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India news: Mamata Banerjee to go ahead with Kolkata protest

Shakeel Sobhan AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa
Published June 2, 2026last updated June 2, 2026

Mamata Banerjee said she would proceed with a sit-in protest in Kolkata, amid escalating tensions within the TMC. DW has more.

https://p.dw.com/p/5EhOm
Mamata Banerjee leaves her residence in Kolkata
Banerjee said the common people and small traders are living in fear under the new BJP government [FILE: May 4, 2026]Image: ANI/IMAGO
Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

  • Mamata Banerjee said that she is going ahead with a planned sit-in in Kolkata
  • The protest is against alleged attacks on party leaders and an eviction drive by the BJP

Below is a roundup of some of the top headlines that got India talking on Tuesday, June 2: 

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Skip next section 30 Indian truck drivers arrested in US for residing illegally
June 2, 2026

30 Indian truck drivers arrested in US for residing illegally

US Border Patrol arrested 30 Indian nationals for illegally residing in the country while operating commercial vehicles, authorities said Monday.

The arrests were made during Operation Checkmate, conducted May 11-15 in Arizona’s Yuma Sector, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said in a statement. A total of 52 people were arrested.

Several possessed employment authorization documents obtained during the Biden administration, but officials said the permits were no longer valid, according to the statement.

All arrested individuals will be deported, according to CBP.

"Operation Checkmate reflects our commitment to safeguarding communities and roads from unlawfully present drivers who pose significant risks to public safety," said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Dustin W. Caudle.

"My agents are on patrol every day to ensure we stop these individuals and prevent more deadly crashes from occurring on the road across the United States."

The operation follows recent fatal crashes involving Indian truckers living illegally in the US, including a crash in Florida in August last year that killed three people and another in California in October, which also killed three people.

https://p.dw.com/p/5EhmE
Skip next section Mamata Banerjee presses ahead with protest amid turmoil in TMC
June 2, 2026

Mamata Banerjee presses ahead with protest amid turmoil in TMC

Mamata Banerjee speaks to the media
Banerjee has been at loggerheads with the BJP after she lost the recent election to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party [FILE: Jan 8, 2026]Image: ANI Video Grab

Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee said she is going ahead with a planned sit-in in Kolkata on Tuesday despite lacking police permission, media reports said.

"If we are not allowed to hold a dharna (sit-in protest) there, I will sit wherever I am stopped. I am ready to be arrested," Banerjee said, according to The Hindustan Times.

The protest is against alleged attacks on party leaders and an eviction drive by the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state.

Banerjee has been at loggerheads with the BJP after she lost the recent election to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party.

On Sunday, TMC leader and Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee claimed he was attacked, suffering an eye injury. He termed it a "BJP-sponsored" attempt on his life.

Meanwhile, internal rifts continue to trouble the TMC. The party expelled legislative assembly members Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha for anti-party activities on Monday.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Ehao
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage
June 2, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Hello! This is Shakeel from DW's New Delhi studio, bringing you the top news from across the country.

The post-election turmoil in for Mamata Banerjee and her party continues as fissures within the Trinamool Congress party deepens. Banerjee has announced a sit-in protest in Kolkata today.

In the US, at least 30 Indians were arrested for illegally living in the country. Authorities said they are all set to be deported.

Meanwhile, Germany's new dual citizenship rules allowed most newly naturalized citizens in 2025 to retain their original nationality. However, Indians do not stand to benefit because India does not allow dual nationality.

For all this and more, follow our live blog.

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Shakeel Sobhan Covering politics, social, and environmental issues in India.@ainieas