WB: Police say no evidence found after BJP alleges panchayat poll candidate paraded naked in Howrah
Kolkata (PTI): No evidence was found in the complaint that a woman candidate was allegedly stripped and paraded naked in Howrah district's Panchla during the panchayat election on July 8, West Bengal's Director-General of Police (DGP) Manoj Malviya said on Friday.
Alleging that a "Manipur-like" situation was prevailing in West Bengal, state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar claimed at a press conference in Delhi that the woman was paraded naked in South Panchla for daring to contest the panchayat polls.
BJP MP Locket Chatterjee even broke down during the press conference. "The West Bengal chief minister is silent despite being a woman. You tell us where we will go. We also want our daughters to be saved," she said, crying.
Malviya said police found no evidence after investigating the complaint it received by e-mail on July 13.
"A complaint was received by e-mail on July 13. Immediately after receiving it, the Superintendent of Police (Howrah-Rural) gave instructions to start an investigation, and lodge an FIR," the DGP said.
On July 14, an FIR was filed under relevant sections of the IPC as per the woman's complaint but no evidence could be found supporting the allegations in the complaint, he said.
Despite repeated summons, neither the complainant nor her husband turned up to record their statements under Section 164 of the CrPC, he said.
"There was no response from the complainant or her family," he added.
The ruling TMC questioned why the incident was being raised by the BJP just after the nationwide outrage on the May 4 incident in Manipur, in which two women were paraded naked by a mob.
"One after another report is coming from BJP-ruled Manipur, including the latest video. And, it is only now that BJP leaders are raising this issue. Let the investigation continue. But, if such an incident has happened, it is baffling why it was not reported earlier. Is there any video footage?" TMC state spokesperson Joy Prakash Majumdar said.
Responding to it, the BJP state president said, "We don't have the video footage as taking video of such atrocities is not possible in TMC-ruled Bengal."
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CJI Surya Kant clarifies 'parasites' remarks, says 'pained' over media reports
New Delhi (PTI): Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday issued a strongly worded clarification on his 'parasites' remarks, saying he was "pained" by media reports that suggested he criticised youth.
"I am pained to read how a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations made during the hearing of a frivolous case yesterday," the CJI said in a statement.
Kant emphasised that his remarks were specifically directed at individuals entering the legal profession through "fake and bogus degrees" and were "misquoted by a section of the media."
The clarification follows a controversy during a hearing on Friday, when the CJI used words like "parasites" and "cockroaches" while pulling up a lawyer for his plea seeking senior designation.
"What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions like the Bar (legal profession) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions as well, and hence, they are like parasites.
"It is totally baseless to suggest that I criticised the youth of our nation. Not only am I proud of our present and future human resource, but every youth of India inspires me. It is not an exaggeration to say that Indian youth have great regard and respect for me, and I too see them as the pillars of a developed India," the chief justice said about his remarks.
