News Analysis India

Tag: Mamata Banerjee

  • Centre giving more vaccines to BJP-ruled states: Mamata to Modi

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: The Centre is providing more Covid vaccine doses to BJP-ruled states, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged in a letter to PM Narendra Modi. 

    Raising the vaccine shortage issue in the state, she said the state is administering less than half of its vaccination capacity despite having a very high population density and a higher rate of urbanisation.

    Last week, the Kolkata High Court directed the Bengal government and Centre to provide details of Covid vaccine supply and inoculation of people in the state. The bench directed the Union government to provide details of vaccine supply to Bengal as well as to other states.

    “I am sorry to say that the central government is providing a large number of vaccine doses to states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka which are BJP ruled. I have no problem if they or any other state for that matter receives a higher number of vaccine doses, but I cannot remain a mute spectator to see Bengal being deprived,” she wrote.

    ALSO READ | Aurobindo Pharma channelising efforts to commercialise COVID-19 vaccine

    She added that Bengal has so far managed to administer 3.08 crore Covid vaccines, of which 2.20 crore people have been administered with the first dose and 88.93 lakh people with the second dose. Bengal is the best in the country in the utilisation of vaccines with minus 7% wastage.

    In the two-page letter, Mamata wrote, “Bengal at present is administering 4 lakh doses while the state is capable of administering 11 lakh doses per day. Yet, we are getting a much lower number of doses despite having a very high population density and a higher rate of urbanisation.”    

    Sources in the state health department said West Bengal has around 52 lakh doses at present.

    On several occasions in the past, Mamata wrote to Modi seeking more vaccine doses and she alleged repeatedly that the Bengal was being deprived by the Centre in terms of vaccines received. 

    “You may be aware that Covid-19 cases are increasing in Sikkim, Assam and North-Eastern states. West Bengal has three international borders and is also a gateway to North-Eastern states. Therefore, as a special precautionary measure, it is essential that West Bengal is provided with the required 14 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines,” said Mamata.

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  • Mulling reopening schools, colleges in Bengal after Durga Puja vacation: CM Mamata Banerjee

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said her government is weighing options for reopening schools and colleges on alternate days after the Durga Puja vacation in November.

    Educational institutions have been closed in the state since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March last year.

    “However, nothing has been finalised just yet,” Banerjee told reporters following a meeting of the Global Advisory Board (GAB), headed by Nobel laureate Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee, at the state secretariat.

    The economist is in West Bengal to discuss Covid strategies.

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  • Covid situation might turn grim if vaccine supply not augmented in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee tells PM

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing apprehension that the Covid situation might turn grim if the vaccine supply in the state is not augmented.

    She also alleged that the state is getting a “much lower number of doses” of vaccines despite having a very high population density, and urged him to ramp up the supply of vials.

    The state would require around 14 crore doses of Covid vaccines to cover all the eligible people, she said.

    “Presently, we are administering four lakh doses per day and are capable of administer 11 lakh doses per day. Yet, we are getting much lower number of doses despite having a very high population density and a higher rate of urbanisation,” Banerjee wrote in the letter.

    ALSO READ | Aurobindo Pharma channelising efforts to commercialise COVID-19 vaccine

    She also alleged that several letters sent to the PM on the same matter earlier have “not received due attention” at the Centre.

    “I am sorry to say the central government is providing a larger number of vaccine doses to other states. I have no problem if any other state receives higher number of vaccine doses, but I cannot remain a mute spectator to see Bengal deprived,” she said.

    The CM claimed that the positivity rate of Covid-19 has come down to 1.57 per cent due to the state’s sustained efforts.

    “So, my earnest appeal to you is to see that Bengal receives adequate vaccine doses as per its requirement,” she said in the letter.

    Till Wednesday, over 3.09 crore people have been inoculated in Bengal, health department sources said.

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  • Bengal flood man-made, caused by excessive release of water: Mamata to Modi

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: After taking stock of the flood situation in parts of south Bengal districts, CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday wrote to PM Narendra Modi alleging that excessive release of water by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) resulted in the “man-made” flood and sought his intervention for drafting a plan to upgrade the dam in the region.

    Mamata, in her four-page letter, said 16 persons died in the flood and lakhs of farmers lost their livelihood.

    Earlier in the day, Modi telephoned Mamata to seek updates on the flood situation and assured her of assistance from the Centre

    “In respect of the current flood, we will shortly be sending our damage assessment for your kind intervention. I would reiterate the need to develop holistic and long-term solutions in respect to the augmentation of the storage capacity of the DVC system to ensure that West Bengal is spared the regular devastation and suffering from man-made floods perpetrated by huge releases from DVC dams,” Mamata wrote.

    Expressing her discontent over the issue of financial help to combat natural calamity, Mamata alleged, “Despite the state being regularly ravaged by natural disasters in the form of cyclones and man-made floods which we are presently witnessing, no financial help has been forthcoming from the Centre. The state has to cope with compensating the loss of lives and property from our meagre resources.”      

    During the conversation over the phone, Mamata complained to Modi that the DVC allegedly released water from its dams in an unplanned manner causing a man-made flood situation in the state, said an official of the state government.

    In a Tweet issued by the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) said that Modi assured Bengal government of all possible support from the Centre.

    “PM@Narendramodi spoke to WB CM@MamataOfficial on the flood situation caused by water discharge from dams in parts of the state. PM assured all possible support from the Centre to help mitigate the situation. PM Modi prays for the safety and wellbeing of those in the affected areas,” the PMO tweeted.

  • West Bengal floods: PM Modi dials CM Mamata Banerjee, assures her of all help to mitigate situation

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday and took stock of the flood situation in the state, a senior official of the state government said. The prime minister assured Banerjee of all central assistance to mitigate the flood situation, he said.

    The chief minister, who was visiting flood-hit Udaynarayanpur in Howrah district, was learned to have told the prime minister that her administration will send a report to the PMO on the flood situation, and damages caused by the deluge after completing the survey, the official said.

    At least 15 people have been killed and nearly 3 lakh were displaced as large parts of six districts of the state have been inundated due to heavy rain and the release of water by the Damodar Valley Corporation and the Durgapur Barrage.

  • CM Mamata Banerjee likely to conduct aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Bengal

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to conduct an aerial survey of two of the six flood-affected districts of the state on Wednesday to take stock of the situation, a source in the state secretariat said.

    At least 14 people died due to wall collapse or electrocution and nearly 2.5 lakh got displaced in six districts of West Bengal, where water released from the Damodar Valley Corporation dams (DVC) and heavy rain late last week have inundated streets and hamlets.

    “The CM is likely to take an aerial survey of the flood-affected Udaynarayanpur in Howrah district and Khanakul in Hooghly district tomorrow.

    ALSO READ | 14 dead, 2.5 lakh displaced as heavy rain, water discharged from dams flood Bengal

    She may be accompanied by the chief secretary (H K Dwivedi),” the source said on Tuesday.

    The other four flood-hit districts are Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur and South 24 Parganas.

    Banerjee has directed her ministers to remain at their respective districts and supervise the relief and rescue works.

    Panchayat Minister Subrata Mukherjee visited the flood-hit areas of Ghatal in Paschim Medinipur district on Tuesday.

  • With Mamata and Pawar showing the way, Rahul Gandhi turns more proactive

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: It is not just the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar who are making early moves to stitch together an Opposition alliance. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has also been making efforts to follow in their footsteps and is actively engaging with the leaders of Opposition in Parliament, something that was not seen before.

    Tuesday’s breakfast meeting hosted by Rahul was one such attempt to cement a connect with Opposition MPs. This is the second meeting of floor leaders and MPs of the Opposition parties called by the MP from Wayanad.

    Gandhi has never in the past engaged with the Opposition party leaders — inside or outside the Parliament. Even in the party, many veteran Congress leaders have been critical of him for not meeting or listening to them on key issues.

    Until now, he was rarely part of joint meetings of opposition leaders on issues like abrogation of Article 370, farm legislation or strategy meetings during the parliament session. In the past, such meetings were generally attended by the then Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and his deputy Anand Sharma.

    ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi drives tractor to Parliament, says ‘brought farmers’ message’

    “He is now regularly interacting with MPs from other like-minded parties and attending joint protests by the Opposition parties in Parliament premises on issues concerning people,” said a senior Congress MP.

    This sudden change, where the Gandhi scion is engaging and interacting with the Opposition leaders, even though it is restricted to devising parliamentary strategy, is seen as a welcome step by many party leaders. They wonder if a call for united opposition to take on the BJP government by Banerjee and Pawar has provided the needed push to Gandhi.

    “He has held few meetings with political strategist Prashant Kishor and there are discussions to have him in the party or taking his services to overhaul the Congress. This change (in Gandhi) could also be part of it or Mamata and Pawar taking the lead in uniting the Opposition,” said another party leader.   

    At the breakfast meeting attended by MPs from the 14 opposition parties, he pushed for the Opposition to be united in taking on the BJP-RSS.   

    “The single most important thing in my view is that we unite (against) this force. The more this voice unites, the more powerful this voice will become, the more difficult it’ll become for BJP-RSS to suppress it. Within the foundations of unity, we can have a few discussions and arguments but I think it is important for us to come up with the principles of the foundations of our unity,” he told the Opposition leaders, before they cycled to the Parliament raising issues related to rising prices of essential commodities.  

  • Hinting at 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Mamata Banerjee says entire country to witness ‘khela’ in near future

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said TMC’s poll slogan ‘khela hobe’ (there will be a game) has become immensely popular among people, and the entire country will be witness to a match that will be played in the days to come, apparently hinting at the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    The TMC supremo also said that Bengal will take pride in showing India the way.

    “You may or may not agree but it’s a fact that the slogan has become very popular in the country. In Parliament and several states like UP and Rajasthan, too, the slogan was raised,” she maintained after inaugurating here the ‘Khela Hobe’ scheme, under which footballs will be distributed among sports clubs.

    Banerjee further said that a brief game has been played thus far, and more is in the offing.

    “Bengal can take pride in showing people the way in this match. Remember, in the near future, the entire country will be witness to a game. There cannot be any life without khela (game),” she asserted.

    The feisty TMC boss said she has heard people chanting the slogan everywhere she went during electioneering for the assembly polls, held earlier in the year.

    The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to observe ‘Khela Hobe Divas’ on August 16, taking after its popular slogan, to commemorate the death of 16 football fans who had died in a stampede during a Derby match in the city in 1980.

    Distributing 10 footballs each to 303 clubs affiliated to the Indian Football Association (IFA), she said over one lakh more will be handed over to players and coaches in the rural areas.

    Noting that her government has provided financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to at least 25,000 clubs in the state, Banerjee said those taking part in matches organised on the occasion of the ‘Khela Hobe’ Divas would be given additional Rs 15,000.

  • West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee calls on Nitin Gadkari, discusses projects in state

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Union Minister of Transport Nitin Gadkari here on Thursday and discussed several infrastructure projects in the state with him in a bid to invite global investors.

    Banerjee, who is in Delhi to initiate talks with opposition parties to stitch together a united front against the ruling BJP, brought up pending road and transport projects, including the deep-sea port at Tajpur, in her discussions with Gadkari, sources said.

    The sea port, located nearly 200 km from Kolkata, is expected to draw an investment of Rs 15,000 crore and generate 25,000 jobs in West Bengal. The sources said Banerjee will also meet ministers of key departments such as petroleum, aviation, railways and commerce soon to discuss various development projects in the state.

    Chief Minister of West Bengal Sushri @MamataOfficial called on Union Minister Shri @nitin_gadkari Ji today. In the presence of officials they reviewed various road projects being undertaken in the state. pic.twitter.com/ueDD4jTys0
    — Office Of Nitin Gadkari (@OfficeOfNG) July 29, 2021

    “Chief Minister of West Bengal Sushri @MamataOfficial called on Union Minister Shri @nitin_gadkari Ji today. In the presence of officials they reviewed various road projects being undertaken in the state,” Gadkari’s office said in a tweet.

    The sources said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo also presented a report to the Union minister on the construction of rural roads in West Bengal under the third phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

  • Mamata urges Opposition to unite, make it ‘Modi vs country’ in 2024

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is in the capital to stitch an Opposition alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, asserted on Wednesday that these parties must unite. Saying that regional parties will lead the nation, she added when Narendra Modi fights elections next time, it will be against the country.

    The TMC chief’s statement is significant considering that she has been trying to cobble together an Opposition alliance to take on the NDA in 2024. Referring to her party’s catch line in the Bengal Assembly polls, she said it will be ‘khela hobe’ (game on) in the entire country. “It will be (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi vs country.”

    During her five-day visit, Mamata has meetings lined up with many Opposition leaders. “I don’t want to be the face (of the Opposition). I want to continue as a worker and we need to work together.”

    Speaking about her equations with major Opposition leaders, she said, “I have good relationships with Jagan (Mohan Reddy), Naveen babu (Patnaik), Chandrababu (Naidu), (MK) Stalin, Uddhav (Thackeray), Hemant Soren.” She added that she also had a chat with Lalu Yadav on Tuesday. “If there is a political storm, you won’t be able to stop it,” Mamata said. “Regional parties will lead the nation, we will not bow down before anyone anymore. The time has come.”

    Without disclosing details of her meeting with the PM, Mamata said the Pegasus snooping matter is serious. “Why is the Union government not taking action on the Pegasus project? The situation is very serious. There should be also an all party meet to discuss a formula for investigating,” she added.

    Mamata met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at the latter’s residence and discussed the political situation, Opposition unity and Pegasus. Rahul Gandhi was present during the meeting. Terming it as a positive interaction, Mamata said, “Opposition unity was discussed. Everyone should come together to take on the BJP. A positive result should come out of this meeting in the near future.” This was the first meeting between Mamata and Sonia after TMC’s win in Bengal, where the parties contested as rivals.