Politics – Page 55 – SD NEWS agency

ED Officers Allegedly Threatened During I-PAC Office Raid; Mamata Banerjee Accused of Interfering

9Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Politics, State, West Bengal

ED Officers Allegedly Threatened During I-PAC Office Raid; Mamata Banerjee Accused of Interfering

Kolkata: A high-voltage political confrontation unfolded in Kolkata on Thursday during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at the office of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC). West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been accused of directly interfering in the agency’s operation, triggering a tense standoff between central investigators and the state police. According to ED sources, the central agency was conducting searches in connection with a money laundering investigation when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the I-PAC office. It is alleged that during the raid, she took possession of a mobile phone belonging to an I-PAC official, Pratik Jain, and retained it with herself. DGP Present, ED Officers Allegedly Intimidated The situ...

“Why Are You So Nervous After 14 Years in Power?” BJP Questions Mamata Banerjee Over ED Raid Row

9Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Nation, Politics

“Why Are You So Nervous After 14 Years in Power?” BJP Questions Mamata Banerjee Over ED Raid Row

Political tensions escalated on Friday following the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on the I-PAC office in Kolkata, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launching a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Banerjee of undermining constitutional norms and obstructing investigative agencies. Addressing the media in New Delhi, Prasad said the events that unfolded in West Bengal were unprecedented in independent India. He alleged that a sitting Chief Minister entering a private property during an ED investigation, threatening officials and allegedly seizing documents, was unethical, irresponsible, and unconstitutional. “A Dark Chapter for Democracy” Prasad claimed that the ED action was part of a p...

TMC Stirs Up in Delhi as ED Raids Spark Political Uproar

9Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Nation, Politics

TMC Stirs Up in Delhi as ED Raids Spark Political Uproar

Tensions soared in Delhi on Friday as eight Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs staged a protest outside the office of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, objecting to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) raid on the I-PAC office in Kolkata. The demonstration, which lasted only a short while, was broken up by Delhi Police, who escorted the MPs onto buses. The TMC accused the central government of undermining democracy and misusing central agencies for political purposes. MPs Lead the ProtestThe TMC MPs involved included Derek O’Brien, Satabdi Roy, Mahua Moitra, Bapi Haldar, Saket Gokhale, Pratima Mandal, Kirti Azad, and Sharmila Sarkar. They were vocally protesting the ED raid on the Kolkata-based political consulting firm I-PAC, which has been advising TMC on electoral strategy. Mahua Moitra Slam...

Modi Rolls Out Red Carpet for China, Surrenders Before Trump: Congress Criticizes Government’s Foreign Policy

9Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Nation, Politics

Modi Rolls Out Red Carpet for China, Surrenders Before Trump: Congress Criticizes Government’s Foreign Policy

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday launched a scathing attack on the central government over reports suggesting that it plans to lift five-year-old restrictions on Chinese companies. Kharge described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy as erratic and unstable, likening it to a pendulum that swings unpredictably. Disrespect to Gallant Soldiers in GalwanKharge criticized Modi’s earlier promise of “I will not let the country bow down”, arguing that current actions contradict this pledge. He said that the sacrifices of Indian soldiers martyred in the Galwan Valley clash were disrespected when Modi gave China what he termed a “clean chit.” Now, by rolling out the red carpet for Chinese firms, Kharge asserted, the government is demonstrating the hidden depth of China’s ...

“From What to What, Betrayer”: Congress Takes a Swipe at PM Modi Over US Minister’s Comment

9Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Nation, Politics

“From What to What, Betrayer”: Congress Takes a Swipe at PM Modi Over US Minister’s Comment

The Congress party has taken a tongue-in-cheek dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi following comments by the US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, regarding the delay in a trade deal between India and the United States. Using lines from classic Bollywood songs, the opposition party sought to mock the Prime Minister over the stalled negotiations. Congress Hits Out Using Old Bollywood LyricsCongress General Secretary in charge of communications, ** Jairam Ramesh**, referenced Lutnick’s statement without directly naming PM Modi. In a social media post, Ramesh wrote:*“Hug hug naa raha, Post post naa raha … Kya se kya ho gaya bewafa tere dosti mein.”*These lines borrow from iconic 1960s films—“Kya Se Kya Ho Gaya” from the 1965 film Guide, starring Dev Anand, and “Dost Dost Na Raha” from the...

“Democracy Doesn’t Serve Those in Power”: Mamata Banerjee Leads Protest March Against ED Raids on I-PAC Offices

9Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Politics, State, West Bengal

“Democracy Doesn’t Serve Those in Power”: Mamata Banerjee Leads Protest March Against ED Raids on I-PAC Offices

Kolkata/Delhi: The political climate in West Bengal intensified following Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the offices of I-PAC and its director. Accusing the ED of attempting to seize Trinamool Congress (TMC) electoral data, the party launched a strong political counterattack. While TMC MPs staged a protest in Delhi, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally led a protest march in Kolkata on Friday. Mamata Leads from the FrontIn a show of defiance, Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by senior TMC leaders, ministers, MPs, MLAs, and a large contingent of party supporters, marched from 8B Bus Stand towards Hazra More, chanting slogans against the BJP-led central government. Banerjee accused the central agencies of being misused for political vendetta. The Chief Minister was present at I-PA...

JJM Scam: ED Granted Prosecution Approval Against Congress Leader Mahesh Joshi by Governor

9Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Politics, Rajasthan, State

JJM Scam: ED Granted Prosecution Approval Against Congress Leader Mahesh Joshi by Governor

Jaipur, January 9, 2026: Legal troubles are mounting for former Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Mahesh Joshi in connection with the alleged Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam. Governor Haribhau Bagde has granted approval for prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002, clearing the way for further legal proceedings. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the case, had earlier arrested Joshi on allegations of money laundering linked to irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission. ED claims that during the period when the alleged irregularities occurred, Joshi was serving as the Minister for Water Resources and his role is under scrutiny. Joshi had been taken into custody by the ED on April 24 last year, in connection with financial transactions related to...

ED Raid on I-PAC Ignites Bengal Politics: Will Mamata Banerjee Benefit in Assembly Elections?

9Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Politics, State, West Bengal

ED Raid on I-PAC Ignites Bengal Politics: Will Mamata Banerjee Benefit in Assembly Elections?

Kolkata, January 9, 2026: With West Bengal gearing up for elections to its 294-member Assembly in three months, political tensions have escalated following the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on the office of I-PAC, a private consultancy involved in election strategy. The development has opened a new chapter in the state’s corruption narrative, with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking to shape the public discourse to their advantage. Mamata vs ED: A Rare ConfrontationTMC chief Mamata Banerjee directly intervened during the raid, marking a rare instance of a sitting Chief Minister openly confronting the ED. Accompanied by a security detail, Banerjee first visited I-PAC director Pratik Jain’s residence, emerging with a laptop and a “green fil...

BJP Launches Aggressive Campaign to Expand NDA in Tamil Nadu, Targets Anti-DMK Voters

9Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Politics, State, Tamil Nadu

BJP Launches Aggressive Campaign to Expand NDA in Tamil Nadu, Targets Anti-DMK Voters

Chennai, January 9, 2026: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ramping up its efforts to expand the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu ahead of this year’s Assembly elections. The party aims to position the NDA as the natural choice for voters opposed to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The campaign comes at a time when Tamil Nadu’s traditional bipolar political landscape is witnessing a new entrant—actor Vijay’s political outfit, TVK. BJP’s strategy is to consolidate all anti-DMK forces under the NDA banner and present a united front to the electorate. Palaniappan Meets Amit ShahAIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniappan met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday to discuss expanding the NDA’s footprint in the state. The discussions reportedly covered coalitio...

Congress Accuses Government of U-Turn on China, Demands PM Modi Explain in Budget Session

9Jan

By sd newsNo Comments

Nation, Politics

Congress Accuses Government of U-Turn on China, Demands PM Modi Explain in Budget Session

New Delhi: The Congress party on Friday claimed that the Modi government is planning to lift five-year-old restrictions on Chinese companies, allowing them to bid for Indian government contracts. The opposition described the move as a “calculated surrender policy” in the face of Chinese aggression and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify the sudden policy reversal during the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament. Lifting Old RestrictionsCongress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a news report on social media, alleging that India’s Finance Ministry is preparing to remove long-standing restrictions on Chinese firms participating in government tenders. No immediate response has been issued by the government regarding these claims. Ramesh highlighted the timing of the ...