Dilip Ghosh (politician)
Dilip Ghosh | |
---|---|
National Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party | |
In office 2021 – 29 July 2023[1] | |
9th President of Bharatiya Janata Party, West Bengal | |
In office 2015–2021 | |
Preceded by | Rahul Sinha |
Succeeded by | Sukanta Majumdar |
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
Assumed office 23 May 2019 | |
Preceded by | Sandhya Roy |
Succeeded by | June Malia |
Constituency | Medinipur |
Member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly | |
In office 19 May 2016 – 23 May 2019 | |
Preceded by | Gyan Singh Sohanpal |
Succeeded by | Pradip Sarkar |
Constituency | Kharagpur Sadar |
Personal details | |
Born | Kuliana, Jhargram, West Bengal, India[2] | 1 August 1964
Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
Other political affiliations | Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh |
Residence(s) | North Avenue-Duplex, New Delhi, India Salt Lake, Kolkata |
Signature | |
Website | |
Nickname | Naru da[3] |
Dilip Ghosh (born 1 August 1964) is an Indian politician from West Bengal. He is the incumbent Member of Parliament representing the Medinipur constituency in Lok Sabha. He also served as one of the national vice presidents of Bharatiya Janata Party from 2021 to 2023.[1] He served as the 9th president of the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party.[4]
Early life and education
Ghosh was born in Kuliana village near Gopiballavpur of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal. He was the second of the four sons of Bholanath Ghosh and Puspalata Ghosh.
After completing his secondary schooling, Ghosh claims to have pursued diploma in engineering from a polytechnic college in Jhargram over an affidavit filed with the Election Commission of India, a case regarding the matter was filed in the Calcutta High Court but the court dismissed it on the grounds that public interest litigation can not be regarding a person's educational qualification.[5] The lone polytechnic institute in the region – Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Polytechnic maintains that Ghosh did not pass the diploma from the college between 1975 and 1990.[6][7][8]
Personal life
Ghosh comes from the economically backward areas of Jungle Mahals[9] and belongs to the Bengali Sadgop caste.[10] Ghosh is unmarried and has no children.[11]
Political career
Ghosh started his political journey as a volunteer or "Pracharak" of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1984. He was the in-charge of RSS in Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 1999 to 2007, and worked as an assistant to former RSS chief K. S. Sudarshan. In 2014, Ghosh was loaned into BJP[12] and was appointed as the General Secretary of the West Bengal unit. In 2015, Ghosh was appointed as West Bengal State President of the BJP.[13]
Ghosh made his electoral debut in 2016 contesting the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Kharagpur Sadar,He won in the Kharagpur Sadar constituency of Paschim Medinipur district by defeating his nearest rival Gyan Singh Sohanpal, an Indian National Congress candidate. Gyan Singh Sohanpal of Congress had won the Kharagpur Sadar assembly seat seven times in a row from 1982 to 2011.[14]
In September 2016, Ghosh went for a seven-day trip to the US, to highlight oppression of the Hindus in West Bengal and infiltration of Muslims from Bangladesh; other speakers in the programme were Subramanian Swamy and Hukum Singh.[15] He delivered the lecture to the greater Hindu Community in USA, New Jersey & New York. The program was organized by the US based Hindu Groups.[16]
2019 Indian General Election
Under his leadership, in 2019 Lok Sabha election in West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party, without any major political alliance, won 18 Lok Sabha seats out of the 42 constituencies in West Bengal with 40.25% votes.[17] Ghosh himself contested and won the Medinipur Lok Sabha constituency in the 2019 elections by a margin of 88,952 votes and a vote share of 48.62% by defeating Trinamool Congress candidate Manas Bhunia.[18]
He launched a political campaign Chai Pe Charcha where he spoke to people while sipping tea. He made a popular slogan Unishe Half, Ekushe Saaf before the general election.[19] He was attacked on one such campaign on August 30, 2019, in Kolkata's Lake Town area allegedly by Trinamool Congress workers.[20]
In August 2019, Ghosh accompanied Ram Nath Kovind to an official seven-day visit to the African countries of Benin, The Gambia and Guinea as a part of the official Indian delegation.[21]
In January 2020 Dilip Ghosh was re-appointed as West Bengal BJP president.[22] Soon after reappointment, he remarked that West Bengal has turned into hub of anti-nationals activities under the governance of Trinamool Congress.[23][24]
2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election
Dilip Ghosh was not contested from any MLA seat in the election however he attended and participated many election campaign, rally and political meetings for the BJP candidate from all over the West Bengal. After the election result he raised the incidents for post-poll violence occurred in different parts of West Bengal.[25]
Controversies
He drew criticism when he turned away an ambulance which tried to make way through a rally he was addressing in Nadia,[26][27][28] while the ambulance was actually carrying a patient.[29][30] and claimed that TMC are doing it purposely to disrupt the rally.
Statements
Dilip Ghosh has made many controversial comments in his several political rallies including name calling people,[31][32][33] call for violence like killing and mass murder of political opponents,[34][35][36] protestors[37][38][39][40] and to create trouble.[41][42]
In May 2016, he raised a controversy when he said girl students of Jadavpur University "below standard and shameless who are always in search of opportunity to be in the company of male students".[31][32][33] In one of his speeches he criticised "few intellectuals" for having beef on roads and asked them to consume 'dog meat' at their homes.[43][44] In August 2019, he out of anger due to too much suppression and violence on BJP workers by TMC told that the Trinamul Congress workers’ families would be wiped out if he starts killing them . Triggering controversy, he even ordered his party workers rather to take revenge against TMC and even the police through violence.[34][35][36] In September 2019, terming the students of Jadavpur University "anti-nationals" and "terrorists", he insinuated that his party would conduct a "Balakot-like surgical strike" on the JU campus to drive out the communists.[37][38][39][40] In November 2019, he stirred up a controversy with his remark stating that foreign cows are aunties, Indian cows produce gold. "The characteristics of Indian cows is that its milk has gold which is why its colour is yellow to some extent. "The Indian cows have hump. But the foreign cows do not have it," he said while addressing a gathering at an event Gopa Ashtami Karyakram organised by him and Gavikalyan Samity at Burdwan.[45][46][47] He also courted controversy when he said anti CAA intellectuals are 'devils' and 'parasites' who don't know about their parents.[48][49][50][51][52]
On January 30, while addressing a political rally, he commented "Unless you visit jail, you cannot be a political leader".[53][54] Ghosh made derogatory remarks about Goddess Durga, the most worshipped deity in Bengali Hindu society in an attempt to glorify Lord Rama, the most worshipped deity in North Indian Hindu society. He asked that as everyone knows the names of his ancestors of Lord Ram and does everyone know the same about Durga on February 13, 2021. TMC workers tonusured their heads to protest his statement.[55] He raised questions that why nobody was falling ill or dying at Shaheen Bagh protests, at an event organised by the Kolkata Press Club.[56][57] On February 16, 2020, he took a jibe on anti Citizenship Amendment Act protesters, and said "some uneducated, unaware, poor people have been lured with money and are being fed Biryani with foreign funds to continue with the protests."[58]
Dilip Ghosh, who is famous for his controversial remarks, made below-the-belt attacks on the incumbent Chief Minister during his election campaign in 2021. Ghosh asked Mamata Banerjee to wear 'Bermudas' in order to display her plastered leg.[59] He later defended his Bermuda remark.[60] He continued to make various other derogatory remarks about the CM during his rallies, questioning her character & lineage.[61][62][63][64] "The police have to work from under our feet," he said in a rally.[65] Ghosh made controversial remarks even about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.[66]
Lawsuit
In January 2020, when a lone woman carrying anti CAA poster was heckled by his partyman. Later while speaking to newsmen, Ghosh justified the heckling of the woman saying "Our men did the right thing. She should thank her stars that she was only heckled and nothing else was done to her".[67][68][69] Police later registered a sexual harassment case against Ghosh for his remarks.[70]
During the 2021 election campaign, Dilip Ghosh made provocative remarks while Model Code of Conduct was in force, which created grounds for violence.[71] After the election, Kolkata Police lodged FIR against him for promoting enmity.[72]
In March 2020, he claimed that, there is no harm in drinking cow urine and he has no qualms in admitting he consumes it. The claim that consumption of cow urine can cure coronavirus drew sharp criticism from the ruling Trinamool Congress.[73][74] In September 2020, Dilip Ghosh declared that the coronavirus pandemic had ended and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee imposed a lockdown on the state to prevent the BJP party from holding public meetings in a packed rally.[75] Ghosh was tested positive for COVID-19, and was admitted to a private hospital on October 16, 2020.[76] He was later discharged from the hospital on 20 October 2020 after recovering from COVID-19.[77]
Positions held
Elected offices
Year | Description | |
---|---|---|
May, 2019-incumbent | Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha (1st term) – Medinipur | |
24 July 2019 | Member, Committee on Estimates | |
13 September 2019 | Member, Standing Committee on Home Affairs | |
9 October 2019 | Member, Committee of Privileges | |
Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship | ||
2016–2019 | Member, West Bengal Legislative Assembly (1st term) – Kharagpur | |
2018–2019 |
|
Political offices
Year | Description | Organization |
---|---|---|
2020–2023 | President, West Bengal | BJP |
2015–2020 | ||
2014–2015 | General Secretary, West Bengal | |
1999–2007 | In-Charge, Andaman and Nicobar Islands | RSS |
References
- ^ a b "বিজেপিতে পদ খোয়ালেন দিলীপ! সরানো হল সর্বভারতীয় সহ সভাপতি দায়িত্ব থেকে". News18 Bengali (in Bengali). 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "Dilip Ghosh (ভারতীয় জনতা পার্টি (BJP))". myneta.info. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
- ^ Nath, Sujit (21 January 2020). "Poll Star: Firebrand Dilip Ghosh Has Ignited Hopes in Bengal BJP of 2021 Triumph". News18. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
The 55-year-old state unit chief, Dilip Ghosh, is now a key component of the party, largely due to his personality and oratorical skills, even if controversial at times.
- ^ "Dilip Ghosh appointed West Bengal BJP chief". The Hindu. PTI. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
—"Dilip Ghosh WB BJP president". Retrieved 11 December 2015.
—Banerjie, Monideepa; Sanyal, Anindita (16 January 2020). "Dilip Ghosh Re-Named Bengal BJP Chief Amid Row over "Like Dogs" Remark". NDTV.
—"Dilip Ghosh re-elected West Bengal BJP chief". The Hindu. 16 January 2020. - ^ "High Court Dismisses Case That Challenged Educational Qualifications of Dilip Ghosh". Eisamay Indiatimes (in Bengali). 18 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "RTI reply contradicts BJP Bengal president's education qualification claims". Hindustan Times. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2020.—Ali, Arshad (8 April 2017). "RTI reveals BJP Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh gave incorrect info about education in poll affidavit". DNA India. Retrieved 10 January 2020. —"Fake Educational Credentials: Ex-BJP leader moves HC against Dilip Ghosh". The Indian Express. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "RTI reply contradicts BJP Bengal president's education qualification claims". Hindustan Times. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ Ali, Arshad (8 April 2017). "RTI reveals BJP Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh gave incorrect info about education in poll affidavit". DNA India. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ Aniket Ghosh (23 July 2020). "Political Collapse Of Bengal's Upper Caste 'Bhadralok' Hegemony And BJP's Prize". Outlook magazine. Kolkata. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
The party's, state president Dilip Ghosh (a surname commonly used by members of both the Sadgope and the upper caste Kayastha community) hails from the western districts in the Jangalmahal region (dominated by OBC and ST voters) and is himself an OBC from the Sadgope caste. Such has been his mass appeal in these regions, and consequent rise in the party, that he has sidelined much of the previous upper caste Bhadralok leadership of the party.
- ^ Soumya Das (3 March 2020). "Amit Shah's 'son of soil' remark creates speculation on CM candidate within West Bengal BJP". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
BJP sources revealed that a section of state leaders close to Bengal party president Dilip Ghosh are trying to project him as the Chief Ministerial candidate, claiming that he is a "grassroots level leader" who has risen through party ranks from a humble background.
- ^ "বিয়ে করার ইচ্ছে নেই দিলীপ ঘোষের". Kolkata24x7. 10 August 2018. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ Andersen, Walter; Damle, Shridhar (17 August 2018). The RSS: A View to the Inside. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 149. ISBN 978-93-5305-159-4.
- ^ "BJP declares Dilip Ghosh as new WB state president". Anandabazar Patrika. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ^ "KHARAGPUR SADAR Election Result 2016, Winner, KHARAGPUR SADAR MLA, West Bengal". NDTV.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
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- ^ "Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh to deliver lecture in USA". Financial Express. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ Bagchi, Suvojit (23 May 2018). "Analysis: In West Bengal, Left's vote-reduction will benefit BJP but to what extent?". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- ^ "General Election 2019 – Election Commission of India". results.eci.gov.in. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- ^ —"'Unishe half, ekushe saaf': How BJP scripted its remarkable Bengal success story = The Indian Express". Online Edition. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ —"Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh attacked by mob in Kolkata's Lake Town". India Today. Kolkata. 30 August 2019.
Dilip Ghosh was also scheduled to attend a 'Chai Pe Charcha' meet in Lake Town. He was suddenly surrounded by a mob who allegedly attacked him. The BJP has claimed the men belonged to the TMC.
—"On CAA, Mamata Banerjee, Dilip Ghosh take cues from PM Modi's chai pe charcha". Hindustan Times. Kolkata. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
—"BJP State President Dilip Ghosh attends the 'Chai Pe Charcha' campaign in Malda". Siliguri Times. Malda. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020. - ^ "President Ram Nath Kovind departs for official seven-day visit to Africa; MoS Pratap Chandra Sarangi, MP Dilip Ghosh accompany". Firstpost. 28 July 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- ^ "Dilip Ghosh re-elected as West Bengal BJP president". Economics Times. 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Bengal turned into hub of anti-nationals under TMC regime: Dilip Ghosh". Times of India. 14 January 2020.
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- ^ "West Bengal post-poll violence: BJP's Dilip Ghosh says 37 party workers killed after election results". firstPost. 2 June 2021.
- ^ "Dilip Ghosh turns away ambulance during rally in West Bengal". Business Standard India. 8 January 2020.
- ^ "Dilip Ghosh turns away ambulance during rally in West Bengal".
- ^ "'Find Another Route': Bengal BJP Chief Dilip Ghosh Turns Away Ambulance as Rally Blocks Road | Watch". 8 January 2020.
- ^ "BJP MP Dilip Ghosh Under Fire for Turning Ambulance Away During Rally in Bengal". 8 January 2020.
- ^ "Defiant BJP Bengal chief blocks ambulance during rally, later says 'don't have faltu time' to discuss issue » Northeast Today". 8 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Jadavpur University girl students 'shameless', 'below standard': BJP leader Dilip Ghosh – Times of India". The Times of India. 15 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Dilip Ghosh remark on JU girls, Congress supporters demand apology". 16 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Jadavpur University women students are 'shameless': BJP's Dilip Ghosh". 16 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Dilip Ghosh threatens to kill TMC workers' kin". 28 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Bash up TMC workers, cops: BJP Bengal chief to party workers".
- ^ a b "Bengal BJP chief threatens TMC with 'mass murder'".
- ^ a b "Wait for surgical strike on Jadavpur University". p. BJP.
- ^ a b "Jadavpur University, a hub of anti-nationals, will be destroyed in a Balakot-like surgical strike: BJP's Dilip Ghosh". The Hindu. 20 September 2019.
- ^ a b "West Bengal BJP chief says surgical strike in JU will destroy groups that assaulted Babul Supriyo".
- ^ a b "'JU a Hub of Anti-national Activities, Our Cadres Will Conduct Surgical Strike to Destroy Them': Dilip Ghosh". 20 September 2019.
- ^ "'We allow people to create trouble': Bengal BJP leader sets up new controversy". 27 December 2019.
- ^ "'If TMC Creates Trouble, We Will Also Follow Suit': BJP's Dilip Ghosh Courts New Controversy".
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- ^ "Foreign cows are aunties, Indian cows produce gold: Dilip Ghosh". 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Gaumata's milk has gold, foreign cow breeds are aunties: BJP neta – Times of India". The Times of India. 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Bengal BJP chief calls foreign cows 'aunties', asks beef eaters to eat dog". The Week.
- ^ "Now, Dilip Ghosh Calls Anti-CAA Intellectuals 'Parasites Who Don't Know About Their Parents'". 18 January 2020.
- ^ "Parentage jibe from Dilip".
- ^ "Intellectuals at Citizenship Law Protests "Parasites": Bengal BJP Chief Dilip Ghosh".
- ^ "'Intellectuals opposing CAA are devils, parasites,' says Dilip Ghosh, day after being re-elected as West Bengal BJP chief". 18 January 2020.
- ^ "Now, Dilip Ghosh Calls Anti-CAA Intellectuals 'Parasites Who Don't Know About Their Parents'". 18 January 2020.
—"Parentage jibe from Dilip".
—"Intellectuals at Citizenship Law Protests "Parasites": Bengal BJP Chief Dilip Ghosh".
—"'Intellectuals opposing CAA are devils, parasites,' says Dilip Ghosh, day after being re-elected as West Bengal BJP chief". 18 January 2020. - ^ "Unless You Visit Jail, You Cannot be a Leader: Bengal BJP Chief Dilip Ghosh Tells Partymen". 30 January 2020.
- ^ ""Can't be a Leader Unless You Go to Jail": Dilip Ghosh to BJP Workers".
- ^ "TMC supporters tonsure their heads in protest against Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh's remark on 'Durga'".
- ^ "Why Has No Protester at Shaheen Bagh Fallen Ill or Died Until Now, Asks BJP MP Dilip Ghosh".
—""If 100 Died in Notes Ban Queues, Why Not Shaheen Bagh?": Shocker by BJP's Dilip Ghosh". - ^ "Why no Shaheen Bagh protester falling ill, wonders Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh". 28 January 2020.
"Why no Shaheen Bagh protester falling ill despite chilly winter: Dilip Ghosh". - ^ "Biryani, foreign funds driving the uneducated to CAA rallies: Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh". The Times of India. 16 February 2020.
—"Protesters at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, Kolkata's Park Circus 'uneducated' and 'poor', doing it for money, says Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh". 16 February 2020. - ^ "Dilip Ghosh asks Mamata Banerjee to wear 'bermudas', TMC's Mahua Moitra calls BJP 'perverted depraved monkeys'". Times Now.
- ^ "Dilip Ghosh defends bermuda remark, says Mamata showing legs in saree is inappropriate". Hindustan Times. 25 March 2021.
- ^ "Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh abuses CM Mamata Banerjee; questions her lineage". Times Now. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh abuses CM Mamata Banerjee; questions her lineage. TIMES NOW. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "'হারামির মতো কাজ করছেন', মুখ্যমন্ত্রীকে গালিগালাজ দিলীপের, তুলোধনা করলেন মিমি". Hindustan Times Bangla (in Bengali). 6 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
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- ^ "'পুলিশকে পায়ের তলায় চাকরি করতে হবে', বিতর্কিত মন্তব্য দিলীপের". Hindustan Times Bangla (in Bengali). 14 April 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "'নেতাজিকে নিয়ে রাজনীতি করবই, বাপের হিম্মত থাকলে আটকাক', ফের বিতর্কিত মন্তব্য দিলীপের". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). 24 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- ^ "'Should Thank Her Stars Nothing Else Done': Dilip Ghosh to Anti-CAA Protester Heckled by BJP Cadres". News18. 30 January 2020.
- ^ "State BJP president Dilip Ghosh attacks a lady in Patuli". 30 January 2020.
- ^ "Dilip Ghosh: BJP-র মিছিলে একলা তরুণীর CAA-প্রতিবাদ, 'ও কি শহিদ হতে চায়?' ফের বোমা দিলীপের - controversial comment of west bengal BJP president dilip ghosh about a lady who protested against caa-NPR during BJP's pro-caa abhinandan rally | Eisamay".
- ^ "Fresh trouble for BJP bengal chief: Sexual harassment case filed against Dilip Ghosh". 1 February 2020.
- ^ "Here's How BJP Bengal Unit President Dilip Ghosh Created Grounds For Post-Poll Violence". Outlook India. 5 May 2021. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Kolkata Police lodges FIR against Dilip, Mithun". The Times of India. 9 May 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ "I consume cow urine, people have done so for ages: BJP West Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh".
- ^ "Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh says no harm in drinking cow urine; party MP says time to shun 'unscientific beliefs". 18 March 2020.
- ^ Das, Madhuparna (11 September 2020). "Bengal BJP chief declares state Covid-free, says Mamata lockdowns only to stop BJP rallies".
- ^ "West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh tests positive for coronavirus". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ "Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh discharged from hospital after treatment for COVID-19". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
External links
- BJP Bengal | Bhartiya Janta Party
- BJP Bengal | Video Question and Answer Archived 7 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine on Oheyo Archived 10 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine
- Dilip Ghosh on Twitter