Tag: appeal

Mosques in Delhi appeal to people to play their role in LG’s campaign to rejuvenate Yamuna

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New Delhi: A message to clean the Yamuna sent out through a campaign led by the Delhi Lt Governor has found resonance with clerics of several mosques, including the Jama Masjid, who appealed to members of the Muslim community to play their role in achieving this goal.
Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena had launched the Yamuna cleanliness drive on February 16 and after inspecting cleaning work at the Qudsiya Ghat, he had said that the target is to rejuvenate the Delhi stretch of the river by June 30.
In view of the LG’s initiative, clerics of several mosques here on Friday appealed to people to clean and rejuvenate the Yamuna, with the Mughal-era Jama Masjid making an announcement over its audio address system.

Mosques at Dwarka and Rohini, the Badwali Masjid at Daryaganj in Old Delhi and a mosque at the site of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, among others, conveyed the meaning and importance of the campaign.
People gather at mosques on Friday for ‘jummah’ prayers.
“After a long period, the government has taken a swift step to clean the Yamuna river. To clean the river, besides the role of the government, support of the people is also needed. Delhi’s LG V K Saxena has got a big stretch of the Yamuna cleaned, and more work is being in that direction,” the Jama Masjid announced.
He has appealed to the people to come forward to achieve this goal so that a good environment and clean water of the Yanuma can be enjoyed, it announced.
At the Badwali Masjid, a cleric told a gathering that the Hindu community considers Yamuna as a holy river, and the Muslim community should also come forward and contribute to its rejuvenation.

The cleric cited the importance of the river and said Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the Red Fort in Delhi and Taj Mahal in Agra near the Yamuna.
Shah Jahah had also commissioned the Jama Masjid in the 17th century, the largest mosque in Delhi.
Jama Masjid’s Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari had recently met the LG in connection with the campaign to clean the Yamuna, officials said.
Officials at the LG’s office had last month said that the efforts to clean the Yamuna will be boosted through wide ranging awareness campaigns, including involving priests to discourage people from throwing waste generated during religious ceremonies into the river.
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#Mosques #Delhi #appeal #people #play #role #LGs #campaign #rejuvenate #Yamuna
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 5, 2023
Biden makes first in-person appeal to donors for ’24 campaign

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“Here’s the bottom line. It’s very simple: We need you. Our democracy needs you because this is about our freedoms,” Biden told the jubilant crowd.
But it’s unclear whether that energy has translated into material fundraising success — particularly when it comes to small-dollar donations. The campaign has not provided any clues about its early haul, as it did immediately after the launch in 2019. Back then, Biden faced a number of Democratic rivals, including many who released in real-time how much they had been raising for the campaign.
There’s a sensitivity in the campaign that the early number could feed a negative narrative, according to a donor involved in the campaign. Some major donors have not yet been asked to give, according to that person.
Biden did not become a fundraising juggernaut until he entered the general election and faced off against Donald Trump. While he bested the Democratic field over the first 24 hours, he struggled to keep pace with rivals like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who built large war chests on the strength of donors who signed up to regularly give small amounts. Biden’s standing greatly improved later in the primary process as rivals withdrew from the race amid poor showings and he consolidated their supporters.
A campaign official maintained that the 2024 fundraising operation was well-positioned this cycle, and the Democratic National Committee had brought in $276 million for the midterms, a record for a midterm cycle. The campaign had already made a two-week, seven-figure ad buy that was running in six battleground states.
The Friday night reception drew more than 100 Democratic donors and officials to the lavish Salamander hotel in D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront. Among the elected officials were Govs. Gavin Newsom of California, Wes Moore of Maryland, and Phil Murphy of New Jersey. The first Gen-Z congressmember, 26-year-old Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), also attended, as did several of Biden’s newly announced campaign co-chairs, including Jeffrey Katzenberg, a major Democratic fundraiser and the only co-chair who is not an elected official.
As he left the White House on the gloomy Friday, a number of the members of Biden’s inner circle joined him en route, including counselor to the president, Steve Ricchetti, and senior adviser to the president, Mike Donilon.
Biden declined to mention former President Donald Trump by name in his remarks to the crowd. Instead, he lambasted “MAGA Republicans … trying to take us backwards.”

Attendees interviewed by POLITICO emphasized the energy in the room. Former Republican Rep. Jim Greenwood said the crowd gave Biden a standing ovation.
“I think everybody in the room was watching to see if he made a single gaffe,” he said. “He didn’t.”
Dick Harpootlian, a South Carolina state senator who bundled for Biden in 2020, said he thought most attendees seemed to believe that Trump would be the Republican nominee.
“He’s a motivating factor,” he said. “The two sort of high-profile people are him and DeSantis, and that’s Trump and Trump-lite.”
Christopher Cadelago contributed to this report.
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#Biden #inperson #appeal #donors #campaign
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

April 29, 2023
Activision and Microsoft to appeal after CMA blocks takeover

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Activision has said it will “work aggressively” with Microsoft to overturn the U.K. competition regulator’s decision to block Microsoft’s proposed takeover of the game developer.
Microsoft and Activision were confident of approval after agreeing remedies to address concerns raised by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). But the CMA said on Wednesday that the proposed solution “failed to effectively address the concerns in the cloud gaming sector.”
It said: “The deal would reinforce Microsoft’s advantage in the market by giving it control over important gaming content such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft.”
A spokesperson for Activision said the CMA’s report “contradicts the ambitions of the U.K. to become an attractive country to build technology businesses… The report’s conclusions are a disservice to U.K. citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects. We will reassess our growth plans for the U.K.
“Global innovators large and small will take note that — despite all its rhetoric — the U.K. is clearly closed for business.”
Microsoft submitted proposals earlier this year to address some of these concerns but the CMA said they contained “a number of significant shortcomings” as they only applied to a defined set of Activision games.
Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts conducting the investigation, said: “Microsoft already enjoys a powerful position and head start over other competitors in cloud gaming and this deal would strengthen that advantage giving it the ability to undermine new and innovative competitors.”
Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft said the company would appeal and remained “fully committed” to the deal.

“The CMA’s decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom.” He said the decision showed a “flawed understanding” of the market.
Microsoft agreed to buy Activision in a $69 billion deal in January 2022, prompting investigations in the U.K., EU and U.S.

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#Activision #Microsoft #appeal #CMA #blocks #takeover
( With inputs from : www.politico.eu )

April 26, 2023
Appalling response to ‘genuine appeal’: Cong slams Jaishankar for accusing Siddaramaiah

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New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday slammed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for accusing former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of politicising the issue of Indians stranded in Sudan, saying it was an “appalling response” to a “genuine appeal” for assistance.
The Opposition party lashed out at the Modi government over the issue, saying the problem with most of ministers is that they are so eager to prove their loyalty to “their master and be his voice” that they have forgotten that they are sworn to certain responsibilities.
The issue began with Siddaramaiah posting a series of tweets saying “it is reported that 31 people from Karnataka belonging to Hakki Pikki tribe, are stranded in Sudan which is troubled by civil war” and the government is yet to initiate action to bring them back.

The former Karnataka chief minister urged the prime minister’s office, the union home minister’s office and the ministry of external affairs to “immediately intervene” and ensure the safe return of the Indians.
Siddaramaiah also said the ‘Hakki Pikkis’ in Sudan are left stranded without food since the last few days.
He said the BJP government should immediately open diplomatic discussions and reach out to international agencies to ensure the well-being of Hakki Pikkis.
Jaishankar then came down hard on Siddaramaiah and tweeted, “Simply appalled at your tweet! There are lives at stake; don’t do politics.”
“Since the fighting started on April 14th, the Embassy of India in Khartoum has been continuously in touch with most Indian Nationals and PIOs in Sudan,” Jaishankar tweeted.

“Their details and locations cannot be made public for security reasons. Their movement is constrained by fierce fighting that is ongoing,” he added.
Jaishankar said plans regarding them have to take into account a “very complicated” security scenario and that the Indian embassy in Sudan is in constant touch with the Ministry of External Affairs over the situation in that country.
“It is grossly irresponsible of you to politicise their situation. No electoral goal justifies endangering Indians abroad,” he said.
Assembly elections in Karnataka are due next month.
Hitting back at Jaishankar, Siddaramaiah said, “Since you are the External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar I have appealed you for help. If you are busy getting appalled please point us to the person who can help us bring our people back.”
Tagging Jaishankar’s tweet accusing Siddaramaiah of politicising the issue, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “A most appalling response from the External Affairs minister to a former CM with a genuine appeal. This level of nastiness from a man I have known so very well… who has developed new loyalties and who wants to show that in whatever he says and does.”
Ramesh added that he will not say anything on Jaishankar’s past.
Asked about the sharp Twitter exchange between Jaishankar and Siddaramaiah, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, “I am very shocked at the reaction that came. Our leader Siddaramaiah gave him an apt reply when he said that “if he is done with appalling, he needs to start assisting citizens’.”
The problem with people in this government is that for every little thing they get so riled up, she said.
“He (Siddaramaiah) put out a message seeking the assistance of India’s foreign minister to safely ensure the passage of citizens from Karnataka struck in Sudan, what was so riling about it. The problem with most of these ministers, who are so eager to prove their loyalty to their master and be his voice, is that they have forgotten that they are sworn to certain responsibilities, they are sworn to accountability,” Shrinate said.
“This was nothing about politicising this was about seeking help. You (Jaishankar) may be helpless, you may be good for nothing and that is who you are. You have decided to turn a two-rupee troll, good for you, do all you want to do, ensure the safe passage of citizens back in India,” she said.
Tagging a tweet on the Siddaramaiah-Jaishankar Twitter exchange, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, “On this issue Dr S Jaishankar’s response surprises me. He knows that public representatives frequently convey to Govt appeals from constituents in distress. He has helped me with several during Covid. Why was Siddaramaiah ji’s request ‘appalling’?”
Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country’s army and a paramilitary group for the last five days that has reportedly left around 100 people dead.
Meanwhile, government sources said on Wednesday said India is coordinating closely with various countries to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals in violence-hit Sudan.
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#Appalling #response #genuine #appeal #Cong #slams #Jaishankar #accusing #Siddaramaiah
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 19, 2023
Russian court dismisses jailed Wall Street Journal reporter’s appeal

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MOSCOW — A Moscow city court on Tuesday dismissed American journalist Evan Gershkovich’s appeal to be released from a high-security jail where he is being held on espionage charges.
Gershkovich’s defense team had requested that the Wall Street Journal correspondent be transferred to house arrest, another jail or released on bail.
Although the outcome of the appeal hearing was never really in doubt, it was significant as the first time Gershkovich has been seen in public since he was arrested last month in the Ural mountains’ city of Yekaterinburg.
Confined to a glass cage, as is customary for defendants facing criminal charges in Russia, Gershkovich seemed tense but composed. Ahead of the hearing he even flashed a couple of smiles at some of those colleagues and attendants he recognized, before the courtroom was emptied and the hearing began.
Espionage cases in Russia are veiled in secrecy and held behind closed doors.
A handful of journalists were allowed back into the courtroom for the judge’s verdict. Gershkovich, dressed in light jeans and a checkered shirt, looked downcast as he paced back and forth in his glass cage.
Russia’s Federal Security Service, the FSB, detained Gershkovich on March 29, accusing him of spying “for the American side.” A day later he was transferred to Moscow’s high-security Lefortovo prison, where he has remained largely in isolation barring a handful of meetings with his lawyers, state prison observers and, on Monday, a visit from the U.S. ambassador after more than two weeks of being denied consular access.
Speaking outside the courthouse on Tuesday, Ambassador Lynne Tracy told journalists that Gershkovich was “in good health and remains strong despite his circumstances.”

Gershkovich, who faces up to 20 years in jail, is the first foreign journalist to be arrested on espionage charges since the Cold War and his case sends a chilling signal to both Americans in Russia and the country’s foreign press corps.
Inside the courthouse, a man dressed in civilian clothes covertly filmed journalists who came to cover the case.
‘In fight mode’
Though details are sparse, the Kremlin has repeatedly claimed, without providing evidence, that Gershkovich was “caught red handed.”
Gershkovich’s employer, the Wall Street Journal, has dismissed the charges as bogus and the White House has classified him as “wrongfully detained,” implying Gershkovich was primarily targeted for being an American citizen.
Gershkovich’s supporters hope he will eventually be released as part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. But in the past, such deals have only taken place after a conviction, which in the journalist’s case is likely to take months if not years.
Outside the court, Gershkovich’s lawyer Tatiana Nozhkina said he was “in fight mode,” determined to prove his innocence and the right to free journalism.
In prison, she said, Gershkovich spent much of his time reading, watching television, including culinary programs, and trying to stay fit with exercise.
She added that Gershkovich, who is the son of Soviet emigrés to the U.S., told his mother jokingly in a letter that the prison’s porridge breakfast reminded him of his youth.
The next time Gershkovich could appear in court will be in late May, when a judge will have to decide whether to extend the term or his pre-trial detention.

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#Russian #court #dismisses #jailed #Wall #Street #Journal #reporters #appeal
( With inputs from : www.politico.eu )

April 17, 2023
S Africa to appeal judgement by UAE court on extradition of Gupta brothers

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Johannesburg: South Africa will appeal the decision by a court of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to decline the extradition of the Indian-origin Gupta brothers to be tried in the country for fraud and money laundering, said Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola.
Lamola made the remarks on Friday at a virtual media briefing on updates about the extradition of Rajesh and Atul Gupta, reports Xinhua news agency.
The brothers are also accused of influencing former President Jacob Zuma to appoint individuals to certain cabinet and government posts to facilitate corruption.

The extradition was denied by a UAE court on February 13, and South Africa was informed on April 5, according to the Minister.
“The reasons provided for denying our request are of a technical nature and fly in the face of the assurances given by Emirati authorities that our requests meet their requirements,” said Lamola.
“This approach is inconsistent with Article 17 of the UN Convention Against Corruption, to which both nations are a signatory. Article 17 places a clear requirement on state parties to obtain clarity on a specific matter before refusing an extradition request.”
The UAE court ruled that the arrest warrant relating to fraud was cancelled, Lamola said.
On the charge of money laundering, the UAE court ruled the crime in question was alleged to have been committed in the country and South Africa, and they have the jurisdiction to prosecute that, according to Lamola, who added that his government would appeal against the decision.

(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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#Africa #appeal #judgement #UAE #court #extradition #Gupta #brothers
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 8, 2023
Pence will not appeal ruling requiring him to testify to Jan. 6 grand jury

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Trump and Pence had both challenged the subpoena — but on entirely distinct grounds. Trump contended that his conversations with Pence in the weeks preceding the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol should be shielded by investigators because of executive privilege, which is intended to preserve the confidentiality of some presidential communications. Trump has lost a series of sealed executive privilege fights in recent months, failing to convince federal district and appellate judges to support his privilege assertions.
Pence, however, had argued that the subpoena for his testimony was problematic for a different reason: his role as president of the Senate. The Constitution, he argued, makes the vice president a hybrid creature of the executive and legislative branch. Pence’s role on Jan. 6 — to preside over Congress’ counting of electoral votes — fell squarely within his congressional duties, entitling him to the protection of the Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause, which protects lawmakers from criminal inquiries that pertain to their official responsibilities.
As a result, Pence’s attorney contended that Pence should be shielded from the special counsel’s subpoena for any testimony related to his Jan. 6 role. Though the precise contours of Boasberg’s ruling remain unknown, a person familiar with the decision indicated that it agreed with aspects of Pence’s argument.
Boasberg found — for the first time in American history — that vice presidents do enjoy some congressional immunity for their role as president of the Senate. Pence allies say Baosberg’s decision was narrower than they preferred — opening Pence up to questions about his legislative duties they had hoped would be shielded — but they have largely treated it as a victory on the principle Pence set out to defend.
“In the Court’s decision, that principle prevailed,” O’Malley said. “The Court’s landmark and historic ruling affirmed for the first time in history that the Speech or Debate Clause extends to the Vice President of the United States.”
Though Pence’s decision means he’s likely to testify, Trump may still opt to appeal Boasberg’s ruling that executive privilege does not block Pence’s testimony.
Pence has long signaled he was willing to testify to the grand jury about topics that weren’t shielded by privilege. Smith is likely to press Pence about Trump’s weeks-long bid to convince him to single-handedly derail the transfer of power by refusing to count Joe Biden’s electoral votes on Jan. 6. Pence’s refusal to do so drew Trump’s fury and caused a mob that had gathered outside the Capitol that day to hunt for the vice president.
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#Pence #appeal #ruling #requiring #testify #Jan #grand #jury
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

April 6, 2023
Dubai court rejects Sanjay Shah’s appeal in tax fraud case; to extradite him

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Dubai: The Dubai Court of Cassation has rejected the appeal of British-Indian Sanjay Shah, who is wanted by Danish authorities on charges of money laundering and committing tax fraud to the tune of $1.7 billion.
In doing so, it upheld the Dubai Court of Appeal’s ruling last year to grant Denmark’s request for his extradition.
“Chancellor Essam Issa Al Humaidan, Attorney General of Dubai, announced that Dubai Court of Cassation has rejected the appeal of Sanjay Shah, a British national wanted by Danish authorities, and Sanjay Shah can be extradited to Denmark over fraud and money laundering charges,” the Dubai government’s media office announced on Twitter.

Shah, 52, a hedge fund trader who lived on The Palm Jumeirah, was arrested by Dubai Police in June last year following Denmark’s extradition petition.
His fraud scheme involved submitting thousands of applications to the Danish Treasury on behalf of investors and companies from several countries around the world in order to receive dividend tax refunds, according to Dubai Police.
The Dubai Courts had initially rejected Denmark’s extradition request.
Attorney General Chancellor Essam Issa Al Humaidan appealed the decision in accordance with the Law of International Judicial Cooperation, and the Dubai Court of Cassation has now upheld the decision to extradite the suspect to Denmark, according to a statement.
Shah is accused of masterminding a scam, which ran for three years since 2012, has been described as one of the largest fraud cases in Denmark’s history.

His fraud scheme involved submitting thousands of applications to the Danish Treasury on behalf of investors and companies from several countries around the world in order to receive dividend tax refunds, according to a Dubai Police statement.
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#Dubai #court #rejects #Sanjay #Shahs #appeal #tax #fraud #case #extradite
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 4, 2023
BJP slams Rahul Gandhi for in-person appeal in Surat court

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New Delhi: After Rahul Gandhi, who was sentenced to two years in prison in a criminal defamation case, was granted bail extension by a sessions court in Surat on Monday, the BJP slammed the Congress leader for his in-person appeal in the court.
Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said, “Had he (Rahul Gandhi) gone there to display his arrogance or to put pressure on the judiciary or to threaten the investigating agencies?
“The way Rahul Gandhi turned the entire episode into a show is condemnable. He should have apologised to the OBC community first, but not doing so shows Congress’ arrogance. He could have gone there as a common leader in a simple manner, but he had all the other corrupt Congress leaders with him.”

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#BJP #slams #Rahul #Gandhi #inperson #appeal #Surat #court
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 4, 2023
Protect your Muslim brothers: CM Mamata appeal to Hindus as Hanuman Jayanti nears

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Khejuri: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked “Hindu brothers” to protect minorities and claimed that there are plans afoot for another round of violence in the state on Thursday when the nation celebrates Hanuman Jayanti.
She also claimed that political workers carrying arms and bombs are deliberately taking out Ram Navami processions in minority areas even five days after the festival is over to incite violence.
Banerjee’s comments came a day after clashes broke out between two groups of people during Ram Navami processions in Rishra and Serampore in the Hooghly district. These incidents followed another skirmish at Kazipara in Howrah on March 30, the day of the festival.

“I will entrust a responsibility to my Hindu brothers to see that minorities are not tortured on April 6 (Hanuman Jayanti),” Banerjee said while addressing a program here in Purba Medinipur district.
Banerjee’s appeal to Hindus is reminiscent of Bangladesh’s founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s “Rukhe Darao” (Stand up in protest)” call in 1964 when communal disturbances were sweeping the then East Pakistan.
The Trinamool Congress supremo also urged Hindus to give protection to the Scheduled Caste and Adivasi communities.
Lashing out at Banerjee, senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha asserted that the TMC chief is making these statements after her party’s loss in the Sagardighi by-election, in which, he claimed, both Hindus and Muslims turned away from her party.
“She is also providing a prior excuse so that if something goes wrong on April 6, she will be able to blame the BJP. This is a good ploy of Banerjee to cover up the wrongdoings of her party colleagues,” Sinha told PTI.

CPI(M) central committee member Dr Sujan Chakraborty said that if Banerjee had the information regarding probable violence on Hanuman Jayanti, she could have held meetings with the administration to tighten the security measures instead of touring Purba Medinipur district.
“She must meet the police to find out why these incidents took place and what could be done to tighten security measures,” Chakraborty said.
Since last week, West Bengal has been witnessing incidents of vandalism and clashes over the festival. “Why will the processions continue for five days after Ram Navami? Do it on the day of the festival. We have never had objections But they cannot do rallies with guns and bombs, or without necessary permissions from the police,” Banerjee said.
The Trinamool Congress supremo has been alleging that the BJP is behind the arson and clashes during Ramnavami proceedings. “They are deliberately entering minority areas to incite violence and create tension,” Banerjee claimed.
Referring to the upcoming panchayat election in the state, the dates of which are yet to be announced, Banerjee alleged that the BJP and the CPI(M) have an “unholy alliance” and they should get a befitting reply.
“Till the day I am alive, no one will be able to stop me from fighting for the people. I was with the people, I am with people and I will remain with people,” she said.
While terming the BJP-led central government as “the most corrupt”, Banerjee asserted that it has stopped the release of funds due to her government.
The chief minister is on a four-day trip to Purba Medinipore district from Monday. She is also scheduled to look into her party’s preparedness for the panchayat election.
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#Protect #Muslim #brothers #Mamata #appeal #Hindus #Hanuman #Jayanti #nears
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 3, 2023