File Photo: Former Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee

Former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday led a protest against the ruling BJP in the State over alleged attacks on TMC leaders and workers, particularly on her nephew and the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Returning to street protests after the Trinamool Congress witnessed a massive defeat in the Assembly elections held in April, Banerjee staged a sit-in demonstration in Kolkata. The protest was organised in response to alleged attacks on party leaders, workers, and vandalisation of party offices across the State.

“We will continue to fight against the BJP. I will fight or die,” she said at the dharna site at Esplanade’s Y-channel in central Kolkata. The Trinamool Congress’s appeal to hold the protest at the adjacent Rani Rashmoni Road was turned down by the Kolkata Police.

“We were not given permission to set up a stage or use microphones,” Banerjee said, while addressing the crowd using a megaphone.

“We will move court if other parties are allowed to hold political programmes at the venue where we were denied permission to protest, or if they are allowed to hold meetings with microphones. Law cannot be imposed with discrimination,” she said.

The Trinamool chief lashed out at the State’s police forces for allegedly working at the behest of the BJP and helping the saffron party “break” the TMC by threatening the workers. “Some people are betraying us to break the Trinamool Congress,” she said.

“Very soon, all anti-BJP parties will meet in Delhi. Wait for a few days and we will soon announce our country-wide course of action,” Banerjee added, referring to the scheduled INDIA bloc meeting next week.

Notably, Abhishek Banerjee was attacked by a mob in Sonarpur in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district last Saturday while he was on his way to meet family members of a Trinamool Congress worker who was killed in alleged post-poll violence. Stones, eggs, and shoes were hurled at him as he made his way on a motorbike in a narrow approach road to the party worker’s home.

After meeting the family members of the deceased TMC worker, Abhishek pointed to the absence of the police during the incident and alleged that it was a “BJP-sponsored protest”.

Five persons were arrested on Sunday in connection with the attack. Investigators identified the accused after examining video footage of the incident.

Published on June 2, 2026

While soaring land prices have emerged as a key factor making apartments increasingly unaffordable in Bengaluru, developers argue that regulatory bottlenecks remain the bigger challenge. The debate comes amid growing discussions around housing affordability, including viral social media posts comparing how Indian professionals can buy homes in cities such as London or Dubai but struggle to do so in Bengaluru, or other Indian cities.

Industry executives say land inflation has significantly outpaced construction cost increases, pushing up project costs. However, they contend that delays in approvals, land-use conversions, registrations and other regulatory processes continue to be the primary constraint on housing supply and urban development.

“The larger challenge today is not construction capability or even land availability. Land is available at a price, but the biggest constraint continues to be approvals and transaction-related processes associated with land,” said Murali Malayappan, Chairman and Managing Director of Shriram Properties.

He pointed to multiple layers of approvals, including B Khata-to-A Khata conversions, land-use changes, registrations and other compliance requirements. “These delays impact not just developers and project timelines, but also the pace of urban development in Bengaluru,” he said.

Malayappan added that construction cost inflation has remained relatively modest compared with the sharp rise in land prices across Bengaluru over the past few years.

According to Sridhar Volesari, Vice President-Business Development at Concorde, between 25 per cent and 40 per cent of recent apartment price increases can be attributed directly or indirectly to higher land costs, with the balance coming from construction inflation, financing expenses, compliance costs, amenities and margin protection.

While approvals and construction remain important, Volesari said the bigger challenge is increasingly the availability of clean, contiguous and well-located land at prices that still allow developers to offer a viable end product. “The next phase of growth will depend on disciplined land acquisition, infrastructure delivery and realistic pricing,” he said.

Mayank Saksena, MD and CEO, Land Services at ANAROCK Group, said approval and regulatory expenses account for a significant share of project economics, often adding a mid-single-digit to low-teens percentage to overall development costs. The burden increases further when delays, holding costs, and compliance-related friction are factored in.
“Land attracts the most attention, but permission delays, conversion charges, stamp duty, registration fees, and compliance procedures all add up,” Saksena said. Combined, these costs can significantly increase the final ticket size paid by homebuyers.

As comparisons with overseas markets gain traction online, Saksena said affordability perceptions are often shaped by differences in mortgage structures, currency movements and product availability. “In cities such as London and Dubai, homes can appear more affordable because of these factors,” he said.

In Bengaluru, however, affordability is being squeezed by a combination of high land costs, statutory levies, slow approvals, financing expenses and limited supply in well-connected locations.

Developers agree that faster approvals could ease some of these pressures. Quicker clearances would reduce holding costs, improve project feasibility, and bring new supply to market faster. While that could help moderate price increases, industry players argue that meaningful improvements in affordability will require a broader combination of regulatory reforms, improved land availability and more efficient urban planning.

Published on June 2, 2026

Tobacco fields at Tanguturu in Prakasam district on Tuesday, February 17, 2026
| Photo Credit:
KOMMURI SRINIVAS

Karnataka Bank has entered into a partnership with the Tobacco Board to provide customised financial solutions to registered tobacco growers across Karnataka.

Under this initiative, Karnataka Bank will offer a dedicated suite of banking and credit facilities designed specifically to meet the financial requirements of tobacco farmers registered with the Tobacco Board. The initiative aims to facilitate timely access to credit, promote financial inclusion, and support the sustainable growth of the tobacco farming community.

Quoting Raghavendra S Bhat, Managing Director and CEO of Karnataka Bank, a media statement said: “At Karnataka Bank, we remain committed to empowering the farming community through innovative and need-based financial solutions. Our partnership with the Tobacco Board will help registered tobacco growers gain easier access to banking services and timely credit support, enabling them to improve productivity and strengthen their livelihoods.”

Enhancing financial access

Srinivasa BC, Director of Auctions, Tobacco Board, said: “This collaboration marks an important step towards enhancing financial access for registered tobacco growers. By combining institutional support with tailored banking solutions, we can help farmers meet their financial needs more effectively and contribute to the overall development of the sector.”

Karnataka Bank continues to strengthen its presence in the agricultural sector through focused initiatives and strategic partnerships that support farmers, promote financial inclusion, and contribute to inclusive rural development, the statement added.

Published on June 2, 2026