All posts tagged: polarisation

Polarisation to voter deletions: In Bengal fray, why SIR cloud hangs over key Muslim belts | Political Pulse News

Polarisation to voter deletions: In Bengal fray, why SIR cloud hangs over key Muslim belts | Political Pulse News

Published by Parlour News

With multiple CCTVs strung on lamp posts around it, the house stands out in a Jafrabad neighbourhood in the Samserganj Assembly constituency, with a West Bengal police camp set up nearby. It belongs to Harogobindo Das and his son Chandan Das, who were hacked to death by a mob on April 11 last year, when protests held against the Centre’s amended Waqf law had turned violent in the area. About 20 kms away, in Kasimnagar village in the Suti constituency, the family of Ejaz Ahmed – who was the third fatality in that April 11 violence in Murshidabad district – also continues to grapple with their grief. Ejaz was killed after police allegedly opened fire on protesters at Sajurmore crossing at the National Highway 12. With barely two weeks to go for the Bengal Assembly elections, Harogobindo’s wife Parul Das tells The Indian Express: “We have not accepted any compensation from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. But the BJP has helped us. We had demanded a permanent BSF camp in our area, which has yet to come up. There …

Ramesh Chennithala accuses Kerala Minister Saji Cherian of fomenting ‘communal polarisation’ ahead of Assembly polls

Ramesh Chennithala accuses Kerala Minister Saji Cherian of fomenting ‘communal polarisation’ ahead of Assembly polls

Published by Parlour News

Senior congress leader Ramesh Chennithala | Photo Credit: K K Mustafah Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Monday (January 19, 2026) accused Kerala’s Minister for Culture Saji Cherian of “trying to ignite communal polarisation by making provocative statements” aimed at reaping gains in the forthcoming Assembly elections. He was referring to the Minister’s statement in Alappuzha on Sunday stating that communal polarisation was evident in the recently local body polls as seen by the names of those who had won in the Malappuram district panchayat and Kasaragod municipality. Terming the statement “divisive”, Mr. Chennithala alleged that it was part of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) “agenda to divide society on the basis of caste and religion in order to make electoral gains.” He alleged that Mr. Cherian’s statement is “a repeat” of the controversial remark made by CPI(M) leader A. K. Balan claiming that the Jamaat-e-Islami would control the Home department if the United Democratic Front (UDF) is voted to power in the Assembly election. Mr. Chennithala alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had …

‘Vande Mataram’ row: Congress hits back at BJP, accuses it of ‘political polarisation’

‘Vande Mataram’ row: Congress hits back at BJP, accuses it of ‘political polarisation’

Published by Parlour News

The Maharashtra Congress on Friday accused the BJP of “misusing” the occasion of the 150th anniversary of national song ‘Vande Mataram‘ for “political polarisation” and “hypocritical nationalism”. The Congress refuted the BJP’s reported allegations that any of its party legislators had opposed the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’.( Arun Mondhe/ Hindustan Times) Composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, ‘Vande Mataram’ was first published in the literary journal ‘Bangadarshan’ on November 7, 1875. Later, he incorporated the hymn in his novel ‘Anandamath’ which was published in 1882. On 24 January 1950, India’s constituent assembly adopted it as a national song. The Congress refuted the BJP’s reported allegations that any of its party legislators had opposed the singing of ‘Vande Mataram‘, terming the BJP’s “campaign” against party MLAs Aslam Shaikh and Amin Patel as “false, shameful, and condemnable”. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said both Shaikh and Patel had clearly stated that they had no objection to the song, adding, “If BJP leaders wish to sing Vande Mataram, they are welcome to come inside our offices and sing, not outside …

BJP misusing ‘Vande Mataram’ anniversary for political polarisation, hypocritical nationalism: Congress

BJP misusing ‘Vande Mataram’ anniversary for political polarisation, hypocritical nationalism: Congress

Published by Parlour News

The Maharashtra Congress on Friday (November 7, 2025) accused the BJP of “misusing” the occasion of the 150th anniversary of national song ‘Vande Mataram’ for “political polarisation” and “hypocritical nationalism”. Composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, ‘Vande Mataram’ was first published in the literary journal ‘Bangadarshan’ on November 7, 1875. Later, he incorporated the hymn in his novel ‘Anandamath’, which was published in 1882. On 24 January 1950, India’s constituent assembly adopted it as a national song. The Congress refuted the BJP’s reported allegations that any of its party legislators had opposed the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’, terming the BJP’s “campaign” against party MLAs Aslam Shaikh and Amin Patel as “false, shameful, and condemnable”. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said both Mr. Shaikh and Mr. Patel had clearly stated that they had no objection to the song, adding, “If BJP leaders wish to sing Vande Mataram, they are welcome to come inside our offices and sing, not outside to create a spectacle.” Accusing the BJP of deliberately targeting Muslim legislators to stoke religious divisions, the Congress said, …

Aurangzeb, a polarisation gimmick – The Hindu

Aurangzeb, a polarisation gimmick – The Hindu

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Police personnel prepare iftar at Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra’s Khultabad. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Maharashtra has been embroiled in a controversy over the tomb of Aurangzeb, the 17th century Mughal ruler who was laid to rest in Khuldabad in Sambhajinagar district. The recent violence in Nagpur, the constituency of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and also of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, claimed one life and left dozens injured, including police personnel. Though the Nagpur Police Commissioner said that only a 800-metre stretch was affected by the violence, one third of the city continued to remain under strict curfew for days. The riots took place just a few days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur. After people on social media dared the Maharashtra government to use ‘bulldozer justice’ against the accused — in an oblique reference to a northern State under Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule — the State government on Monday razed parts of the illegal houses of two of the key accused in …

Govt.’s attempt at communal polarisation in Munambam will fail, says Satheesan

Govt.’s attempt at communal polarisation in Munambam will fail, says Satheesan

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Prof. K Aravindakshan, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, and Congress leaders during the Munambam solidarity meet organised by Ernakulam District Congress Committee in Kochi on December 7. | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan has said that the State government’s attempt at communal polarisation in the Munambam issue will not work. He was inaugurating a meeting organised by the Ernakulam District Congress Committee (DCC) in solidarity with the people of Munambam. “The Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M) had always tried communal polarisation in issues like Munambam. Just reminding the Chief Minister that this is 2024 and not 1984,” Mr. Satheesan said. “The dividend of the government’s attempt at communal polarisation will not accrue to it. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and cohorts know well who will benefit from it. Despite knowing that if an atmosphere is created for the growth of Sangh Parivar, then the people of Munambam in specific and the people of Kerala at large will give a fitting response,” he added. The Congress and the Opposition will not water down …

Ladki Bahin scheme, religious polarisation may have played role: Sharad Pawar

Ladki Bahin scheme, religious polarisation may have played role: Sharad Pawar

Published by Webster

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said that the Ladki Bahin scheme, women`s participation in voting in large numbers, and religious polarisation may have played a role in Mahayuti`s victory in Maharashtra assembly election 2024, reported the PTI. Sharad Pawar said that the Maharashtra election result 2024, declared on Saturday, are not on the expected lines but he would revitalise the party. Responding to a query on his retirement from active politics, Sharad Pawar tersely said he and his party colleagues will decide. Speaking to reporters in Karad city in Satara district, Sharad Pawar acknowledged that the NCP led by his nephew and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar secured more seats than the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), adding “Everyone knows who founded the NCP,” according to the PTI. “The Ladki Bahin scheme and religious polarisation played a role. Women`s participation in large numbers could be the reason for the Mahayuti sweep in Maharashtra. We will study the reasons for the debacle and take necessary steps,” he said. Sharad Pawar asserted that the …

Rahul slams Centre over job crisis, political polarisation in US | Latest News India

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A big push towards manufacturing is the only way to resolve India’s employment crisis and address political polarisation, leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi interacts with students at the University of Texas in Dallas on Monday. (ANI) Speaking to students and members of the Indian diaspora in Texas on Sunday, Gandhi also argued that the 2024 general elections ended the fear of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and reiterated his critique of the government over the alleged capture of institutions, alleged favouritism shown towards select business houses, and the administration’s ideological orientation. “The West has an employment problem. India has an employment problem. But many countries don’t have an employment problem. China certainly doesn’t have an employment problem. Vietnam doesn’t have an employment problem…The US was the centre of global production. It then went to Korea, Japan and eventually China,” Gandhi told students at the University of Texas in Dallas. He is on a three-day visit of the US. Gandhi said that …

Like Amar Singh Chamkila, Imtiaz Ali has made a career out of polarisation | Bollywood

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With Amar Singh Chamkila, Imtiaz Ali comes home. It may not be his best work yet, but it’s a fine balance between personal and political, conscious and subconscious, objective and subjective. It’s also the first time he goes deep into the pind – to tell a real, rooted story devoid of urbanisation to make it accessible. He’s Harry (Shah Rukh Khan) from Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017), who has visions of Punjab’s lush greens calling him home. Imtiaz Ali’s latest film is a biopic of Amar Singh Chamkila starring Diljit Dosanjh (Also Read – Chamkila review: Diljit Dosanjh delivers a delectable act in this melodious yet tragic musical biopic) Unlock exclusive access to the story of India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Like Chamkila, Like Imtiaz But what makes Chamkila a very personal story for Imtiaz is the parallel between the filmmaker and the late Punjabi singer. Both men, belonging to different eras and backgrounds, made their careers out of the act of polarisation. Both knew, consciously and subconsciously, what their …