Mamata Banerjee and Nitin Nabin (R)

NEW DELHI: The BJP and TMC on Wednesday traded sharp barbs in West Bengal as the assembly elections draw near, turning the political battlefield increasingly charged. New BJP chief Nitin Nabin accused the Mamata government of double standards, alleging that Hindus must seek permission to set up puja pandals, while Muslims are allowed to offer namaz. Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking at a rally in North Bengal, called the BJP “anti-Bengali.”Nabin claimed that citizens are forced to approach the high court to set up puja pandals. After offering prayers at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in North 24 Parganas, he described the alleged disparity between permissions for Durga Puja and other religious activities as “unfortunate.”Speaking to reporters, Nitin Nabin said, “I received blessings here in Maa’s darbar. I also prayed before Maa Kali because in this state, one has to seek permission from the high court to set up puja pandal while permission is given for offering namaz. This is unfortunate. We have sought Maa’s blessings to make the state ‘Sonar Bangla’ and Viksit Bengal.”Nitin Nabin’s visit to the historic Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata marked the second day of his organisational tour in West Bengal, aimed at reviewing the BJP’s preparedness for the upcoming assembly elections.Meanwhile, TMC supremo and CM Mamata hit back during her poll rally. She said, “There are serious concerns that genuine voters’ names have been deleted from the electoral rolls. This raises questions about the fairness and transparency of the election process. At the same time, questions are being raised about identity and citizenship, who is being recognised as a legitimate Indian voter and on what basis? The BJP has been asked to respond to this.“Addressing her rally in Maynaguri, she further charged, “BJP [is an] anti-Bengali party, beating up Bengalis in other states.” She also warned, “Today they are snatching voting rights, tomorrow they will snatch citizenship through NRC.”On the same occasion, Mamata advised, “Would ask our candidates to take lawyers with them to file nomination as many nominations [have been] cancelled in Assam,” PTI reported.

NEW DELHI: India is facing a growing obesity burden, with one in four Indians overweight, yet the condition continues to be misunderstood as a lifestyle issue rather than a disease, experts said at a recent panel discussion following World Obesity Day, led by ICMR and AIIMS.Experts said that despite rising awareness, most people do not seek treatment, and even those who attempt weight loss struggle to sustain it. “We lack effective long-term interventions, and behaviour change remains difficult,” said Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General, ICMR, pointing to wider societal and environmental barriers.He noted that unhealthy foods are often cheaper and more accessible, while healthier options remain harder to adopt.The panel brought together Dr Bahl; Dr Anoop Misra, Director, National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation; Dr Naval Vikram, Professor, Department of Medicine, AIIMS; and Dr Vandana Jain, Professor, Pediatric Endocrinology, AIIMS.Dr Kamini Walia, Scientist and Head, Descriptive Research Division, ICMR, said obesity should be understood as a multifactorial disease driven by genetic, metabolic, environmental and social factors, and not reduced to individual blame.Clinicians said the problem is rooted in everyday life. Dr Naval Vikram said obesity is a chronic disease requiring long-term management, influenced by diet, physical activity, psychological and environmental factors.The panel underlined that obesity often begins early. Dr Vandana Jain said childhood habits, family food choices and activity patterns play a key role, stressing the need for healthier home environments.Dr Anoop Misra pointed out that Indians develop metabolic complications at lower body weight levels, making early identification critical. He added that newer anti-obesity drugs are not a population-level solution and must be used selectively along with lifestyle changes.Experts also flagged gaps in policy and implementation, saying improving access to healthy food and creating spaces for physical activity remain key challenges.They also highlighted emerging research areas, including gut microbiome, early-life nutrition and maternal health, which may shape obesity risk from early stages of life.A key concern remains stigma, which discourages people from seeking care. Experts said recognising obesity as a disease could shift focus towards long-term management and prevention.

NEW DELHI: India may be making progress against tuberculosis, but the scale of the challenge remains stark—accounting for nearly a quarter of the world’s TB cases even as millions of infections continue to go undetected.Tuberculosis continues to be India’s biggest infectious disease challenge, according to the Tuberculosis Fact Sheet 2026 released by the Centre. India contributes about 25% of the global TB burden, with five countries together accounting for over half of all cases worldwide.At the World TB Day 2026 national launch event in Greater Noida, Union health minister J P Nadda said India is on track to eliminate TB ahead of global targets, driven by a “jan bhagidari” approach under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership. He cited a 21% decline in TB incidence and a 25% reduction in deaths between 2015 and 2024, with treatment coverage now at 92%.Recent data supports this trend. Treatment success rates have improved to around 90%, while over 26 lakh cases were notified in 2024, the highest ever, reflecting stronger detection efforts.A major push has come from the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, which has focused on identifying hidden and high-risk cases. More than 20 crore people have been screened, leading to the detection of over 32 lakh TB patients, including a large number of asymptomatic cases. Nadda said intensified case-finding has reduced undetected cases from over 10 lakh to under one lakh.He also announced a 100-day intensified campaign covering 1.58 lakh villages and urban wards, along with the launch of an AI-enabled TB Mukt Bharat app to improve access to care and treatment tracking.The factsheet highlights that TB remains closely linked to poverty, malnutrition and living conditions, with economically vulnerable populations at higher risk. People with diabetes, HIV, smokers, alcohol users and those living in crowded settings are particularly susceptible. At the same time, drug-resistant TB remains a concern, with over 55,000 cases reported in 2024, requiring longer and more complex treatment.Despite progress, gaps remain. Nearly 64% of people with TB symptoms do not seek care due to stigma, lack of awareness or affordability issues, leading to delayed diagnosis and continued transmission.To address this, the government has combined community outreach with technology. Initiatives like the Ni-kshay Mitra programme have mobilised volunteers to provide nutritional and social support, while digital tools such as the TB Mukt Bharat app are helping streamline care.Emphasising increased funding and indigenous innovations like TrueNat, Nadda said TB is both preventable and curable, stressing the need to reduce stigma and ensure early diagnosis and treatment.Health officials underline that TB symptoms go beyond a persistent cough and can include fever, weight loss, fatigue, chest pain and night sweats, making early testing critical.