West Bengal Election 2021 highlights: TMC unsettled by Shah's campaign, says BJP on defamation suit against him

In his two-day visit to poll-bound West Bengal, Union Minister Amit Shah kicked off BJP's campaign in the state yesterday, challenging the ruling Trinamool Congress. Responding to Shah's "Didi- bhatija" jibe on her and Abhishek Banerjee, the TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said that Shah should first contest against him. Today, Shah paid tributes to Biplabi Bangla (Revolutionary freedom fighters of West Bengal) at National Library, Kolkata.

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ECI to deploy 125 companies of central forces in West Bengal for assembly polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to deploy 125 companies of central forces in West Bengal by February 25 for the ensuing assembly elections, a senior official said on Friday.

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BJP takes swipe at Left over tribute to Deng Xiaoping

The BJP hit out at the Left front on Friday over the CPI(M)'s tribute to former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, accusing it of batting for China and asking the people of West Bengal and Kerala to reject its ideology.

The Puducherry unit of the CPI(M), the principal party in the Left front, paid a glowing tribute to Deng on his death anniversary on Friday.

TMC unsettled by Shah's campaign: BJP on defamation suit against him

With TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee filing a defamation suit against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP on Friday said this indicates that the ruling party in West Bengal has been "unsettled" by Shah's campaign in the poll-bound state.

The Trinamool Congress is trying to prevent Shah and other BJP leaders from campaigning in the state, BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli claimed.

Bengal should change towards path of development, says governor

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said that the state should change towards the path of development. He claimed that such is the atmosphere of fear in the poll-bound state that people are afraid to talk about their dread.

"The country is entering the 75th year of independence in 2021 and there should be change. West Bengal should reach the pinnacle of development," he said.

Modi invokes Tagore's world view, asks Visva Bharati to help farmers, artisans access global market

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday praised the world view of poet- philosopher Rabindranath Tagore and asked Visva-Bharati students to help farmers and artisans of nearby villages find global markets.

He said Guru Rabindranath Tagore had not envisioned the university as a typical educational institution but one that will help Indian culture realise its full potential globally.

Amit Shah summoned by special court in defamation case filed by TMC's Abhishek Banerjee

A designated MP/MLA court in West Bengal issued summons to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday to appear either personally or through a lawyer before it on February 22 in connection with a defamation case lodged against him by Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee.

The special judge of MP/MLA court at Bidhannagar directed that Shah is "required to appear in person/by pleader" at 10 am on that day.

Bengal minister injured in bomb blast stable: Official

West Bengal minister Jakir Hossain, who was seriously injured in a bomb blast, is stable now, an official of the state-run hospital where he is undergoing treatment said on Friday.

Hossain, the minister of state for labour, was injured after unidentified attackers hurled a crude bomb at him at Nimtita railway station in Murshidabad district on Wednesday night.

"He is stable at the moment and is responding to the treatment. He suffered multiple injuries and underwent surgeries on Thursday. (PTI)

The 125 birth anniversary celebrations of Subhash Babu will go on for one year. The youth of the country should join these programmes: Amit Shah in Kolkata

The future of the country can be created by the youthwho understandthe history of the country, and understands its importance: Amit Shah in Kolkata

Those who sacrificed their lives, those who left their studies, those who sacrificed their families and their houses in the freedom struggle, did that to establish India as the world leader. We should not rest till that is achieved as a tribute to the heroes: Amit Shah in Kolkata

A lot of efforts were made to forget Subhas Babu, but his duty, patriotism and his supreme sacrifice is going to remain in the minds of the people of India for generations: Amit Shah in Kolkata

If Subhash Babu had thought only about his career, we would not have independence. There would be no inspiration for the youth today. I support PM Modi's decision to mark 125th birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose: Amit Shah in Kolkata

Iwant to say to the youth of the country that you should read about the life of Subhas Chandra Bose. His life journey will teach you a lot. A committee has been constituted under our government to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose: Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Kolkata

Union Minister Amit Shah in Kolkatalauded Subhash Chandra Bose's contributions to India and to the freedom movement during 'Shauryanjali Program'. "He was Kolkata's mayor, Congress party's president twice. He was loved by the people as well," he said.

Mamata likely to skip Niti Aayog meeting on Feb 20

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to skip the Niti Aayog's governing council meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 20, sources said on Friday.

The council, the apex body of the government's think tank, includes all chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories (UTs), several Union ministers and senior government officials.

The prime minister will chair the Saturday's meeting, where issues related to agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing and human resource development will be discussed, according to an official statement. (PTI)

My request is, for the next 25 years, the students of Visva Bharati should work together to create a vision document. In the year 2047, when India will celebrate 100 years of its independence, what will be the 25 biggest goals of Visva Bharati can be placed in this vision document: PM Modi addresses Visva-Bharati

The new National Education Policy is a major step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. It gives strength to research and innovation: PM Modi at convocation ceremony of Visva Bharati University

Many people who are spreading terror andviolence across the world are highly educated, highly skilled. On the other hand, there are people who are risking their lives andstationed at hospitals and labs to save people from a pandemic like Covid. It's not about ideology but the mindset: PM Narendra Modi speaking at Visva Bharati ceremony

The New Education Policy will gallop our journey to becoming 'Vishwa-guru'. The policy is turning out to be a gamechanger in much-needed education reforms: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar at the convocation ceremony of Visva-Bharati University

PM Modi is addressing the Visa-Bharti

The bomb attack on West Bengal minister Jakir Hossain snowballed into a political controversy with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging that it was a preplanned conspiracy as certain people were "pressuring" him to switch over to another party, while opposition parties demanded National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the issue. (PTI)

Mamata hat-trick likely in West Bengal elections: Opinion poll

An opinion poll predicted that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will return to power in West Bengal for the third time albeit with a lesser number of seats in the Assembly elections.

The opinion poll conducted by the CNX and ABP Ananda (a private news channel) showed that the TMC will get around 146 to 156 seats, while the BJP will win around 113 to 121 seats.

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Shah in Kolkata today

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah will pay tributes to Biplabi Bangla (Revolutionary freedom fighters of West Bengal) tomorrow at 11:45 am at National Library, Kolkata.He will also inaugurate an Exhibition on ‘Biplabi Bangla’. He will address a gathering and also flag off a cycle rally.

Outsiders will have to return after Bengal assembly polls: Abhishek Banerjee

On a day when Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off BJP's Parivartan Yatra in West Bengal, the president of All India Trinamool Youth Congress Abhishek Banerjee Thursday said that all "outsiders" will have to return after the state poll. Banerjee was speaking at a TMC rally at Pailan in South 24 Parganas district, about 70 km away from Kakdwip where Shah flagged off the Parivartan Yatra, the fifth and last Rathayatra by BJP before the poll.

The ruling Trinamool Congress has often referred to BJP leaders from other states as "outsiders". (PTI)