News Analysis India

Tag: Mamata Banerjee

  • Chandan Mitra will be remembered for his contributions to journalism, politics: Mamata Banerjee

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday condoled the death of senior TMC leader and eminent journalist Chandan Mitra, saying that the two-time Rajya Sabha MP will be remembered for his contributions to journalism and politics.

    He was suffering for a while and died late on Wednesday night, his son Kushan Mitra said.

    “Saddened by the demise of Shri Chandan Mitra. He will be remembered for his contribution to the world of journalism and politics. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones,” Banerjee tweeted.

    In another statement, she said that 65-year-old Mitra was the editor-in-chief of The Pioneer, and was earlier associated with other newspapers like The Statesman, The Times of India, The Sunday Observer and Hindustan Times in different phases of his chequered career.

    “As the chronicler of society and news, his death has caused a void in the world of journalism,” the TMC chief said.

    Mitra had joined the TMC in 2018 in the presence of Banerjee during the party’s July 21 ‘Martyrs’ Day Rally’.

  • COVID-19: Bengal government mulls vaccination for kids ahead of third wave

    By PTI

    PANAGARH: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday said the government is thinking whether children will be required to be vaccinated in view of the COVID third wave and assured that everyone in the state will be given their jabs.

    If required the government will carry out inoculation programmes for children similar to the pulse polio drive, she said.

    Banerjee said 12 lakh people in Bengal got their COVID jabs on Tuesday and in the urban areas 75 per cent of the population have been inoculated.

    “Everyone will be vaccinated. Do not rush to the vaccination centres after hearing rumours and unnecessarily create panic. Do not be worried.

    “Not a single dose (of vaccine) is wasted in Bengal. Our requirement is 14 crore. We have the responsibility to administer the vaccines, but the Centre is supplying them,” she said while laying the foundation stone of Dhunseri Poly Films plant here.

    “Keeping the third wave in mind, we are now thinking whether children will be required to be vaccinated or not. If required, the government will initiate inoculation programme similar to the pulse polio drive,” she added.

    On Tuesday 12,10,095 people got the vaccine in different districts of Bengal taking the total number of people getting the dose to over four crore.

    About 25 persons, mostly women, were injured in jostling outside a vaccination centre in Dhupguri in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday.

    On Tuesday 12,10,095 people got the vaccine in different districts of Bengal taking the total number of people getting the dose to over 4 crore.

    About 25 persons, mostly women, were injured in jostling outside a vaccination centre in Dhupguri in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday.

    The state on Wednesday reported 12 more COVID-19 deaths, which took the toll to 18,459, a health department bulletin said.

    The coronavirus caseload in the state mounted to 15,49,283 as 679 more people tested positive for the infection, it said.

    Of the fresh fatalities, three each were reported from Nadia and North 24 Parganas and one each from Kolkata, Howrah, South 24 Parganas, Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura and Darjeeling districts, the bulletin said.

    At least 681 people were cured of the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 15,22,023.

    The recovery rate among coronavirus patients in the state currently stands at 98.24 per cent.

    West Bengal now has 8,801 active cases, the bulletin said.

    The state has so far conducted over 1.70 crore sample tests for COVID-19, including 38,103 since Tuesday, it added.

    At least, 4,39,387 people were inoculated during the day, a state health department official said.

  • Banks to operate full time in West Bengal from Thursday: CM Mamata Banerjee

    Banking hours were revised several times in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in Bengal during the course of the second wave.

  • BJP MLA Tanmoy Ghosh joins TMC in Bengal, alleges ‘vindictive politics’ by saffron party

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Bishnupur MLA Tanmoy Ghosh joined the Trinamool Congress on Monday, alleging that his BJP was indulging in vindictive politics.

    Speaking to reporters, Ghosh claimed that the BJP was also attempting to trigger chaos among the people of West Bengal, because of which he joined the TMC.

    “I urge all to join the TMC for the welfare of West Bengal. There is a need to strengthen the hands of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” he said.

    BJP is doing vindictive politics and attempting to create chaos among the people of the state, Ghosh said, adding that these were the reason for him to join the TMC.

    He had switched over to the BJP from TMC in March, days ahead of the state elections.

    Earlier, he was the TMC Youth president of Bishnupur town in Bankura district and also a councillor of the local civic body.

    Welcoming Ghosh to the party fold, state Education Minister Bratya Basu said BJP is trying to take post-poll revenge against the TMC.

    “We will fight the BJP politically. It is also trying to belittle the people of West Bengal,” he said.

    Basu said many BJP leaders are in touch with the TMC.

    “We appeal to all to join the TMC. But, who will be taken in will be decided by the party leadership,” he said.

    The BJP won 77 of the 292 seats of West Bengal assembly that went to the polls.

    The Trinamool Congress won 213 seats, while ISF and GJM bagged one seat each.

    Voting in Jangipur and Samserganj had to be postponed after the death of one candidate each in the two seats.

    BJP MLAs Nisith Pramanik and Jagannath Sarkar resigned to retain their Lok Sabha seats, while Mukul Roy switched over to the TMC.

    However, Roy continues to be a BJP MLA officially.

    Basu said BJP MLAs of Tripura are also in touch with the TMC.

    “When Mamata Banerjee steps in Tripura, there will be a tsunami. BJP leaders of that state are pretty aware of this,” he said.

    “Tripura under BJP has been transformed into a valley of fear,” Basu alleged.

  • Calcutta University professor booked for allegedly threatening to kill CM Mamata Banerjee 

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Case was lodged against a professor of the Calcutta University for allegedly threatening on social media to kill Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, police said on Saturday.

    The case was registered against Arindam Bhattacharya, a professor of the Zoology Department, by the Hare Street police station on the basis of a complaint filed by PhD scholar Tamal Dutta, a senior police officer said.

    Bhattacharya was booked under IPC sections 505 (1B) (with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public), 506 (threat be to cause death or grievous hurt) and 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy), said Murlidhar Sharma, the joint commissioner of police (crime).

    The professor is yet to be taken into custody, police said.

    When contacted, Bhattacharya told PTI, “I didn’t make any comments against the chief minister. The complainant is a Trinamool Congress supporter. I am waiting for the police to take steps and only after that I will seek legal advice on this.”

    During a conversation on Facebook Messenger, a friend told the professor, “Before the elections you had written in a WhatApp group that you wanted to kill the chief minister. That time you went to the TMC leader’s house to save yourself…” In reply, he wrote in Bengali, “Akhono hatya korte chai…Pa chata kutta ami noi… Ami oshikkhito birodhi (I still want to kill..I am not a footlicking dog. I am against those who are illiterate).”

    Battacharya said it was a personal conversation between him and a friend which was made public on social media.

    “This conversation happened sometime back. I have not threatened the chief minister or anyone and it is clear in the message,” he said.

    Bhattacharya, a professor of Zoology for 17 years, said the police complaint was lodged against him as part of a conspiracy so that he loses his job.

    “I am scared and tormented. I feel helpless and insulted. Never dreamt of facing such humiliation in my life. I can sense that this is a conspiracy against me so that I eventually lose my job,” he said.

    Bhattacharya was served a notice to appear before the investigating officer on Saturday afternoon.

    “I have nothing to do. Let the police arrest me. Let there be another Ambikesh Mahapatra,” he said.

    In April 2012, Chemistry professor Ambikesh Mahapatra of Jadavpur University was arrested for allegedly forwarding a cartoon, lampooning the chief minister.

    The TMC-backed West Bengal College and University Professors Association condemned Bhattacharya’s comments. Dutta, who lodged the police complaint, told PTI that a professor cannot make such remarks.

    “I went through the comments and found them to be quite dangerous. A professor cannot make such comments. That is why I approached the police and after consulting them, I lodged a complaint with the Cyber Cell,” he said.

  • ED summons Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee, wife in money laundering case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned MP Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and his wife for questioning in a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal scam in the state, officials said on Saturday.

    Abhishek Banerjee represents the Diamond Harbour seat in Lok Sabha and is also the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

    He has been summoned to appear before the investigating officer of the case here on September 6 while his wife Rujira has been sent a similar summon under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for September 1.

    Few others linked to the case have also been summoned to appear on different dates next month, the officials said.

    The case, filed under criminal sections of the (PMLA), was filed by the ED after studying a November, 2020 FIR of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that alleged a multi-crore coal pilferage scam related to the Eastern Coalfields Ltd mines in the state’s Kunustoria and Kajora areas in and around Asansol.

    Local state operative Anup Majhi alias Lala is alleged to be the prime suspect in the case.

    The ED had earlier claimed that Abhishek Banerjee was a beneficiary of funds obtained from this illegal trade. He has been denying all charges.

  • Assets belong to country; BJP or Modi don’t own them: Mamata on National Monetisation Pipeline

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday slammed the Centre over its National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) policy, claiming that it is a ploy to sell assets that belong to the country and not to Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the BJP.

    Terming the NMP as a “shocking and unfortunate decision”, the Trinamool Congress supremo alleged that the money raised by selling those assets will be used during elections against opposition parties.

    ALSO READ | BJP calls Congress a ‘non-performing asset’ for criticising Centre’s National Monetisation Pipeline

    “We condemn this shocking and unfortunate decision. These assets belong to the country. It is the property of neither Modi nor the BJP. They (central government) can’t just sell a country’s assets as per their whims and fancies,” Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat Nabanna. The entire country will stand together and oppose this “anti-people” decision, she said.

    “The BJP should be ashamed. No one has given them the right to sell our nation’s assets,” she said.

    Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced Rs 6 lakh crore National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) that will look to unlock value in infrastructure assets across sectors ranging from power to road and railways.

  • Will accept caste-based census if all parties agree: Mamata Banerjee

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she will accept a nationwide caste-based census if all political parties reach a consensus on the matter.

    Banerjee’s statement came at the backdrop of a 10-party delegation from Bihar headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to push for a caste-based census.

    “When there will be a discussion and if a consensus is reached, I will not have any problem accepting it. I will not fight if all political parties and states reach a consensus. Let political parties, the CMs and the Central government reach a consensus,” Banerjee said.

    She declined to say much on the issue, saying that sentiments differ from one state to the other.

    Banerjee said, “Nitish-ji has put up his questions on this issue. Let’s see how others react to it.”

    Statistics about different castes will help in formulating development schemes effectively as many of them have not benefitted so far in line with their actual population, the Bihar CM has said.

    The BJP leadership has so far not taken a categorical stand on the issue which has been lapped up by a number of regional parties, many of them its rivals in different states.

    With census being the Union’s prerogative, it is now up to the Centre to take a call on the demand.

    There is a view that a caste census will bring the Mandal politics to the centre stage of politics and can be an effective weapon in the hands of regional parties to counter the BJP’s Hindutva and welfare planks, the twin issues used by the saffron party to make inroads into the OBC vote bank at the expense of state-based parties.

    The caste-based census has not taken place in the country since British rule.

  • With Mamata needing to get elected and almost no Covid in seven seats, TMC insists on by-polls

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Armed with the state health department’s report revealing either zero or negligible Covid-19 cases in seven Assembly constituencies where by-elections are yet to be held, the ruling Trinamool Congress has decided to approach the Election Commission seeking immediate by-polls.

    “By-elections in Bengal are important to us because Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will have to get elected within six months and the deadline is November 5. Now, BJP is playing the dirty game of trying to postpone the by-polls citing Covid-19 pandemic to force the CM to resign,” a senior TMC leader said.

    Jangipur, Shamsherganj and Shantipur Assembly constituencies recorded zero Covid-19 cases and Bhowanipore, Khardah, Gosaba and Dinhata have recorded only one or two Covid cases daily for the past few days.

    The poll panel has already asked all political parties to share their opinions on whether by-elections can be conducted considering the present pandemic situation. 

    TMC sources said the BJP leadership in Bengal have already decided to oppose the by-elections citing the Covid-19 pandemic and say the poll panel’s decision to seek the opinion of all political parties may delay the process.

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    In Bengal, 600 to 700 Covid positive cases are being reported every day and the daily death toll has come down to 8-10. Two months ago, the scenario was grim as the state used to record 1700 to 2,000 new Covid cases every day and the number of daily deaths used to be between 35 and 45.

    CM Mamata had been defeated in Nandigram by her former lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari, who defected to the BJP ahead of the Assembly elections. She is supposed to contest from Bhowanipore Assembly constituency, her erstwhile seat from where she was elected in 2011 and 2016.

    After coming to power for third straight term, Mamata had blamed the BJP and the poll panel for the spike in Covid infections in the state that she said was caused by the decision to conduct the Assembly elections in eight phases.

    FROM OUR ARCHIVES | Why this West Bengal BJP MLA can’t afford protection of central forces

    “All BJP heavyweights visited Bengal every day and addressed mega rallies during the election in which Covid protocols were grossly flouted. Now the situation is much better and under control but the BJP is trying to play a new trick to force the CM to resign,” a TMC leader said.

    BJP leaders in Bengal have decided to stick to their stance. “Hundreds of people are still getting infected every day in the state and experts are warning about the third wave. We are against by-election at this hour of crisis,” said a BJP leader. 

  • Covid situation under control, EC must immediately announce bypoll dates in WB: Mamata Banerjee

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Asserting that the COVID-19 situation in Bengal is “completely under control”, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday insisted that the Election Commission should immediately announce dates for the pending bypolls to seven assembly seats of the state.

    She also said that the EC should ensure that the democratic rights of people are not curtailed.

    “(It’s been) Already four months (since the elections got over), and now with the COVID-19 situation completely under control, people have the right to cast their ballot….They (ECI) had asked for the opinion of political parties.

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    “I think the EC must announce the by-election dates immediately as we must not curtail the democratic rights of the people,” she said at the state secretariat.

    Bypolls are due in the seven assembly constituencies of West Bengal — Jangipur, Samshergunj, Khardha, Bhabanipur, Dinahata, Shantipur and Goshaba.

    According to TMC sources, the CM, who lost to BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram seat, is likely to contest from her home turf Bhabanipur assembly constituency, which was vacated by veteran leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay shortly after the results were declared.

    Banerjee has filed a case before the Calcutta High Court, challenging the poll results in Nandigram.