ECI trying to implement NRC through backdoor: Mamata

PTI, DIGHA, JUNE 26, 2025 : Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday lashed out at the Election Commission of India (ECI) for isolating voters born between July 1987 and December 2004 and seeking documentary evidence of their citizenship in the name of 'special intensive revision of electoral rolls'. Alleging that the ECI was "acting like a stooge of the BJP", Mamata asked whether the move was a backdoor attempt to implement the NRC.

Addressing reporters in the coastal town of Digha in Purba Medinipur district, where the Chief Minister is currently stationed to oversee preparations and participate in Friday's Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath from the newly inaugurated Jagannath temple, Banerjee said she called the press conference in a hurry to address the issue which was a "matter of utmost concern".

"I have received two letters from the ECI, each comprising 25–30 pages. I haven't been able to go through them in detail so far. But from what I have understood from a cursory glance, the Commission is now seeking a declaration form from voters born between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004, which is Annexure D in one of the letters, where they will have to submit birth certificates of both parents as proof of citizenship," the Chief Minister said.

"I don't understand the reason behind the ECI move or the rationale behind selecting these dates. This is nothing short of a scam. I seek clarification from the Commission on whether they are trying to implement the NRC through backdoors. In fact, this looks to be more dangerous than the NRC which every political party in Opposition must resist," she said.

Mamata revealed that the letters were sent to the Bihar government, and a copy was forwarded to her as well. "Nothing will happen in Bihar because the BJP rules that state and the state elections there are at the doorstep. Their real target is Bengal. They want to delete the names of valid young voters. Many parents will not be able to furnish their birth certificates. They are targeting the migrant worker community of Bengal, students, villagers and uneducated voters," she alleged. The Assembly elections in Bihar are due later this year. Mamata accused the ECI of acting according to the wishes of the BJP and challenged its authority in making such rules. (PTI)

DUBAI, JUNE 26 /--/ Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday his country had delivered a "slap to America's face" with its strike on an American base in Qatar and warned against any further US attacks in his first public comments since a ceasefire was declared with Israel after 12 days of war.

Khamenei spoke in a recorded video broadcast on Iranian state television, his first appearance since June 19. The 86-year-old looked and sounded more tired than he did only a week ago, speaking in a hoarse voice and occasionally stumbling over his words.

The more-than-10-minute speech by the Supreme Leader was filled with warnings and threats directed toward the United States and Israel.

He downplayed Sunday's US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites using bunker-buster bombs and cruise missiles, saying that US President Donald Trump – who said the attack "completely and fully obliterated Iran's nuclear program" – had "exaggerated" its impact. "They could not achieve anything significant," he said.

However, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency Director Rafael Grossi, reiterated on Thursday that the damage done by Israeli and US strikes at Iranian nuclear facilities "is very, very, very considerable."

"I think annihilated is too much but it suffered enormous damage," Grossi told French broadcaster RFI.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, on Wednesday also conceded that "our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure."

Khamenei has not been seen in public since taking shelter in a secret location after the outbreak of the war June 13 when Israel attacked Iranian nuclear facilities and targeted top military commanders and scientists. Following Sunday's US attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, Trump was able to help negotiate a ceasefire that came into effect on Tuesday.

Khamenei claimed the US had only intervened in the war because "it felt that if it did not intervene, the Zionist regime would be utterly destroyed."

"It entered the war to save them, yet it gained nothing," he said. He said his country's attack on the US base in Qatar on Monday was significant, since it shows Iran "has access to important US centres in the region and can act against them whenever it deems necessary."

"The Islamic Republic was victorious and, in retaliation, delivered a hand slap to America's face," he said, adding: "This action can be repeated in the future."