Kolkata’s intellectuals turn down BJP’s invite
KOLKATA : The big names in Kolkata’s world of art or culture have refused to meet BJP president Amit Shah. They include thespian Soumitra Chatterjee, former Supreme Court Judge Ashok Ganguly, activist-writer Santosh Rana, theatre stars Rudraprasad Sengupta, Chandan Sen and Manoj Mitra, singer Amar Paul and painter Samir Aich.
Mr. Shah was scheduled to meet many of them on Wednesday at a south Kolkata auditorium. Most of them acknowledged the invite, but are not ready to meet Mr. Shah or attend his lecture on writer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
The State BJP officials, however, are confident that “hundreds” of the city’s intellectuals will participate in the event. The State BJP has lined up a series of programmes for Mr. Shah, who is coming here for a two-day tour of West Bengal.
Key programme
One of Mr. Shah’s key programmes on Wednesday is a lecture in memory of revered Bengali writer Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who penned the national song Vande Mataram. It will be hosted by Delhi-based Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation. Mr. Shah is then scheduled to meet the city’s intellectuals and civil society members.
Actor Soumitra Chatterjee, who was invited to Mr Shah’s programme by BJP’s national secretary Rahul Sinha, turned down the offer to attend both the memorial lecture and the intellectuals’ meet. Associates of the actor said that Mr. Chatterjee expressed his “particular displeasure at the demonetisation and the party’s politics of targeting communities.”
Writer, playwright and theatre director Manoj Mitra said senior BJP leader Mukul Roy met him last week. “He wanted to know more about our work and then invited me to the programme on Bankim Chandra. I found it exciting, but told him I can’t attend,” Mr. Mitra said.
Till Tuesday evening, BJP officials have refused to disclose the names of the prominent people who are likely to attend Mr. Shah’s programme or meet him during his stay here.
“We are expecting 650 intellectuals to attend Mr. Shah’s programme. But we can’t disclose their names now as there is tremendous pressure on them from the ruling party. If we disclose their names now they may be threatened,” said Pankaj Roy, the convener of BJP’s Intellectual Cell in Bengal.
courtesy : thehindu.com
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Hubballi: Gym trainer assaulted; police say clash due to personal reasons
Hubballi: A gym trainer was allegedly assaulted by a group of people following accusations of sexual assault and ‘love jihad’, even as both families involved in the case traded serious allegations.
According to police, a group of individuals went to the residence of Sameer Mulla, a resident of Vijayanagar, and questioned him over his friendship with a woman he had met at a gym. The situation escalated into a clash, during which he was allegedly dragged away and assaulted. He sustained minor injuries and was admitted to KIMS hospital.
N. Shashikumar said that after this incident, members from Sameer’s side went to the woman’s house, leading to another clash in which one person was injured. “It was wrong for groups to go near houses. We will take necessary legal action,” he said, adding that the incident appears to have arisen from personal reasons. Police have taken some individuals into custody and are investigating the matter.
Sameer Mulla was reportedly thrashed by a group of Sangh Parivar activists and later handed over to police at the Old Hubballi Police Station after relatives of the woman and members of Hindu organisations gathered at his residence in Rajnagar.
The woman’s family alleged assault and threats from Sameer’s relatives at their Vikas Nagar residence.
Meanwhile, Sameer’s family denied the allegations and accused the woman’s relatives and others of assaulting and kidnapping him. His sister said the two had been in a relationship for three years and that the allegations were baseless.
Police said statements from both sides have been recorded, and a detailed investigation is underway. Sameer remains hospitalised, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on findings.
In a video statement shared on social media, the 20-year-old woman alleged that Sameer had given her an intoxicant, recorded videos without her consent, and sexually assaulted her. She lodged a complaint alleging rape and blackmail, which police are investigating.
In another video, Sameer denied the allegations, claiming the video was recorded with consent and that the accusations were made under pressure.
Former Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) chairman Nagesh Kalburgi termed the incident a serious matter and urged police to take strict action.
Police said the case involves multiple complaints from both sides, and further investigation is underway.
