West Bengal

The court also directed the state government to immediately process the compensation for the victims of the post-poll violence. The CBI will be investigating into the serious crimes like rape and murder. A separate division bench has been formed to monitor the CBI investigation. The Bengal government had hit back saying that the reports of violence were greatly exaggerated, with fake videos and images circulated to create incorrect narratives.

Rajib Banerjee, who switched from the Trinamool to join the BJP just before the Assembly polls, was cautioned twice for anti-party activities but that hardly made any effect. Before Banerjee can leave the saffron brigade, the party wants to expel him and accordingly, the details have been sent to the party high command in New Delhi. The members of the disciplinary committee are just waiting for the green signal.

"Recently, there has been a low-pressure formation resulting in high rainfall in West Bengal and Jharkhand. Nearly 2 lakh cusec of water was discharged from the Panchet, Maithon and Tenughat dams of DVC, leading to severe flooding of huge areas in Hooghly, Howrah, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Birbhum and Paschim Medinipur districts," the Chief Minister said.

The allegations were raised during a phone call with the Prime Minister on Wednesday. Besides taking stock of the situation on the ground, Modi also took stock of the damages caused by the floods in the state, and promised Banerjee that the Centre would assist the state in alleviating the flood situation.

In its final report submitted to the Calcutta High Court, the NHRC not only criticised the state for its 'indifference' towards the post-poll violence and 'apathy' towards the victims, but also alleged that the state machinery played an important role in the violence. "The situation in the state of West Bengal is a manifestation of 'law of ruler', instead of 'Rule of Law'," the report said.

There are altogether 8 standing committees in the West Bengal state legislature and usually the opposition MLAs are made the chairmen of those committees. On Tuesday all the 8 BJP MLAs who were nominated chairmen of these committees sent their resignations to the Speaker. The letter stated that following the party's instruction the MLAs were resigning from the standing committees.

"Though it is not yet clear which portion of the land would be sold or leased off, the process could start with 154 acres spread in three parcels in Durgapur. Two officers of the power department went to Durgapur on Wednesday and visited all three land parcels which could be put up for monetisation in the first phase," said a senior official of the state finance department.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said this while responding to questions on the new gubernatorial appointments and reshuffle. He said the only criteria before a Cabinet reshuffle, if Modi does, is to see their Twitter timeline. President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday appointed eight new governors giving them charge of administration of new states.

Dhankhar will start reading out the speech at 2 p.m. He has already objected to certain portions of the speech and wanted discussion with the Chief Minister regarding that. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on the other hand, had conveyed to the Governor that the speech has been approved by the cabinet and cannot be changed.

The plea said as a result of violence, loot, killings and terror, Hindus were forced to leave their villages en masse, similar to the mass exodus of Hindus from Kashmir in 1990. The petitioners also sought compensation for the victims. The plea alleged that thousands of citizens mostly Hindus were being targeted by Muslims as revenge for supporting the BJP. "