News Analysis India

Tag: Mamata Banerjee

  • WB polls: Mamata Banerjee not to campaign in Kolkata anymore, confirms TMC

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will discontinue her campaigns in Kolkata for the remaining three phases of the ongoing assembly polls in the state amidst an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases.

    On April 26, she will only hold a ‘symbolic’ meeting on the last day of campaigning in the state capital, informed Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien.

    “Mamata Banerjee will not campaign in Kolkata anymore. Only one ‘symbolic’ meeting on the last day of campaigning in the city on April 26 will be held. She slashed time for all her election rallies in all districts and is now restricted to just 30 minutes,” Brien said in a tweet.

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has already announced the suspension of all his forthcoming public rallies in West Bengal and advised other political leaders to do the same.

    “In view of the COVID situation, I am suspending all my public rallies in West Bengal. I would advise all political leaders to think deeply about the consequences of holding large public rallies under the current circumstances,” tweeted the Congress leader.

    Last week, TMC had requested the Election Commission to club the remaining phases of the assembly elections into one in view of the intensifying COVID-19 situation. Following this, the Chief Electoral Officer in West Bengal called an all-party meeting over adhering to COVID-19 norms during the ongoing assembly elections.

    The first five phases of the eight-phase West Bengal assembly elections have already been completed. The sixth phase of the state assembly polls is scheduled for April 22. Polling for the seventh and the eighth phase will be held on April 26 and April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

    West Bengal recorded 7,713 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday. With this, the total number of cases in the state goes to 6,51,508. The active number of COVID-19 cases stands at 45,300. Meanwhile, 5,95,668 people recovered from the disease so far. The COVID death toll in West Bengal reaches 10,540. 

  • People of West Bengal want ‘white’ beard, not saree: State BJP chief Dilip Ghosh

    By PTI
    BARDHAMAN (WEST BENGAL): In an apparent jibe at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh on Sunday said that people want the white beard and not white saree. Ghosh’s reference to white beard is apparently to that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The TMC supremo, on the other hand, is famous for her trademark white saree and Hawaiian slippers. “White saree and Hawaiian slippers have fooled the people of West Bengal for long. That won’t happen now. They don’t want white saree anymore, what they need is the white beard, which will build Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal),” he said, while addressing an election rally at Bhatar constituency in Purba Bardhaman district.

    He said that elections in West Bengal won’t be needed to be conducted under the security provided by central forces after the BJP comes to power in the state. “We will straighten the spine of the state police that has been curved by turning the force into the political agent of the ruling party,” Ghosh said.

    He also held roadshows in Ausgram, Purbasthali and Mangalkot seats in the district. These constituencies will go to polls in the sixth phase on April 22. The results of the elections to the 294 assembly seats in the state will be declared on May 2.

  • PM Modi should resign owning responsibility for COVID surge; no response on 5.4 cr doses demand: Mamata

    Banerjee accused Modi of exporting vaccines to other countries to boost his image in the international arena while there was a scarcity in his own nation.

  • Mamata demoralised as BJP much ahead of TMC after five phases of polls: Amit Shah in Bengal rally

    By PTI
    PURBASTHALI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the BJP will bag more than 122 of the 180 seats that went to polls in West Bengal in five phases.

    Shah, while addressing a rally here in Purba Bardhaman district, claimed that Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will have to make an exit after losing the Nandigram seat to the BJP.

    “Didi looks demoralised after five phases of elections as it has been established that the BJP, with more than 122 seats, is much ahead of her.

    “Take it from me, Suvendu Adhikari (BJP candidate) will win the elections from Nandigram,” he stated.

    The home minister further said that Banerjee should be bidden farewell with a huge defeat, one befitting her stature.

    Claiming that illegal immigrants are taking away the benefits meant for the country’s citizens, he said, “People like you and me are second-grade citizens for Didi as we do not add heft to her vote bank.”

  • Mamata put future of millions of Bengal’s youth at stake to secure nephew’s; playing politics of vengeance: PM Modi

    By ANI
    DAKSHIN DINAJPUR: Attacking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said she has put the future of millions of youth at stake to secure the future of her ‘Bhaipo’ (nephew).

    Addressing a public meeting at Gangarampur, Prime Minister said, “In the last 10 years, Didi’s government has made old industries shut and forced youths to migrate. Where there is appeasement, there is poverty, there is discrimination and suppression of hope and aspiration. Didi put the future of millions of Bengal’s youth at stake to secure the future of Bhaipo (nephew).”

    “Didi o Didi… Such days would not have to be seen if you had twisted the ears of the tolabaazs (extortionists) who looted the poor people of Bengal and made your favourite bhaipo to do sit-ups,” he said.

    Prime Minister accused Mamata Banerjee of practising appeasement politics.

    ALSO READ | Mahakumbh 2021: After PM Modi’s appeal to keep Kumbh ‘Symbolic’, seers come out in support

    “Appeasement does not lead to better roads, schools-colleges, industry, employment and more. The dilapidated roads in this region, the lack of hospitals and the lack of irrigational facilities is proof enough,” he said.

    He further said, “Mamata Didi hates the names of Maa Ganga and Lord Shri Ram. Her hatred has increased so much that she changed the name ‘Ramdhenu’ to ‘Rongdhenu’. Didi abuses Indians who live on the banks of the Ganges. She insults their faith, food, language and attire.”

    Prime Minister greeted the people of West Bengal for good voter turnouts in the last four phases of the state Assembly elections.

    CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW LIVE ELECTION UPDATES

    “The way the people of Bengal have voted at all stages, I greet the citizens of Bengal by bowing my head. After many decades, they have got the opportunity to vote fearlessly, otherwise, every vote was held amidst hooliganism,” he said.

    ‘Her politics has crossed a dangerous limit of vengeance’

    In a separate rally in Asansol, PM Modi also slammed the Chief Minister after an FIR was registered against Banerjee for allegedly provoking an attack on central forces during the fourth phase of polling, which led to the deaths of four people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed her for crossing the limit of vengeance.

    He said, “Her politics isn’t limited to just protests, but it has crossed a dangerous limit of vengeance.”

    The complainant, named Siddik Ali Miah, said Banerjee makes various provocational statements through media for the “purpose of breaking peace and tranquility in West Bengal”.

    READ MORE | BJP urges EC to form SIT to probe CM Mamata Banerjee’s purported audiotape on Sitalkuchi firing

    “She hatched up a criminal conspiracy and delivered her speech for provoking the general public, especially the women to launch an attack on the paramilitary forces armed with hand made various weapons and in the consequence of such conspiracy the villagers, especially the Muslim community including women in large numbers launched an attack on the paramilitary forces with hand made various weapons on 10.04.2021at 11 pm at Booth No. 5/126,” he stated in his complaint to inspector in-charge, Mathabhanga police station.

    He further stated that the last four phases of voting have left the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in shatters.

    PM Modi said, “Four rounds of voting, TMC is split into pieces. The remaining four rounds of polling, didi-bhaipo will be eliminated. In the fifth phase of voting, polling is underway where the button with the lotus symbol will be pressed in large numbers to form the BJP government.”

    Voting for the fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls began at 7 am on Saturday amid tight security.

    Polling is underway in a total of 45 constituencies covering the districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman in the fifth phase. A total of 319 candidates, including 39 women are in the fray in Phase-V.

    There are 15,789 polling stations designated for this phase. The security for this phase has been beefed up with the deployment of 1,071 companies of central forces for ensuring a peaceful election.

    The voting for the sixth phase will be held on April 22.

  • Bengal polls: Didi indifferent to people’s health, skips Covid meetings, says Modi 

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is not concerned about people’s healthcare as she skipped the last two meetings convened in the wake of the second wave of the Covid pandemic.

    “I held two meetings with the chief ministers. But she did not attend. She is not concerned about people’s healthcare in Bengal in the wake of the Covid pandemic,” Modi said while addressing a poll rally in Asansol.

    Modi also attacked Mamata for politicising the Cooch Behar firing incident a day after the leak of her audiotape in which she is allegedly heard proposing a rally with the victims’ dead bodies.

    “An audio tape has come out which shows how Didi (Mamata) is doing politics over it. Didi is asking to take out a procession with dead bodies. She is doing politics over the bodies of the Cooch Behar victims,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Mamata put future of millions of Bengal’s youth at stake to secure nephew’s; playing politics of vengence: PM Modi

    In the audio clip, Mamata is purportedly heard instructing TMC candidate in Sitalkuchi Partha Pratim Ray not to release the bodies as she would organise a procession with it. She was also heard instructing Ray to engage professional lawyers before lodging an FIR.

    Modi also castigated Mamata citing her speech and alleging that the Bengal CM used such words while attacking him which doesn’t befit Bengal’s culture.

    “She made a comment on my growing beard and said something was wrong with my head. She labelled me as a superman and accused me of instigating communal discord. The language she used to attack a Prime Minister doesn’t befit to Bengal’s culture,” the PM said.     

    Modi, in his speech, reminded of the communal clash that took place in Asansol after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “Hundreds of properties were destroyed in the incident. Who was in support of the people responsible for the riots in Asansol?” asked Modi without naming Mamata.

    Recalling the 2018 panchayat elections, the PM accused TMC of insulting India’s democracy by depriving people to contest and exercise their franchise. “The people of Bengal have not forgotten how candidates of opposition parties were not allowed to submit nominations in one-third seats in the rural polls. Even, the Supreme Court expressed displeasure over the TMC’s atrocities in the panchayat elections,” he added.

  • WB elections: My phone is being tapped, will order CID probe, says Mamata Banerjee

    By PTI
    GALSI (West Bengal): A day after a purported audio tape -in which she is heard proposing a rally with the bodies of Cooch Behar firing victims- surfaced, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that her phone is being tapped and said she will order a CID probe into it.

    Addressing an election rally here, she accused the BJP of being involved in the conspiracy as the saffron party “cannot match” the ruling Trinamool Congress’ campaigning on development programmes.

    “They (BJP leaders) are even eavesdropping on our everyday conversation. It seems they are tapping our phone calls on cooking and other household chores.

    “I will order a CID probe into it and not spare anyone involved in such snooping activities. I have already come to know who is behind this,” the TMC supremo said.

    Banerjee also claimed she has information that the “central forces are being involved in such acts with some agents”.

    “It is clear that the BJP is behind it though they claimed they have no role in it,” she said.

    A controversy had erupted on Friday after the BJP released the purported audio clip in which Banerjee is heard telling the Trinamool Congress nominee of Sitalkuchi to hold rallies with bodies of the four persons killed in CISF firing during polling on April 10.

    Claiming that such a conversation never took place, the TMC had described the audio clip as “bogus” and wondered whether the Centre was tapping a chief minister’s phone.

    Launching an attack on the Election Commission (EC) for not clubbing the remaining three phases of the ongoing assembly elections into one, she accused the poll panel of paying heed to the demands of the BJP.

    “You (EC) have curtailed the campaigning hours, and in the name of COVID restrictions, you are doing whatever the BJP demands.”

    Worried over the COVID-19 surge, Banerjee had on Thursday urged the Election Commission to think about conducting polls for the remaining assembly seats at one go, while also stressing that her party had opposed the prolonged eight-phase poll schedule.

    The EC has curtailed the time for the campaigning up to 7 pm.

    Earlier, it was up to 10 pm.

    The poll panel also extended the silence period from 48 hours to 72 hours in each of the remaining three phases of the elections to be held on April 22, 26 and 29.

    “Street meetings are usually held in the evening hours in the summer. The decision was taken purposely to reduce the number of my campaign meetings,” Banerjee said.

    She also alleged that the EC is “favouring” the saffron party so that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah can address all their poll rallies.

    She once again blamed the BJP for bringing outsiders during campaigning and exacerbating the COVID-19 situation in the state.

    “The pandemic situation was not as alarming in Bengal as that of Gujarat or Uttar Pradesh. But the sudden surge in coronavirus cases is due to the presence of outsiders who came in the state without RT-PCR tests,” she said.

    Banerjee also condoled the death of Congress candidate Rezaul Haque and Revolutionary Socialist Party nominee Pradip Kumar Nandi, who tested positive for COVID-19.

    She flayed the prime minister for not acting on the state government’s suggestion to vaccinate every citizen in the past six months when the spread of the virus was much less.

    “This has led to the present situation when walls are being raised in Lucknow to hide the view of cremation of bodies and the pandemic took a heavy death toll in Gujarat,” the TMC chief said.

    She accused Modi and Shah of making a false promise to extend financial aid to members of the Matua community and said they have done nothing for backward castes and dalits.

    Accusing the two BJP leaders of peddling lies at poll rallies, the TMC supremo said, “They are saying that we are making false promises.

    We are running the Kanyashree project and beneficiaries are getting the aid.

    Can he explain what happened to the PM Cares fund? Who benefited from demonetisation?”

  • Audiotape of Mamata’s conversation result of BJP’s ‘dirty tricks department’: TMC’s Yashwant Sinha

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: A Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation led by leaders Yashwant Sinha, Derek O’Brien and Purnendu Basu met the Election Commission (EC) regarding the ‘illegal’ recording of a conversation between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party candidate Partha Pratim Ray.

    Speaking to the media, Sinha said: “We met the EC to register a complaint that a day before the elections, the BJP released a so-called tape of the West Bengal CM and it is clear that this is the result of BJP’s dirty tricks department. It is released just a day before voting to influence voters.”

    He further informed that the big question raised before the Commission was who was taping the conversations of the Chief Minister.

    “I have been a minister and I wanna say that there is a proscribed procedure even for recording the conversations of a criminal,” he said.

    ALSO READ | BJP urges EC to form SIT to probe CM Mamata Banerjee’s purported audiotape on Sitalkuchi firing

    Meanwhile, Basu told the media: “We have conveyed to the EC that is an act of wrongdoing. If this way the audiotape of a Chief Minister is released, this is a very bad thing. We have asked for an appropriate investigation in this matter, and adequate punishment should be given.”

    Prior to this, the delegation also wrote a letter to the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) accusing the BJP of illegally recording a conversation between Banerjee and Ray.

    “In the said conference, it has been alleged that in the aftermath of the CISF firing incident at Sitalkuchi, Mamata Banerjee had a conversation with Partha Pratim Ray. The BJP has not only illegally recorded and/or caused it to be recorded, but also played it at the press conference out of context. The entire exercise by the BJP is an illegal act and is a direct assault on legal rights, including the Right to Privacy of Mamata Banerjee and Partha Pratim Ray,” the TMC delegation said.

    Polling is underway in a total of 45 constituencies covering the districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman in the fifth phase. A total of 319 candidates, including 39 women are in the fray in Phase-V.

    There are 15,789 polling stations designated for this phase. The security for this phase has been beefed up with the deployment of 1,071 companies of central forces for ensuring a peaceful election.

    The voting for the sixth phase will be held on April 22. 

  • Mamata put future of millions of Bengal’s youth at stake to secure nephew’s; playing politics of vengence: PM Modi

    By ANI
    DAKSHIN DINAJPUR: Attacking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said she has put the future of millions of youth at stake to secure the future of her ‘Bhaipo’ (nephew).

    Addressing a public meeting at Gangarampur, Prime Minister said, “In the last 10 years, Didi’s government has made old industries shut and forced youths to migrate. Where there is appeasement, there is poverty, there is discrimination and suppression of hope and aspiration. Didi put the future of millions of Bengal’s youth at stake to secure the future of Bhaipo (nephew).”

    “Didi o Didi… Such days would not have to be seen if you had twisted the ears of the tolabaazs (extortionists) who looted the poor people of Bengal and made your favourite bhaipo to do sit-ups,” he said.

    Prime Minister accused Mamata Banerjee of practising appeasement politics.

    ALSO READ | Mahakumbh 2021: After PM Modi’s appeal to keep Kumbh ‘Symbolic’, seers come out in support

    “Appeasement does not lead to better roads, schools-colleges, industry, employment and more. The dilapidated roads in this region, the lack of hospitals and the lack of irrigational facilities is proof enough,” he said.

    He further said, “Mamata Didi hates the names of Maa Ganga and Lord Shri Ram. Her hatred has increased so much that she changed the name ‘Ramdhenu’ to ‘Rongdhenu’. Didi abuses Indians who live on the banks of the Ganges. She insults their faith, food, language and attire.”

    Prime Minister greeted the people of West Bengal for good voter turnouts in the last four phases of the state Assembly elections.

    CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW LIVE ELECTION UPDATES

    “The way the people of Bengal have voted at all stages, I greet the citizens of Bengal by bowing my head. After many decades, they have got the opportunity to vote fearlessly, otherwise, every vote was held amidst hooliganism,” he said.

    ‘Her politics has crossed a dangerous limit of vengeance’

    In a separate rally in Asansol, PM Modi also slammed the Chief Minister after an FIR was registered against Banerjee for allegedly provoking an attack on central forces during the fourth phase of polling, which led to the deaths of four people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed her for crossing the limit of vengeance.

    He said, “Her politics isn’t limited to just protests, but it has crossed a dangerous limit of vengeance.”

    The complainant, named Siddik Ali Miah, said Banerjee makes various provocational statements through media for the “purpose of breaking peace and tranquility in West Bengal”.

    READ MORE | BJP urges EC to form SIT to probe CM Mamata Banerjee’s purported audiotape on Sitalkuchi firing

    “She hatched up a criminal conspiracy and delivered her speech for provoking the general public, especially the women to launch an attack on the paramilitary forces armed with hand made various weapons and in the consequence of such conspiracy the villagers, especially the Muslim community including women in large numbers launched an attack on the paramilitary forces with hand made various weapons on 10.04.2021at 11 pm at Booth No. 5/126,” he stated in his complaint to inspector in-charge, Mathabhanga police station.

    He further stated that the last four phases of voting have left the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in shatters.

    PM Modi said, “Four rounds of voting, TMC is split into pieces. The remaining four rounds of polling, didi-bhaipo will be eliminated. In the fifth phase of voting, polling is underway where the button with the lotus symbol will be pressed in large numbers to form the BJP government.”

    Voting for the fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls began at 7 am on Saturday amid tight security.

    Polling is underway in a total of 45 constituencies covering the districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas and Purba Bardhaman in the fifth phase. A total of 319 candidates, including 39 women are in the fray in Phase-V.

    There are 15,789 polling stations designated for this phase. The security for this phase has been beefed up with the deployment of 1,071 companies of central forces for ensuring a peaceful election.

    The voting for the sixth phase will be held on April 22.

  • BJP urges EC to form SIT to probe CM Mamata Banerjee’s purported audiotape on Sitalkuchi firing

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: A delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) met the Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata requesting the Commission to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for probing the purported audiotape of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in which she can be heard telling the TMC candidate from the Sitalkuchi constituency to hold protests with bodies of the four killed in Cooch Behar violence.

    “As far as the authenticity of the tape is concerned, Derek O’Brien and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy confirmed it in a conversation with the media. The only goal of the tape was to create further polarisation,” BJP leader Shishir Bajoria told mediapersons after meeting Election Commission officials in Kolkata.

    “It is requested that the Commission may examine the issue immediately and constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for carrying out a detailed investigation in this regard,” reads the BJP’s letter to EC.

    CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW LIVE ELECTION UPDATES

    Just a day before the fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls, the BJP on Friday released an audiotape, in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee can be purportedly heard telling the TMC candidate from the Sitalkuchi constituency Partha Pratim Ray to hold protests with bodies of the four killed in firing by security forces in the fourth phase polling on April 10.

    Violence erupted at a polling booth in Cooch Behar during the fourth round of polling on April 10. The ruling TMC alleged that central forces opened fire twice at polling booths in Cooch Behar where people are casting their votes, killing four people.

    READ MORE HERE | Mamata’s purported conversation with Trinamool nominee after Sitalkuchi firing stirs row

    Following the incident, the EC ordered the adjournment of the poll in PS 126 of Sitalkurchi AC, Cooch Behar based on an interim report from Special Observers. Since the incident, the Election Commission has barred the entry of any political leader in the Cooch Behar district for the next 72 hours.

    Voting for the fifth phase of West Bengal Assembly polls began at 7 am on Saturday amid tight security.

    Polling is underway in a total of 45 constituencies covering the districts of Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and a segment of Nadia, North 24 Parganas, and Purba Bardhaman in the fifth phase. A total of 319 candidates, including 39 women are in the fray in Phase-V.

    There are 15,789 polling stations designated for this phase. The security for this phase has been beefed up with the deployment of 1,071 companies of central forces for ensuring a peaceful election.

    The voting for the sixth phase will be held on April 22.