![Shine Off Sonar Bangla](https://cdn.magzter.com/Outlook/1716878036/articles/ydTffHxDF1716891546668/SHINE-OFF-SONAR-BANGLA.jpg)
WHEN the Trinamool Congress (TMC) first came to power in West Bengal in 2011, says a hooch seller, he had to close down his business for a few months. It was not because Mamata Banerjee’s TMC was running any anti-alcoholism campaign. His illegal shop was located near the boundary of two police stations. The seller, a voter of the Chinsurah assembly segment within the Hooghly Lok Sabha seat in southern West Bengal, says that during the Left Front government rule, cops from only one police station used to reportedly ask for their “monthly payment”. But after the TMC came to power, he allegedly faced payment demands from not only the other police station, but also from three local TMC leaders.
He got arrested, allegedly for refusing to pay up. On being released, he resumed his business only after settling the “payments” of these people. He alleges that prices of hooch and marijuana—both illegal items—shot up during the beginning of the TMC rule as “protection money” to the police and politicians increased with time.
But it is not just these contraband items that became costlier. Land, real estate and local businesses, dealers in all these sectors allegedly had to account for a “cut” or “cuts” for the local TMC leaders and “syndicates”.
‘Syndicate’ refers to extortion rackets involving unemployed youth that force people—whether realtors building apartments or individuals building a home for their family—to procure construction material from them at unreasonable rates.
Bu hikaye Outlook dergisinin June 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Outlook dergisinin June 01, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
![The Rise Of 'Ravan'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1747009/S92CRzy5e1719483315657/crp_THE-RISE-OF-RAVAN.jpg)
The Rise Of 'Ravan'
Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’, ‘The son of Saharanpur’, is raring to bring a new brand of Dalit-Bahujan politics to Parliament
![Lost In The Rat Race](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1747009/yQJj0cNnT1719485452859/LOST-IN-THE-RAT-RACE.jpg)
Lost In The Rat Race
The NEET exam is mired in multiple controversies. Will this medical entrance exam fiasco discourage future aspirants?
![Unquiet Flows The Tawi](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1747009/D2SdMTF5z1719484932978/UNQUIET-FLOWS-THE-TAWI.jpg)
Unquiet Flows The Tawi
The recent attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district spotlights Jammu’s increased vulnerability to militancy
![Rebel With a Cause](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1747009/x69LoYols1719484847404/REBEL-WITH-A-CAUSE.jpg)
Rebel With a Cause
Congress rebel candidate Vishal Patil fights as an independent, defeats the BJP candidate and sitting MP by over one lakh votes and rejoins the Congress
![Winds of Change](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1747009/aBlTGEZqX1719484611586/WINDS-OF-CHANGE.jpg)
Winds of Change
Ethnic questions and local dynamics make the Bharatiya Janata Party lose ground in the Northeast
![The Giant Killer](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1747009/agaasAgQw1719484501016/THE-GIANT-KILLER.jpg)
The Giant Killer
The election campaign of Geniben Thakor, the lone Congress MP from Gujarat, was as impressive as her victory
![Chak De Change](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1747009/ABUTp_Ue_1719484341951/CHAK-DE-CHANGE.jpg)
Chak De Change
There is a new churning in Punjab politics and the Bharatiya Janata Party is diving in with an eye on the 2027 assembly election
![Minority Mantra](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1747009/n8KSjk5nQ1719484223459/MINORITY-MANTRA.jpg)
Minority Mantra
The elevation of George Kurian, long serving Party functionary, to the Union cabinet is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ongoing “Christian project” in Kerala
![Art of the Possible](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1747009/oi5xyy5HS1719484126421/ART-OF-THE-POSSIBLE.jpg)
Art of the Possible
Youngest Dalit MP Shambhavi Choudhary plans to focus on connectivity to schools, colleges and hospitals, women and jobs
![Red Revival](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1747009/9mcw3ZvmQ1719483946473/RED-REVIVAL.jpg)
Red Revival
On his way to the hallowed chamber of Parliament, OBC leader Sudama Prasad defeated a BJP stalwart in Arrah and ensured CPI-ML’s entry into Parliament after more than three decades