On Thursday (24th September), the West Bengal Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) debunked claims peddled by Anandabazar Patrika (ABP) that Suvendu Adhikari reprimanded 2 of his own Ministers, namely Agnimitra Pal and Sharadwat Mukherjee.
In a tweet, the official handle of West Bengal CMO stated, “This is Fake News. Media is suggested to verify the facts before reporting.”
This is Fake News. Media is suggested to verify the facts before reporting. pic.twitter.com/UtH9WRX8UR
— Chief Minister's Office, Govt. of West Bengal (@cmowbgov) September 23, 2026
On Wednesday (23rd September), Anandabazar Patrika published a malicious report, claiming that Suvendu Adhikari ordered the 2 Ministers to ‘sit in office and concentrate on work instead of ‘activism on the roads.’
ABP attributed the fake news to its sources, claiming that Agnimitra Pal has been hyperactive on the ground. “She could be seen arguing with a vegetable vendor or a woman who was boiling milk on a stove. Sometimes she could be seen warning with a microphone in the name of road safety or scolding vendors for keeping bicycles inside the market,” it alleged.
The newspaper further claimed, “Health Minister Sharadwat has recently been doing PR and going on surprise visits to various government hospitals.” It also alleged that a public confrontation with another BJP MLA Piyush Kanoria forced Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari to order him to focus on office work.
It must be mentioned that ‘journalists’ from the same newspaper and TV channel had peddled the narrative of “Gerua Gundami” (saffron hooliganism), following clashes between students of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Federation of Engineering and Technical Students’ Unions (FETSU) at Jadavpur University.
The propaganda by ABP had drawn the ire of even CM Suvendu Adhikari. Multiple FIRs (First Information Reports) were lodged against the channel for attempting to incite communal unrest.
In the meantime, the Calcutta High Court has directed the police not to take any coercive measures against Anandabazar Patrika and its ‘journalists.’
