Central agencies targeting opposition will be after BJP post-2024 polls: Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata (PTI): The central agencies that are at present targeting opposition leaders will be after the BJP following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed on Thursday, asserting that the government at the Centre will last for three more months.
Addressing TMC workers at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here, she said that after the arrest of her party's leaders in different cases, the expulsion of MP Mahua Moitra was being planned but it would eventually help her before the elections.
"Central agencies targetting opposition leaders at present will go after the BJP following the 2024 elections," she told party workers.
"This government at the Centre is there for three more months," she said.
Banerjee also claimed that the BJP-led government wants to do away with reservations and maintained that she will oppose it.
"BJP is also against the reservation for minorities, but we will bring them under the system through OBC quota," she added.
Banerjee also alleged that attempts of "saffronising" the country were underway in full swing -- from metro railway stations to the cricket team.
"Saffron is the colour of 'tyagis', but you are 'bhogis'," she said, targetting the BJP, claiming that players resisted, as a result, the Indian cricket team did not have to wear the saffron practice jersey during matches.
The TMC chief also claimed that India would have won if the World Cup final happened in Kolkata or Mumbai, instead of Ahmedabad.
"They won all the matches in the World Cup except the one attended by the sinners," she said.
Banerjee also attacked the Centre over the state of the country's economy.
"The banking sector is in the doldrums and PSUs are being sold," she said, noting that the unemployment rate was also very high.
She took on the BJP over the allegations of cow smuggling to Bangladesh through West Bengal.
"Cows for smuggling to Bangladesh are brought from different states, including UP. Who takes the cut there," she asked.
The chief minister said that West Bengal was fast evolving as a destination for investment.
"All big IT companies are investing in Kolkata's 'Silicon Valley' project," she said.
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T'gana BC panel seeks reports over infant's death, family alleges caste abuse
Hyderabad (PTI): The Telangana Commission for Backward Classes on Monday sought reports from state government officials on the death of an infant following alleged assault and caste abuse against her family members in Nagarkurnool district while visiting a temple fair.
In separate letters, Commission Chairman G Niranjan urged Endowments Department Commissioner S Harish and Nagarkurnool district Collector Badavath Santhosh to furnish the reports within three days.
Niranjan drew the officials' attention to media reports on the death of the two-month-old baby at Kummera village in the district and alleged caste discrimination and denial of entry to the temple fair to the baby's family belonging to a BC community.
BJP OBC Morcha's state unit president G Anand Goud alleged inadequate response by the police in the incident and demanded a transparent investigation into the incident.
Alleging that the deceased baby's father was attacked in the incident, he also demanded action against the attackers.
Goud told reporters that BJP's state unit president N Ramachander Rao would visit the village on February 24 and meet the baby's family members.
Meanwhile, a BRS delegation met DGP B Shivadhar Reddy and demanded a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.
The BRS leaders sought action against a person who allegedly attacked the infant's parents.
BC associations have held protests over the past few days regarding the alleged caste discrimination against the deceased infant's family members.
Police said on Sunday that four persons were arrested in connection with the cases registered after the family alleged that the baby died following an "assault" by a group of villagers. The family also alleged that they were abused in the name of caste in the incident on February 18.
However, a villager, part of the group, lodged a counter-complaint with the police the same day, alleging that he was attacked with stones during a scuffle with the family, sustaining a head injury, following which a case was registered.
The infant died on February 21 and her mother, who belongs to an SC community, also lodged a complaint alleging her daughter died due to the physical assault on the family by some villagers, police said.
