INDIA bloc calls for action against Assam CM Himanta Sarma over alleged hate speech in Jharkhand
In a formal complaint to the Election Commission of India, leaders of the INDIA bloc, including members from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Congress, and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), have condemned recent election speeches by BJP's Jharkhand in-charge and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Sarma as “highly divisive” and “hateful.” The coalition leaders have demanded "immediate and strict action" against Sarma for allegedly making inflammatory statements targeting the Muslim community during a public event in Sarath on November 1.
The letter submitted to the electoral authorities cites Sarma's remarks in which he reportedly implied that Muslim voters are united in their political allegiance, while other communities are divided in their support. The INDIA bloc leaders claim his speech used “inflammatory language,” including terms like “infiltrators,” which they argue is intended to incite communal divisions and stir resentment.
The letter also emphasized that Sarma's comments paint an entire minority community as “infiltrators” to deepen existing social divides, a tactic the INDIA bloc claims threatens Jharkhand's communal harmony and undermines the principle of free and fair elections. They have urged the Commission to act decisively to affirm its commitment to unbiased electoral processes, untainted by communal provocations.
In addition to detailing excerpts from Sarma's speech, the letter referenced a recent interview in which he allegedly singled out Congress minority leaders, further escalating communal tensions. During a press conference on Saturday, INDIA bloc representatives warned that they would approach the court if the Election Commission failed to respond within 24 hours.
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Family of injured driver in murder of Suvendu's aide seeks exemplary punishment
Kolkata (PTI): The family of Buddhabeb Bera, the driver injured in the shooting that killed BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath, demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible and urged the new government to ensure such incidents do not happen in West Bengal.
Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram near Kolkata on Wednesday night, triggering a political storm in the state. Bera, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the attack, sustained gunshot wounds and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Family members said they learned about the incident through television and immediately left for Kolkata.
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"We came to know from TV reports that my nephew had been shot. We still do not know who carried out the attack or why it happened," Buddhabeb's uncle Biswajit Bera said.
"Our only wish now is that he recovers and returns home safely," he added.
Buddhabeb, 25, hails from Majnaberia village in the Chandipur police station area in Purba Medinipur district.
According to family members, he mostly stays in Kolkata for work and visits home occasionally during weekends.
Besides his parents, his younger brother, sister-in-law and several relatives have also travelled to Kolkata following the incident.
Demanding strict action against the perpetrators, the uncle said, "We want the government to conduct a proper investigation and identify those directly involved in the crime. They should be given exemplary punishment so that such incidents do not happen again in West Bengal and no other family has to go through this grief."
A neighbour, Ranjana Ghorai, also sought stringent punishment for those behind the attack.
"In our neighbourhood, we call him Sona. We want exemplary punishment for the people responsible for this incident," she said.
Rath's family members have demanded life imprisonment for the accused, while Adhikari has called for capital punishment for those involved in the killing.
