3 weeks ago
Bengal BJP Chief Warns Action Over Name Misuse For Extortion
Samik Bhattacharya is a leader of a political party in India called the BJP.
He is the party's chief in a state called West Bengal.
Recently, he found out that someone was using his name to ask people for money.
That is called extortion.
He said the party's name was being misused and warned that strict action would be taken.
The phone calls were traced to other parts of the state, and the person was arrested.
The party has suspended 25 workers and asked 300 more to explain their cases.
Leaders from another party, called Trinamool, say the BJP is not handling the problem well.
They said they would give the government a list of BJP leaders involved in such cases.
Mr. Bhattacharya promised that anyone who sees extortion should come to him directly.
BJP West Bengal chief Samik Bhattacharya said his name and photograph were used on a SIM card to demand money in New Town near Kolkata.
Bhattacharya said the calls were traced to Jalpaiguri and Siliguri and the accused was arrested from the Salkia area of Howrah seven days later.
He asserted no BJP worker is involved in such activity and promised strict action, saying anyone encountering extortion can approach him directly.
The BJP has suspended 25 workers and show-caused 300 more over alleged involvement in extortion charges since coming to power.
Trinamool leaders Ritabrata Banerjee and Kunal Ghosh criticized the BJP, with Banerjee saying he will submit a list of BJP leaders allegedly involved in extortion to the state administration.
- Who
- Samik Bhattacharya, chief of the BJP in West Bengal, and Trinamool leaders Ritabrata Banerjee and Kunal Ghosh.
- What
- Bhattacharya warned of strict action against extortionists misusing the party's name, including one case where his own name was used to demand money.
- Where
- New Town near Kolkata, with calls traced to Jalpaiguri and Siliguri; the accused was arrested in the Salkia area of Howrah.
- When
- Bhattacharya spoke at a business forum yesterday; the party has been in power for three months (Kunal Ghosh said two months).
- Why
- To combat charges of corruption and extortion at local levels that have surfaced since the BJP came to power in West Bengal.
BJP's Position
Trinamool's Position
Who is responsible for the extortion
BJP's Position
Bhattacharya asserted no BJP worker is involved and claimed most of those allegedly involved were Trinamool workers who joined the BJP after its recent victory.
Trinamool's Position
Trinamool leaders said the BJP is struggling to contain extortion within the party, with Kunal Ghosh citing leaders from Bhattacharya to Jitendra Tiwari warning workers.
Adequacy of the BJP's response
BJP's Position
The party is taking damage-control action, suspending 25 workers, show-causing 300 more, and promising strict action, including direct access to the state BJP chief for victims.
Trinamool's Position
Ritabrata Banerjee said it is the party's duty to act and will submit a list of BJP leaders allegedly involved in extortion to the state administration, implying stronger action is needed.
Key facts
- Party
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), West Bengal
- Extortion location
- New Town near Kolkata
- Call trace locations
- Jalpaiguri and Siliguri
- Arrest location
- Salkia area, Howrah
- Workers suspended
- 25
- Workers show-caused
- 300
- Time in power
- Article says 'three months'; Trinamool's Kunal Ghosh says 'two months'
- Contradiction noted
- Article refers to Suvendu Adhikari as 'Chief Minister', while Ritabrata Banerjee is described as Leader of the Opposition
Quotes
Samik Bhattacharya
West Bengal BJP chief
“When I asked the phone number, I saw my name and photograph on it. The SIM card had been issued in my name.”
NDTV
“If you come across an extortion case, please directly come to me.”
NDTV
Sources
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