News Analysis India

Tag: Mamata

  • BJP trying to replicate Manipur-like situation in Bengal: Mamata

    The BJP wants to create a situation wherein Adivasis will fight Kurmis so that army can be called in and the military will have shoot-at-sight orders and we won't be able to protect, said Mamata. SALBONI:  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the BJP was trying to replicate a Manipur-like situation in her state by planning to orchestrate ethnic riots.

    She condemned the attack on state minister Birbaha Hansda’s vehicle and claimed that BJP activists, not members of the Kurmi community, were behind the incident that took place on Friday.

    The feisty TMC boss iterated there will be a change of guard at the Centre in the next six months, and “people’s rights will be restored, and politics of hatred will come to an end”.

    “The BJP was behind the ethnic violence in Manipur. The saffron party is trying to replicate similar riots between communities in West Bengal. They want to separate the hills from Bengal.”

    They want to create a situation wherein Adivasis will fight Kurmis so that army can be called in and the military will have shoot-at-sight orders and we won’t be able to protect if someone is shot or killed.

    “The BJP is pumping in huge money in the area to foment trouble,” she said at a rally in Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district.

    Banerjee said those trying to fuel ethnic riots in the state will not be spared.

    Earlier this month, ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur claimed the lives of over 70 people, and 10,000 security forces were deployed even as curfew was imposed and internet services were suspended.

    The car of minister Birbaha Hansda, who is also the MLA of Jhargram constituency, was attacked by alleged members of the Kurmi community, leaving several TMC activists injured.

    The vehicle was part of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s convoy.

    “I condemn yesterday’s violence in which minister Birbaha Hansda’s vehicle was attacked with lathis and stones. She is a proud Adivasi and a state minister. I believe the violence was not a handiwork of the Kurmis. BJP workers disguised as members of the Kurmi community were behind it,” she said while addressing TMC’s mass outreach campaign ‘Trinamool e Nabojowar’ (new wave in Trinamool).

    She alleged that the BJP was providing money and muscle power to fuel ethnic tension in the area, which was affected by Maoist insurgency a decade back.

    Listing out various developmental projects implemented by the state government for the development of tribal-inhabited areas in the state, the CM said her most significant achievement was to bring back peace in Junglemahal region in the western part of the state by putting an end to the Maoist insurgency.

    Incidentally, the BJP made deep inroads in Bankura, Purulia, Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram districts collectively called ‘Junglemahal’ (the area is home to dense forests) in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 assembly elections.

    The Kurmi community, which is classified as OBC in West Bengal, staged protests in several districts, including Dakshin Dinajpur, Purulia, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur, in April, disrupting railway and highway traffic, to press for the demand for inclusion into the Scheduled Tribe list.

    “The Centre has asked me why I haven’t instituted a task force for the NRC (National Register of Citizens) exercise in Bengal. I assure you that I will not let that happen,” she said.

    “People of the country have tolerated a lot in the last nine years of the BJP rule at the Centre. But don’t worry, this pain will be over in six months’ time. The Union government is bound to change, and people’s rights will be restored across the country,” she said.

    Earlier in the day, Banerjee visited Egra area of Purba Medinipur district to meet family members of those killed and injured in a blast in an illegal fireworks factory there 11 days ago.

  • Opposition forms G-8, calls Congress for LS poll talks

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Seven non-Congress opposition chief ministers and a deputy CM have together formed a group and had three video conferences over the last few weeks to discuss a united fight against the BJP in 2024.

    The eight leaders of this group include seven chief ministers – Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Nitish Kumar (Bihar), K Chandrashekar Rao (Telangana), Hemant Soren (Jharkhand), Bhagwant Mann (Punjab), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi) – and Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav. The Congress is part of the ruling alliance in TN, Jharkhand and Bihar.

    Sources said the group, called G-8, has invited the Congress to start seat-sharing talks on the condition that the leadership of the united opposition group is left open until after the Lok Sabha elections.  Congress is yet to respond to the proposal. But sources said Rahul Gandhi is keen to engage with G-8 leaders. They said a united challenge to the BJP with all opposition parties coming on one platform was the plan Rahul  Gandhi had referred to in London recently. 

    Some of the group’s leaders like KCR, Kejriwal and Mamata oppose breaking bread with the Congress. It is on their insistence that the condition to freeze the leadership issue until after the elections were conveyed to Congress. Two other chief ministers – Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) and Jagan Mohan Reddy (Andhra Pradesh) – have refused to have any pre-poll understanding with the Congress.

    Sources said if the Congress does not agree to their condition on leadership, they would go ahead and expand the group by including the remaining opposition CMs and other opposition parties. According to sources, Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday was an attempt by the non-Congress opposition leaders to send a message to the grand old party not to insist on a leadership position in the opposition. 

    The opposition leaders had not taken kindly to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark at an election rally that his party would lead the opposition and form the next government by ousting the BJP.An opposition leader who is privy to the discussions among the G-8 said that the Congress had failed to take on the BJP in the last two Lok Sabha elections. “It was routed in states where it was in a direct fight with the BJP.” It is time the Congress allowed the regional parties that have successfully halted the BJP’s march in their respective states to take the leadership position, he said. 

    NEW DELHI: Seven non-Congress opposition chief ministers and a deputy CM have together formed a group and had three video conferences over the last few weeks to discuss a united fight against the BJP in 2024.

    The eight leaders of this group include seven chief ministers – Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Nitish Kumar (Bihar), K Chandrashekar Rao (Telangana), Hemant Soren (Jharkhand), Bhagwant Mann (Punjab), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi) – and Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav. The Congress is part of the ruling alliance in TN, Jharkhand and Bihar.

    Sources said the group, called G-8, has invited the Congress to start seat-sharing talks on the condition that the leadership of the united opposition group is left open until after the Lok Sabha elections.  Congress is yet to respond to the proposal. But sources said Rahul Gandhi is keen to engage with G-8 leaders. They said a united challenge to the BJP with all opposition parties coming on one platform was the plan Rahul  Gandhi had referred to in London recently. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Some of the group’s leaders like KCR, Kejriwal and Mamata oppose breaking bread with the Congress. It is on their insistence that the condition to freeze the leadership issue until after the elections were conveyed to Congress. Two other chief ministers – Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) and Jagan Mohan Reddy (Andhra Pradesh) – have refused to have any pre-poll understanding with the Congress.

    Sources said if the Congress does not agree to their condition on leadership, they would go ahead and expand the group by including the remaining opposition CMs and other opposition parties. According to sources, Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday was an attempt by the non-Congress opposition leaders to send a message to the grand old party not to insist on a leadership position in the opposition. 

    The opposition leaders had not taken kindly to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark at an election rally that his party would lead the opposition and form the next government by ousting the BJP.
    An opposition leader who is privy to the discussions among the G-8 said that the Congress had failed to take on the BJP in the last two Lok Sabha elections. “It was routed in states where it was in a direct fight with the BJP.” It is time the Congress allowed the regional parties that have successfully halted the BJP’s march in their respective states to take the leadership position, he said. 

  • Centre bulldozing federal structure; BJP rule worse than that of Hitler, Stalin: Mamata

    She stated that central agencies “should be given autonomy” to protect democracy. “BJP-led centre is using central agencies to interfere in state's affairs. There is Tughlaqi rule in force,” she said.

  • Mamata telephones M K Stalin, suggests meeting of non-BJP CMs

    By PTI

    CHENNAI: While Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday said West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar’s act of proroguing the Assembly is ‘without any propriety’, the latter said the House was prorogued at the government’s request and that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s remark was harsh and not based on fact.

    Stalin tweeted, “The act of #WestBengal Governor to prorogue the WB Assembly Session is without any propriety expected from the exalted post and goes against the established norms and conventions.”

    The Tamil Nadu Chief Minster further said, “the ‘symbolic’ head of the state should be the role model to uphold the constitution. Beauty of democracy lies in extending mutual respect to each other.” Stalin, after Dhankhar defended his action tweeted, “Beloved Didi Mamata Banerjee telephoned me to share her concern and anguish on the Constitutional overstepping and brazen misuse of power by the Governors of non-BJP ruled states.”

    Beloved Didi @MamataOfficial telephoned me to share her concern and anguish on the Constitutional overstepping and brazen misuse of power by the Governors of non-BJP ruled states. She suggested for a meeting of Opposition CMs. (1/2)
    — M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 13, 2022
    “She suggested for a meeting of Opposition CMs. I assured her of DMK’s commitment to uphold State autonomy. Convention of Opposition CMs will soon happen out of Delhi!, the TN CM said. Earlier on Sunday, replying to Stalin, Dhankhar had on his official twitter handle said, “Find it unusually expedient to respectfully invite indulgent attention of TN CM @mkstalin that his extremely harsh hurtful observations are not in the least in conformity with facts- attached order. Assembly was prorogued at express request @MamataOfficial @rajbhavan_tn.” Dhankhar also had posted an official communication in this connection.

    Governor Dhankhar had prorogued the Assembly from Saturday based on the state government’s recommendation.

    Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh had said, “The governor did not take the decision on his own initiative. He has prorogued the Assembly following the recommendation of the Cabinet. There is no confusion in it.”

  • New cases of COVID mostly among those who are fully vaccinated: Mamata

    West Bengal has in the last four days witnessed a sudden surge in the number of COVID-19 cases post Durga Puja festivities.

  • Mamata calls on Sonia, describes meeting as ‘positive’

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence on Wednesday as part of her series of outreach meetings in the national capital.

    Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was also present at the meeting at 10, Janpath, the residence of Sonia Gandhi.

    Describing the meeting as “positive”, Banerjee said she discussed the political situation in the country as well as opposition unity with the Gandhis.

    “It was a very good meeting,” the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo told reporters after the deliberations that lasted for around 45 minutes, adding that she is expecting positive results in the future.

    “Soniaji had invited me for a cup of tea. We discussed the political situation in the country. We also discussed the issue of opposition unity,” she said.

    “To defeat the BJP, all of us have to come together and work together,” Banerjee said on opposition unity. She said she also discussed the Pegasus spyware issue with the Congress chief.

    However, Banerjee’s party was not present at a meeting of opposition leaders, which was attended by Rahul Gandhi.

    Later, at a briefing by the opposition leaders at Vijay Chowk, the representatives of the TMC were not present.

    Taking on the government over the Pegasus snooping controversy, Banerjee said, “Why is the government not replying on the Pegasus issue? If there is no discussion in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha (on Pegasus), where will this discussion be held? Discussions are held in Parliament, not at tea stalls.”

    The TMC supremo has been reaching out to various opposition leaders in a bid to bring together the non-BJP forces ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

  • Mamata terms Pegasus spy scandal as worse than Watergate, exhorts people to protest

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that the Pegasus spyware scandal, which broke earlier this week, was “worse than the Watergate scandal” which happened during the Nixon presidency in the US and termed the use of the spyware as a “super emergency.”

    The chief minister exhorted civil society, students, media-persons to rise in protest against the misuse of the spyware.

    Banerjee also pointed out that details of election strategy meetings she held with Prashant Kishor were known to those who installed the spyware.

    “Pegasus is worse than Watergate scandal; it is a super emergency,” Banerjee told a press conference at the state secretariat here.

    The Watergate scandal initially involved a clandestine break-in into the Democratic party headquarters in Washington, but eventually encompassed mis-use of security and Internal Revenue Service officers in a political battle.

    She also said that even the RSS, considered the ideological parent of the BJP was not spared from the spying bid.

    “They (BJP leadership) don’t trust even their own officers and ministers,” she said, adding “I have heard they tapped the phones of several RSS people.”

    The Pegasus spyware developed by an Israeli firm was allegedly used to infect the mobile phones of hundreds of journalists, politicians – both from the ruling party and the opposition- as well as bureaucrats and others, in a bid to spy on them.

    “Details of a meeting (on election stratregy) in my office with PK (strategist Prashant Kishor) was known to those installed the surveillance (spyware),” the chief minister said.

    If one person’s phone is under surveillance “that means those who talk to the person are also under surveillance,” she pointed out.

    The chief minister recently managed to win the high voltage electoral battle for Bengal assembly, despite being pitted against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a galaxy of top BJP leaders.

    Accusing the current central government led by Modi of behaving “like Hitler”, the chief minister said “they are (trying to) scare media, trying to capture the judiciary.”

    Showing a leukoplast pasted on the speaker of her phone, she said “this is a symbolic protest.

    The civil society, students, media, everyone should protest.

    This (spying) is nothing but encroachment of privacy as Pegasus spyware can even intrude through WhatsApp.”

    “Should our phones be kept in deep freeze. The world cannot function in this way,” she said.

    “The Press Club, Editors Guild, Everyone should unite.

    BJP is trying to scare the media by feeding news it wants to, to some channels,” she claimed.

    Banerjee said it was the duty of the Prime Minister or Home Minister to make a statement in Parliament “when a big scandal (such as alleged misuse of the Pegasus spyware) occurs.”

    She alleged that instead of doing so “they are bulldozing people who raise their voice.

    They are trying to gag the voice of Dainik Bhaskar which raised its voice against BJP’S mis-governance.”

    The income tax authorities have earlier on Thursday raided the offices of the Dainik Bhaskar for alleged tax evasion.

    “Their game is dangerous. This autocracy will not be supported by people of India,” she said.

  • Mamata Banerjee’s younger brother Ashim succumbs to COVID-19

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday morning lost her younger brother Ashim Banerjee to Covid-19 in Kolkata.

    Ashim (60) used to reside with Mamata in the same house at Kalighat in south Kolkata.

    He had tested positive for Covid-19 last month and was admitted to the Medica Superspecialty Hospital off EM Bypass in the state capital.

    “He tested positive for Covid-19 and was under treatment. His condition started deteriorating from last night and he succumbed in the morning,” said a doctor of the hospital.  

    Ashim will be cremated at the Nimtala crematorium in north Kolkata following Covid protocols.

    The news came on a day when the West Bengal government announced a complete lockdown from Sunday till May 30 in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.

    “We are taking some strict measures to contain the pandemic, starting Sunday 6 am till 6 pm of May 30,” Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay said.

    During this period, all government and private offices, shopping complexes, malls, bars, sports complexes, pubs and beauty parlours will remain closed, he said.

    Movement of private vehicles, taxis, buses, metro rail, suburban trains will also be disallowed during the 15- day lockdown period.

    “Petrol pumps will remain open and essential services like milk, water, medicine, electricity, fire, law and order and media will not come under the purview of it,” he added.

    E-commerce and home delivery services will be allowed.

    As per the Union Health Ministry, there are currently 1,31,792 active COVID-19 cases in West Bengal.

    A total of 9,50,017 recoveries and 12,993 deaths have been reported so far.

    (With PTI inputs)

  • Mamata writes to Modi asking him to keep his promise of giving farmers Rs 18,000

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA: Mounting pressure on the BJP-led central government for the second consecutive day on Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shot a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminding him of his assurance made during election campaigns on releasing arrears of Rs 18,000 to farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme.

    She also said in the letter that no fund has been received by either the state government or the farmers.

    On Wednesday, Mamata wrote her first letter to Modi after assuming office for third term asking him to ensure free vaccination for all in the country.

    “I would like to further impress that during your recent visit to the State, you gave repeated assurances on releasing the arrear amount of Rs 18,000 to each farmer, but till date, no fund has been received by the State of West Bengal or the farmers.

    I would, therefore, request you to kindly advise the concerned Ministry to release due fund to the eligible farmers and share the database of the 21.79 lakh farmers,” Mamata wrote.

    In its election manifesto, the BJP promised to give Bengal’s farmers Rs 18,000 to 75 lakh farmers in one go which has been lying due for three years.  

    Out of 21.79 lakh farmers who had registered for the scheme as per the letter of the Union Agriculture Minister, dated 6th November, 2020, 14.91 lakh data have been uploaded in portal, which were duly verified and of which 9.84 lakh data are ready for PFMS.

    Mamata also reminded Modi of the letters written to Centre earlier by the state government on providing farmers of West Bengal with the benefits of the central scheme.

  • Jaya for company, Mamata braves the heat and ups ante against BJP

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee held her second roadshow on wheelchair in Kolkata on Thursday from Beliaghata to Bowbazar, a 4.5km stretch, under scorching heat. She was accompanied by Samajwadi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachhan.

    The West Bengal CM’s first roadshow on wheelchair, after she was injured in Nandigram while greeting the crowd, was held on Mar 14. With hundreds of supporters following her, the roadshow on Thursday travelled along arterial roads of east and central Kolkata. People standing on the road and residents from their balconies responded to Mamata, who kept waving her hands.

    “May the Bengali New Year of 1428 be spent with safety, joy and peace. My good wishes to you all. We have to be in it together to keep West Bengal free of BJP,” Mamata said. A former resident of the state, Bachchan has been campaigining for TMC in West Bengal for a while now. “I am accompanying her (Mamata) because of the slew of development works that were carried out during the TMC’s regime in Bengal. The TMC will win this election and BJP will be whitewashed,’’ she said.

    Thousands of party supporters took part in the rally and shouted slogans of “Didi tumi egiye cholo amra tomar sange achhi” (Didi, you go ahead, we are with you), “Dangabaz BJP dur hato” (Down with rioter sBJP) and “Khela hobe (The game is on).”

    Bachchan was vocal and said that Mamata has set an example by campaigning with an injured leg. “Khela hobe. Didi is playing the game even with her injured leg,” said the actress, who shares a good rapport with the TMC supremo and had earlier attended the inauguration programme of the Kolkata International Film Festival. “We do not want change in Bengal.

    Please re-elect Didi and help her carry on the development work to take the state to new heights,” added Bachchan. She also greeted the public on the Bengali New Year day. Assembly polls have been completed in 135 of the 294 constituencies in the state so far. The remaining 159 seats are set go to the polls between April 17 and 29. Elections in the state are being held in eight phases.