Kolkata

A massive showdown erupted in parliament on Monday after Rahul Gandhi tried to quote from former army chief Naravane's unpublished memoir claiming the government showed no political will against Chinese incursions in 2020.

In this news report, the focus is on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to poll-bound West Bengal, where he launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Addressing a public rally, Shah held the Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration responsible for the loss of 25 lives in the recent Anandapur incident, alleging that 'the illness completely lies on to the state government' and its casual approach to safety. He further accused the TMC of opposing Vande Mataram to cater to vote-bank politics. A significant highlight of his address was the pledge to completely seal the Indo-Bangladesh border fencing within 45 days, citing national security concerns and a Calcutta High Court directive regarding land procurement. The report details how the Home Minister framed illegal infiltration as a primary issue for the upcoming 2026 elections, while criticising the state's failure to learn from past tragedies in suburban Kolkata.

This report covers the tragic fire at a Wow Momo warehouse in Anandapur, Kolkata, which resulted in over 20 fatalities. Following the arrest of the godown owner, Gangadhar Das, two company officials—Manager Raj Chakraborty and Deputy Manager Manoranjan Sheeth—have been remanded to six-day police custody. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose inspected the site, stating, 'The law enforcement agencies, the owner of the warehouse, all are responsible in equal measure for the mishap that has taken place.' While the BJP has alleged negligence and fire safety violations, calling the incident a 'man-made tragedy,' TMC’s Kunal Ghosh described it as an 'unfortunate accident' and urged against politicising the probe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. The investigation continues as political tensions rise over alleged links between the warehouse owner and the state administration.

A devastating fire at a 'Wow Momo' warehouse in Kolkata's Anandpur area has claimed 21 lives, with rescue operations entering the fourth day. The anchor reports that 'the death toll in the devastating Kolkata warehouse fire has now climbed to 21' as cranes and gaff cutters remain deployed to clear debris. The incident, which began on January 26, has triggered a massive political confrontation in West Bengal. The Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has alleged grave negligence by the Trinamool Congress government, demanding a transparent probe and ₹50 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased. An unidentified speaker criticised the state administration, alleging that the government is 'not working' and announced a major protest rally. Both the BJP and Congress have targeted the Chief Minister over alleged apathy and the lack of accountability regarding safety standards at the warehouse complex where workers were reportedly sleeping when the blaze broke out.

The death toll from the devastating fire at a Wow Momo warehouse in Kolkata's Anandpur has risen to 21. Rescue operations have entered the fourth day, with cranes and gas cutters deployed to navigate the debris while families search for missing persons. The incident, which occurred on January 26, has triggered a significant political confrontation in West Bengal. The Leader of Opposition has accused the Trinamool Congress of negligence, demanding a transparent probe and Rs 50 lakh ex-gratia for the victims' families. An unidentified speaker noted, 'The true picture why this happened, it will come to the forefront because all the media is with us,' while criticizing the imposition of restrictions on opposition leaders visiting the site. The Congress has also targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over alleged apathy. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress maintains the blaze was an accident, even as questions regarding safety protocols and responsibility continue to mount.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the Bangladesh cricket team's decision to boycott the upcoming T20 World Cup in India. The decision follows the International Cricket Council's (ICC) rejection of a plea to shift Bangladesh's matches to Sri Lanka, a proposal that was defeated 14-2 in a board vote. The speaker notes, 'The Bangladesh interim government had a chance to put cricket ahead of their shallow ego and politics but the latter eclipsed better sense and logic.' Bangladesh cited security concerns for its players and fans as the primary reason for the boycott, claiming a lack of fresh assurances from the BCCI or the Indian government. Consequently, Scotland, the highest-ranked non-qualified team, will replace Bangladesh in the tournament starting 7th February. The report highlights that this is the first time a team has boycotted an entire ICC tournament, leaving Bangladesh cricket in a precarious position following tensions linked to the release of Mustafizur Rehman from the Kolkata Knight Riders.

This special report details the unprecedented decision by the Bangladesh interim government to boycott the T20 World Cup in India. The speaker notes, 'Bangladesh has clearly chosen politics over cricket at this point of time, boycotting the T20 World Cup despite the ICC security assurances.' The fallout of this decision is immediate, with Scotland set to replace Bangladesh as the highest-ranked non-qualified team. The report highlights that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) lost an ICC board vote 14-2 regarding a venue change, with only Pakistan supporting them. Tensions reportedly escalated after the BCCI requested Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman. Despite the ICC providing security guarantees, the interim government cited 'genuine security risks' and a preference for the tournament to be moved to Sri Lanka. This marks the first time a team has boycotted an entire ICC tournament, leaving the future of Bangladesh cricket in a precarious position as the global tournament faces significant controversy.

On this Special Report, the focus is on India marking 77 years as a republic with a grand display of 'strength, strategy and spirit on display' during the celebrations. This year’s event marks the first Republic Day following 'Operation Sindoor', featuring a new battle array and the 'Sindhu flypast'. The European Union leadership attended as the chief guest, highlighting the 'mother of all trade deals' currently in focus as S. Jaishankar meets the EU top brass. The Padma Awards 2026 were also announced, with the late Dharmendra being honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, while Rohit Sharma and R. Madhavan received the Padma Shri. In a historic moment, Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian astronaut to receive the Ashok Chakra for a 'daring space mission'. The bulletin also covers security concerns, including the seizure of 10,000 kg of ammonium nitrate in Rajasthan and political clashes between TMC and BJP workers in Kolkata over the use of loudspeakers.

On this report, India Today’s Anupam Mishra provides details on a violent clash between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in the Sakhir Bazaar area of Behala, Kolkata. The conflict reportedly began over the use of loudspeakers during simultaneous programmes held by both parties. Anupam Mishra stated, 'TMC workers, they came to the stage of the BJP which was there and the program was almost finished and then they set fire to the stage'. The BJP alleged that TMC supporters obstructed their meeting with loud music and flags, leading to retaliatory vandalism of an event organised by TMC councillor Sudeep Kohli. In response, the BJP's meeting stage was set ablaze. Police personnel were deployed to the area to douse the fire and restore order. The incident highlights rising political tensions in West Bengal ahead of the elections, as both parties accuse each other of provocation and violence in the state capital.

On this Special Report, correspondent Amit Bhardwaj details the significant fallout of the IndiGo crisis following a Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) curtailment order. Amit Bhardwaj notes that '10% of the curtailment will now translate into 717 slots of IndiGo being freed' between January and March. This regulatory action follows the 'December mayhem' at airports, leading to financial implications and the redistribution of flight operations to other carriers like Air India, Akasa, and SpiceJet. The report highlights that 59 slots in Delhi, 12 in Mumbai, and 51 in Kolkata are among those affected. While IndiGo currently operates approximately 2,200 flights, the ministry is ensuring that destinations where IndiGo is the sole operator remain unaffected to maintain connectivity. The redistribution process to private airline operators has already commenced according to top sources in the ministry.

The big talking point of this episode of India First is Bangladesh's decision to boycott the T20 World Cup in India over security concerns.

On this news bulletin, sports analyst Vikram Sathaye discusses the escalating tension between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC). Addressing the host Gaurav, Vikram confirms that the window for Bangladesh to play in Sri Lanka has effectively closed, stating, 'The ship has sailed, Gaurav. In fact, yesterday, when the ICC voted 14-2 in favour of retaining the original schedule, it meant that Bangladesh's demand wasn't met.' The discussion highlights the BCB Chairman Aminul Islam's reaction to a 24-hour ultimatum provided by the ICC and the internal conflict regarding government involvement in the decision-making process. Vikram points out the contradiction in Islam's statements, noting that while the Chairman initially requested time to consult the government, he later questioned the ICC's authority to issue an ultimatum. The segment also touches upon the safety concerns and national prestige associated with the team, particularly following Mustafizur's exclusion from the Kolkata Knight Riders.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the upcoming visit of Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Rahul Naveen to Kolkata. The Director is scheduled to meet with ED officials from the West Bengal zone, marking his first visit to the state following recent raids in the AIPAC case. The visit aims to 'boost the morale of the officials' and ensure they can 'work properly' despite recent tensions and past attacks on central agency teams in the region. The programme highlights that Naveen may also meet with the Governor of West Bengal amidst escalating friction between the state administration and the federal probe agency. The discussion explores the significance of this high-level visit in the context of ongoing investigations and the security challenges faced by ED and CBI officials in West Bengal over the past few years.

On this Special Report, host Gaurav Sawant examines the escalating tension between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The discussion centers on Bangladesh's hesitation to play World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns following the return of player Mustafizur Rahman. Gaurav Sawant notes, 'So the ICC has read the riot act to Bangladesh,' highlighting the ultimatum that the team must either participate or be replaced by Scotland. The panel, featuring sports editors Vikrant Gupta and Nikhil Naaz, explores whether these concerns are genuine or politically motivated by Bangladesh's interim government. Major Mohammad Ashraful Zaman defends the BCB's stance as a 'genuine concern' rather than politics, while other analysts suggest a potential 'logjam' that could split the cricketing world. The programme delves into the diplomatic friction and the potential long-term impact on bilateral cricket relations between India and Bangladesh.

In this special report, Aneesha Mathur leads a discussion on the legal standoff between the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) at the Calcutta High Court. The central agency has alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is in 'illegal possession of the material' seized during raids and should be made a party to the case. The ED, represented by ASG SV Raju, argues that the state government is interfering with its investigation into the coal scam. Conversely, the TMC alleges that the raids are a 'facade' intended to 'steal sensitive political data' ahead of elections, violating their fundamental right to privacy. The programme explores the procedural challenges raised by the ED regarding the maintainability of the TMC's petition and the political ramifications of this legal battle. Justice Suvra Ghosh is presiding over the matter as both sides clash over allegations of political vendetta and procedural illegalities.

In a significant address at Nagaon, Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched several railway projects, including the Vande Bharat sleeper train connecting Guwahati to Kolkata and two Amrit Bharat Express trains. He emphasized that these projects would integrate the North East with the rest of India, stating, 'Connectivity expansion creates confidence that the North East is no longer on the margins of development.' The Prime Minister launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing them of compromising Assam's identity and security by allowing illegal infiltration for political gains. He highlighted the BJP government's efforts to reclaim forests and cultural sites from illegal occupation. Modi warned that infiltrators are disrupting demographic balance and threatening the livelihoods of local youth and tribals. He concluded by asserting that the progress of Assam is pivotal for the development of the entire North East and India, urging the people to remain vigilant against the policies of the opposition.

On this Special Report, the focus is on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-decibel election campaign in West Bengal. During his visit to Singur in Hooghly, the Prime Minister is set to launch development projects worth over 830 crore rupees, including the foundation stone for the extended port gate system at Balagar and flagging off three Amrit Bharat Express trains. Addressing the political climate, the Prime Minister launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, alleging that 'large-scale infiltration altered the state's demography' and triggered riots under state patronage. The TMC has countered these claims, labeling the Prime Minister a 'political tourist' and accusing him of spinning fantasies. The visit coincides with ongoing Enforcement Directorate probes and IPAC raids in the state, further escalating the political tension between the BJP and the Mamata Banerjee-led government ahead of the upcoming polls.

On this Special Report, former politician Jawhar Sircar provides a ringside view of the escalating political tension in West Bengal following Enforcement Directorate raids on the IPAC office. Sircar observes that 'IPAC has become the eyes and ears of the Trinamool Congress,' acting as a secondary feedback system and data-gathering arm for the party. The program details the legal battle in the Supreme Court, which stayed an FIR against the ED after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was accused of removing seized documents and electronic devices during the raids. The report also covers the TMC's protest marches in Kolkata and Delhi against alleged 'vendetta politics' by the Centre. Furthermore, it explores Mamata Banerjee's recent temple-building initiatives, including the Mahakaal temple in Siliguri, as a counter to allegations of minority appeasement. The discussion highlights the shifting dynamics between the TMC and BJP as the state prepares for a high-stakes electoral battle amidst controversies over the Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls.

On this special India Today report, former politician Jawhar Sircar provides a ringside view of the escalating political tension in West Bengal following Enforcement Directorate raids on the I-PAC office. Sircar observes that I-PAC has become the eyes and ears of the Trinamool Congress, acting as a secondary feedback system and data-gathering arm for the party.

Former parliamentarian and BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta joins the UnPolitics podcast to discuss his ideological journey and the political landscape of West Bengal. Dasgupta reflects on his transition from university-level Leftism to Hindu nationalism, a shift solidified during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.