Kolkata, Aug 2: Following the instructions of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the Enforcement Branch and Kolkata Police raided various markets across the state, including Kolkata, on Sunday to keep vegetable prices under check after rates skyrocketed in the last few weeks.

Enforcement Branch officials raided Shyambazar, Kole Market, Garia Bazaar, and Jadu Babur Bazar in Kolkata. In addition, local officials visited various markets across the state and spoke to sellers and buyers to understand the market situation.

They asked the vegetable sellers about the prices they were selling. An official said, “A few of our teams have gone out. They are saying that the prices are the same in the different markets. But monitoring is being done to ensure that prices do not vary from one market to another.”

On the other hand, the police also checked the markets in several districts.

The Kolaghat block administration and Panshkura Purba MLA, Subrata Maity, made a surprise visit to vegetable markets and fertiliser shops in Deulia Bazar and Kolaghat areas of East Midnapore district.

The MLA inquired whether potatoes, onions and other vegetables were being sold at the correct price in shops. He also talked to the sellers. After that, the officials went to the local fruit markets and fertiliser shops. They inquired from the farmers whether the fertiliser was being charged at high rates.

The Enforcement Branch also raided the Kachari market in Baruipur of South 24 Parganas district. Officers from the Baruipur Police Station, Baruipur Municipality and Baruipur BDO office were present during the operation.

The operation was also conducted in Shantipur of Nadia district.

Traders and sellers said that the price of vegetables soared due to continuous rain in July and a shortage of supply.

However, there were allegations of price manipulation in the wholesale and retail markets. Papaya and pumpkin were not available below Rs 30. In some places, these are being sold at Rs 40 per kilogram. Brinjal was selling at over Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kilogram. Two days ago, the prices were even higher. Green chillies were being sold at Rs 200 per kilogram, while tomatoes were being sold at Rs 115 to Rs 120 per kilogram. However, many said prices generally increase during the monsoon season, and then come down as the season ends.

Bhopal, Aug 2: The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified its crackdown on illegal commercial activities operating from residential buildings across the city.

As of now, the civic body has issued 1,018 notices to such establishments, with the highest number—429—served in the Arera Colony and Bawadiya Kalan areas, officials said on Saturday.

Officials have made it clear that units failing to comply with regulations despite receiving notices will face sealing.

City Planner Anil Tatwade of the BMC said that the action is being carried out across the entire city.

“This action will take place across the whole of Bhopal. It has just begun from Arera Colony and will also be carried out in Rohit Nagar. Surveys are being conducted everywhere. Data is being collected from all locations wherein there are commercial properties, if they have permission for commercial properties or is it a residential area, whether they have changed the land use… Then action will be taken as per Supreme Court guidelines,” he told media.

To ensure smooth conduct of the operation and prevent any untoward incidents, around 100 police personnel were deployed alongside the Municipal Corporation’s anti-encroachment squad.

The police and municipal teams worked jointly throughout the drive.

Traders’ associations have appealed to hotels, restaurants, showrooms, and other business owners to keep their establishments closed until the next Supreme Court hearing scheduled for August 4.

However, municipal officials reported that some traders reopened their shops after the teams had left the area.

Municipal Corporation Deputy Commissioner Bhuvan Gupta clarified that the entire operation is being conducted strictly in accordance with Supreme Court directives.

He noted that all building owners had already been issued notices as per the rules.

Most traders voluntarily halted their business activities, while sealing action was taken against those who failed to comply.

The BMC has reiterated that the drive will continue city-wide, with surveys and data collection ongoing in various localities to identify unauthorised commercial use of residential properties.

Officials emphasised that strict action, including sealing of non-compliant establishments, will follow wherever violations persist.

The civic body aims to enforce land-use regulations uniformly and restore the residential character of affected neighbourhoods.

New Delhi, Aug 1: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for choosing to forgive students who had used abusive language against him during the recent protests, describing his response as an example of statesmanship and compassionate leadership.

Party leaders also contrasted his reaction with the Indira Gandhi-led government’s response to protests by political parties. The leaders said that while Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency, PM Modi had chosen guidance over retaliation.

The remarks came a day after Prime Minister Modi released a video message on his official Instagram account, saying he simply wanted to speak directly to the country’s youth.

Referring to the recent protests at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leaks, he said that some “mischievous youngsters” had used language that was unbecoming of any civilised society.

He noted that not only was he targeted, but his late mother was also subjected to deeply appalling abuse. Acknowledging the strong public reaction, the Prime Minister said mistakes are part of childhood and that childhood itself provides the opportunity to correct those mistakes.

The Prime Minister made it clear that he wished to forgive them and hoped society would accept this sentiment, adding that he held only one feeling in his heart.

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s message, BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo told media, “It is truly remarkable. Our Prime Minister has an extraordinary heart. No one becomes Narendra Modi just like that. At Jantar Mantar, a section of the youth used abusive language even against his mother. They used all kinds of derogatory and offensive words against him personally.

“Yet, the Prime Minister released his video message and said, ‘They are children. It is their immaturity. They should not have used such language, but they are our children.’ The way he appealed to them, asking them to leave the path of abuse and contribute to nation-building, is something that no statesman can do.”

Drawing a comparison with the political past, Shahdeo added, “Similar protests happened during Indira Gandhi’s tenure as the Prime Minister; however, she responded with the Emergency. On the other hand, our Prime Minister has forgiven the students and shown them the right path. We are proud of him.”

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain also praised the Prime Minister’s remarks, saying, “The Prime Minister yesterday spoke not just as the Prime Minister, but as a guardian of the country’s children. He acted like a statesman and showed a large heart despite the fact that even his late mother was abused during the protest. The Prime Minister has forgiven the students who used derogatory language. There should not be any politics in this.”

Bihar BJP President Sanjay Saraogi described the Prime Minister as a leader with an “exceptionally large and compassionate heart.”

“During the student protest, the entire country witnessed students using highly obscene and abusive language. It was made very clear that the remarks were not only directed at the Prime Minister but also at his late mother. The kind of obscene language used against the Prime Minister’s late mother was so offensive that it cannot even be repeated or heard in a civilised society. However, our Prime Minister has guided them to the right path and has forgiven them,” Saraogi told media.

Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Prime Minister’s response conveyed a larger message about leadership and public conduct.

“This is a lesson and a message for everyone. On one side, there is the sensitivity of PM Narendra Modi, and on the other side, there is the feudal arrogance of certain people. Wherever there is sensitivity on one side, there is also such arrogance on the other,” Naqvi said.

He further alleged that the Prime Minister has consistently been the target of what he termed an “abuse gang.”

“PM Modi has been a target of this ‘abuse gang’ from the very beginning. This ‘abuse gang’ has repeatedly tried to use the shoulders of different sections of society — sometimes youth, sometimes farmers, sometimes women, and sometimes students — as a tool, carrying what they call criminal conspiracies, in an attempt to tarnish the country’s image and reputation,” Naqvi claimed.