lok Sabha election, the BJP won 18 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, only four less than the TMC's 22.&nbsp;

Alleging that the BJP manipulated electronic voting machines (EVMs), the chief minister called for a return to ballot papers.&nbsp;

Referring to the "attack on north Indians especially natives of Bihar in Maharashtra a few years back", she said the people of Bengal believe in the coexistence of all communities, religion, caste and creed.

"I have nothing against non-Bengalis living in Bengal. But BJP is trying to create a Bengali and non-Bengali divide. I would urge them not to test our patience. We will never allow Bengalis to become homeless in Bengal," Banerjee said.

Alleging that BJP is trying to turn Bengal into Gujarat, Banerjee said just like BJP conducted riots in the western state to retain power, it is trying to use the same technique in Bengal.

"We have nothing against Gujarat or residents of that state. We are against the politics of riots that BJP had followed in that state and is trying to replicate here. As long as I am there I would never allow them to turn Bengal into Gujarat," she said.

Speaking on the issue of doctors' strike, Banerjee reiterated her statement that some outsiders were involved in instigating the doctors and were behind the protest.

Banerjee said she had seen some outsiders inside the SSKM Hospital premises raising slogans against the government.

"I had rightly said yesterday that there were outsiders involved in yesterday's incident. I had seen some outsiders who were raising slogans there," Banerjee said referring to her visit to SSKM Hospital Thursday in a bid to end the strike by doctors.

Banerjee had set a 2 pm-deadline to the striking doctors to resume work Thursday, which they defied and continued with the stir.

In an apparent dig at noted film-maker Aparna Sen's visit to a hospital and criticism of her "outsider comment", Banerjee, without naming anyone, said unlike a few "pseudo-intellectuals" she doesn't make any comment without cross-checking facts.

Before ending her speech, Banerjee reiterated her slogans of "Jai Bangla" and "Jai Hind" to counter the BJP's slogan of "Jai Shri Ram".

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday insisted that those living in West Bengal will have to learn to speak in Bengali as she accused the BJP of targeting Bengalis and minorities to replicate the "Gujarat model" to capture power in the state.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday insisted that those living in West Bengal will have to learn to speak in Bengali as she accused the BJP of targeting Bengalis and minorities to replicate the "Gujarat model" to capture power in the state. She said she would never allow the BJP to turn West Bengal into Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, and asserted that "we will never allow Bengalis to become homeless in Bengal". Banerjee, a vocal critic of the prime minister, said, "We have to bring Bangla (language) forward. When we go to Delhi we speak in Hindi, when we go to Punjab we have to speak in Punjabi. I do it. When I go to Tamil Nadu, I don't know the Tamil language, but I know a few words. So in the same way if you are coming to Bengal you have to speak in Bengali...We would not allow that people will come from outside and beat up Bengalis." The Trinamool Congress supremo was addressing a rally in Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas district. The area is the home turf of BJP leader Mukul Roy, a friend-turned-foe of the TMC president. Roy's son Subhrangshu is the MLA from the Bijpur constituency and has recently switched over to the BJP from the TMC. "In Naihati, Kakinara, Barrackpore, houses of Bengalis have been ransacked. We will not tolerate this. Our party cadres didn't ransack houses of non-Bengalis here. We are against this sort of violence," she said. "Just because they have won a few seats by programming EVMs doesn't mean that you can beat up Bengalis and minorities in the state. We will not tolerate this. The police will take action against the hooligans. If someone is living in Bengal he or she has to speak in Bengali," Banerjee said. In the fiercely fought Lok Sabha election, the BJP won 18 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, only four less than the TMC's 22. Alleging that the BJP manipulated electronic voting machines (EVMs), the chief minister called for a return to ballot papers. Referring to the "attack on north Indians especially natives of Bihar in Maharashtra a few years back", she said the people of Bengal believe in the coexistence of all communities, religion, caste and creed. "I have nothing against non-Bengalis living in Bengal. But BJP is trying to create a Bengali and non-Bengali divide. I would urge them not to test our patience. We will never allow Bengalis to become homeless in Bengal," Banerjee said. Alleging that BJP is trying to turn Bengal into Gujarat, Banerjee said just like BJP conducted riots in the western state to retain power, it is trying to use the same technique in Bengal. "We have nothing against Gujarat or residents of that state. We are against the politics of riots that BJP had followed in that state and is trying to replicate here. As long as I am there I would never allow them to turn Bengal into Gujarat," she said. Speaking on the issue of doctors' strike, Banerjee reiterated her statement that some outsiders were involved in instigating the doctors and were behind the protest. Banerjee said she had seen some outsiders inside the SSKM Hospital premises raising slogans against the government. "I had rightly said yesterday that there were outsiders involved in yesterday's incident. I had seen some outsiders who were raising slogans there," Banerjee said referring to her visit to SSKM Hospital Thursday in a bid to end the strike by doctors. Banerjee had set a 2 pm-deadline to the striking doctors to resume work Thursday, which they defied and continued with the stir. In an apparent dig at noted film-maker Aparna Sen's visit to a hospital and criticism of her "outsider comment", Banerjee, without naming anyone, said unlike a few "pseudo-intellectuals" she doesn't make any comment without cross-checking facts. Before ending her speech, Banerjee reiterated her slogans of "Jai Bangla" and "Jai Hind" to counter the BJP's slogan of "Jai Shri Ram".

Those living in Bengal will have to learn to speak in Bengali: Mamata Banerjee

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-doctors-on-strike-defy-mamatas-deadline-to-continue-stir-till-demands-are-met-226856">West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee</a> intervened four days after the junior doctors at Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital began their agitation after a doctor was brutally beaten up by a patient’s family on Sunday. However, she failed to end the impasse and the junior doctors refused to return to work.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-setback-to-mamata-banerjee-her-nephew-seen-leading-protest-against-west-bengal-government-226937">Banerjee</a> reached SSKM hospital in South Kolkata on Thursday morning and issued an ultimatum for doctors to join work by 2 pm. “The doctors must get back to work by 2 pm as the protests have affected services at government hospitals across the state. Those doctors who don’t return to work must leave the hostel. Agitating doctors are outsiders. The government will not support them in any way. I condemn doctors who have gone on strike. Policemen die in the line of duty but the police don’t go on a strike,” Banerjee said.

“The state spends Rs 25 lakh on each doctor and then they shirk work. This won’t be tolerated. Are they doctors?” she added.&nbsp;

The chief minister launched a blistering attack on the BJP claiming that they were adding communal colours to this incident.&nbsp;

Slammed for not even visiting protesting doctors since the outrage over Monday’s assault on the junior doctor, the protesters raised slogans against the Banerjee on her arrival at the SSKM hospital.

On the other hand, junior doctors maintained their stand and continued the strike. &nbsp;The doctors demanded deployment of armed police officers on hospital premises to ensure their safety and security.&nbsp;

A delegation from the NRS hospital met the Governor of West Bengal Keshari Nath Tripathi and briefed him about the situation. “We told the Governor about the problems we are facing. We had expected that the chief minister would stand by us. She visited SSKM hospital but instead of standing by us, she termed us as ‘outsiders’. All that we demanded was the arrest of the accused persons and deployment of armed police officers. The way our colleague was attacked was inhuman. His skull has been injured seriously,” said the delegation from the NRS hospital.&nbsp;

Mass resignations began on Thursday evening as 18 doctors from Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital sent their resignation to the state health department. The hospital where the doctor was assaulted saw the resignation of principal, superintendent and five other doctors from the forensic medicine department.&nbsp;

The superintendent of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital wrote to the state health department that the entire staff of the hospital went for a complete shut down following the chief minister’s statements. The superintendent further added that it was difficult to run the hospital beyond 24 hours without adequate manpower and security.&nbsp;

On Monday, a clash broke out at NRS Medical College and Hospital after an elderly patient died. Relatives of the deceased claimed medical negligence and beat up two junior doctors. One of the junior doctors, Paribaha Mukhopadhyay suffered serious injuries on his skull and is presently undergoing treatment at a city hospital. Since Monday night, junior doctors are on a strike and demanding safety from the government and police.&nbsp;

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intervened four days after the junior doctors at Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital began their agitation after a doctor was brutally beaten up by a patient’s family on Sunday.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee intervened four days after the junior doctors at Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital began their agitation after a doctor was brutally beaten up by a patient’s family on Sunday. However, she failed to end the impasse and the junior doctors refused to return to work. Banerjee reached SSKM hospital in South Kolkata on Thursday morning and issued an ultimatum for doctors to join work by 2 pm. “The doctors must get back to work by 2 pm as the protests have affected services at government hospitals across the state. Those doctors who don’t return to work must leave the hostel. Agitating doctors are outsiders. The government will not support them in any way. I condemn doctors who have gone on strike. Policemen die in the line of duty but the police don’t go on a strike,” Banerjee said. “The state spends Rs 25 lakh on each doctor and then they shirk work. This won’t be tolerated. Are they doctors?” she added. The chief minister launched a blistering attack on the BJP claiming that they were adding communal colours to this incident. Slammed for not even visiting protesting doctors since the outrage over Monday’s assault on the junior doctor, the protesters raised slogans against the Banerjee on her arrival at the SSKM hospital. On the other hand, junior doctors maintained their stand and continued the strike. The doctors demanded deployment of armed police officers on hospital premises to ensure their safety and security. A delegation from the NRS hospital met the Governor of West Bengal Keshari Nath Tripathi and briefed him about the situation. “We told the Governor about the problems we are facing. We had expected that the chief minister would stand by us. She visited SSKM hospital but instead of standing by us, she termed us as ‘outsiders’. All that we demanded was the arrest of the accused persons and deployment of armed police officers. The way our colleague was attacked was inhuman. His skull has been injured seriously,” said the delegation from the NRS hospital. Mass resignations began on Thursday evening as 18 doctors from Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital sent their resignation to the state health department. The hospital where the doctor was assaulted saw the resignation of principal, superintendent and five other doctors from the forensic medicine department. The superintendent of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital wrote to the state health department that the entire staff of the hospital went for a complete shut down following the chief minister’s statements. The superintendent further added that it was difficult to run the hospital beyond 24 hours without adequate manpower and security. On Monday, a clash broke out at NRS Medical College and Hospital after an elderly patient died. Relatives of the deceased claimed medical negligence and beat up two junior doctors. One of the junior doctors, Paribaha Mukhopadhyay suffered serious injuries on his skull and is presently undergoing treatment at a city hospital. Since Monday night, junior doctors are on a strike and demanding safety from the government and police.

Mamata Banerjee fails to end impasse at government hospitals; mass resignations begin

In a major setback to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-doctors-on-strike-defy-mamatas-deadline-to-continue-stir-till-demands-are-met-226856">West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee</a>, voices of dissent are growing from within the Trinamool Congress party and her own family.&nbsp;

On a day Banerjee refused to succumb under pressure created by the agitating junior doctors on strike across all government-run hospitals in the state, a video has surfaced showing Banerjee’s nephew, Dr Abesh, leading a protest rally showing solidarity with the agitating junior doctors of the Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital (NRS).&nbsp;

Abesh, who is the son of Banerjee’s brother Kartick Banerjee, is a doctor with KPC Medical College and Hospital. Sources say Abesh led a protest rally on Wednesday from KPC hospital to NRS hospital.&nbsp;

This video comes at a time when the Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim’s daughter took to Facebook to register her protest against the government and police inaction. She took to Facebook and wrote, "For those who do not know doctors in the government and most private hospitals are boycotting OPDs but are still working in the emergency. &nbsp;For those saying, ‘Ono rugider ki dosh’ meaning what is the fault of the patients, please question the government as in why the police officers posted in government hospitals do little to nothing to protect doctors”.&nbsp;

“Please question why goons are still surrounding hospitals and beating up doctors? We have a right to peaceful protest. We have a right to safety at work,” she added. &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

In a major setback to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, voices of dissent are growing from within the Trinamool Congress party and her own family. On a day Banerjee refused to succumb under pressure created by the agitating junior doctors on strike across all government-run hospitals in the state, a video has surfaced showing Banerjee’s nephew, Dr Abesh, leading a protest rally showing solidarity with the agitating junior doctors of the Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital (NRS).

In a major setback to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, voices of dissent are growing from within the Trinamool Congress party and her own family. On a day Banerjee refused to succumb under pressure created by the agitating junior doctors on strike across all government-run hospitals in the state, a video has surfaced showing Banerjee’s nephew, Dr Abesh, leading a protest rally showing solidarity with the agitating junior doctors of the Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital (NRS). Abesh, who is the son of Banerjee’s brother Kartick Banerjee, is a doctor with KPC Medical College and Hospital. Sources say Abesh led a protest rally on Wednesday from KPC hospital to NRS hospital. This video comes at a time when the Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim’s daughter took to Facebook to register her protest against the government and police inaction. She took to Facebook and wrote, "For those who do not know doctors in the government and most private hospitals are boycotting OPDs but are still working in the emergency. For those saying, ‘Ono rugider ki dosh’ meaning what is the fault of the patients, please question the government as in why the police officers posted in government hospitals do little to nothing to protect doctors”. “Please question why goons are still surrounding hospitals and beating up doctors? We have a right to peaceful protest. We have a right to safety at work,” she added.

In setback to Mamata Banerjee, her nephew seen leading protest against West Bengal government

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