News Analysis India

Tag: Mamata Banerjee

  • Woman in saree flaunting her leg not reflection of Bengali culture: Dilip Ghosh justifies ‘bermudas’ comment

    By PTI
    KHARAGPUR: Justifying his controversial comment on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said on Thursday that a woman in a saree flaunting her leg is not a reflection of the Bengali culture.

    Addressing an election rally in Purulia on Tuesday, Ghosh had targetted Banerjee over her injured leg, saying that if she has to display her “broken leg” for votes, she can very well wear Bermuda shorts, which help people see it clearly.

    Asked about the comment, Ghosh told reporters, “Being a woman chief minister we certainly expect from her some decency that goes well with the culture and tradition of Bengal, and with the values of a Bengali woman.”

    “However, here we can see a saree-clad woman who is flaunting her leg frequently. Do you consider this as a reflection of the culture of Bengal? I have protested against this (at the meeting),” he said.

    Reacting to Ghosh’s justification, the Trinamool Congress said the BJP president has gone on to defend the insult he meted out to the “daughter of Bengal” and the people will punish the “misogyny”.

    “Be it saree clad women or those wearing ripped jeans, Bengal won’t forgive!” it tweeted.

    State minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said that women of Bengal won’t give a single vote to people of such mindset.

    Actor-turned-politician Nusrat Jahan said, “Misogyny and the need to control women as per the wishes of men is so deeply embedded in BJP leaders that it’s a matter of national concern now.”

    The BJP state president has earlier been in the midst of controversies for his comments, which ranged from claims that the milk of “desi” cows milk has gold content to demands that Balakot-like surgical strikes be carried out on Jadavpur University to drive out Communists.

    The chief minister has been campaigning for the elections on a wheelchair with her left leg plastered after she was injured in an incident in Nandigram soon after filing her nomination papers on March 10.

    She had alleged that the BJP hatched a conspiracy to prevent her from campaigning by organising the “attack”, a charge rubbished by the opposition party.

  • New political party backed by BJP to eat into minority votes: Mamata Banerjee

    By PTI
    PATHARPRATIMA: In an apparent reference to the Indian Secular Front, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the BJP of backing a new political party to eat into minority votes during the upcoming assembly polls.

    Without naming any party or any person, Banerjee also claimed at an election rally in South 24 Parganas district the founder of that outfit receives money from the BJP.

    “A new political outfit has been launched in the state at the behest of the BJP to grab a share of the minority votes and help the saffron party. Please don’t vote for its candidates,” she said.

    Abbas Siddiqui, a Muslim cleric, had recently launched the ISF and it is supporting the Left-Congress alliance in the assembly elections, the first phase of which is slated for Saturday.

    Siddiqui had also created a flutter by meeting All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, whose party is likely to contest in the polls.

    At the rally in Patharpratima, Banerjee said the CPI(M) and Congress have an understanding with the BJP.

    Only the Trinamool Congress can prevent implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Population Register in the state, and ensure amity among different communities, she said.

    Responding to repeated allegations by the BJP against her and the TMC, Banerjee said, “Am I being called a thief and murderer because I love people, and always rush to be on their side whenever required?” The Trinamool Congress boss also dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as “the lords of thieves”, demanding an explanation on “provident fund dues of lakhs of employees”, and sale of PSU stakes.

    On cyclone Amphan and relief measures in its aftermath, she said, “Out of the Rs 1 lakh crore of damages, he (Modi) had promised only a small fraction (Rs 1,000 crore) as help.

    But, whose money is this? This is state’s money.

    The Centre did not do Bengal any favour.

    “From cyclone Bulbul to Amphan, we have always come to the rescue of people. We monitored the situation risking our lives, and not sit in the comfort of home. The state government had managed to evacuate 19 lakh people from disaster zones during Amphan.

    “Around 30 lakh damaged houses are being rebuilt, the CM said.

    “There can be one or two exceptions,” she said in reference to opposition parties’ allegations of graft in execution of rehabilitation work.

    “However, if anyone has not received the relief amount, the person can get the same by writing to the administration after the elections.”

    Banerjee also slammed Shah for asking in public meetings what the TMC had done for West Bengal.

    “Let me ask him, have you undertaken schemes like ‘Kanyashree’, ‘Sabujsathi’ and ‘Khadyasathi’? Have you heard about ‘Duare Sarkar’ and its success? Are you giving ration free? “If the TMC returns to power, it will unveil more such historic social welfare projects covering every section of society,” she asserted.

    Banerjee alleged that Shah had “instructed” few media houses to project a higher number of seats for the BJP in surveys, but “first let it cross the 75-seat mark, which the saffron party will not be able to”.

    At another rally in Sagar in South 24 Parganas district, she gave the call for “Unnatataro TMC sarkar” (a TMC government with increased focus on development-centric activities).

  • NCP chief Sharad Pawar to campaign for Mamata Banerjee in Bengal

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar will travel to West Bengal to campaign Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the state Assembly polls, said NCP chief spokesperson, Mahesh Tapase on Thursday.

    “NCP chief Sharad Pawar will campaign in West Bengal in support of Mamata Banerjee. He will be on a three-day visit to the state from April 1, to hold various rallies, press conferences and meet Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers at Trinamool Bhavan,” said Tapase.

    Elections to the 294-member state Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.

    The state is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and BJP in the fray. 

  • Bengal polls: Mamata’s assets decreased by 45.08 per cent, says affidavit data

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s asset value has decreased by 45.08 per cent now compared to what it was during the 2016 assembly elections.

    Banerjee, who is contesting this year’s assembly election from Nandigram, has in her affidavit which was submitted along with her nomination to the Election Commission declared her total worth to be Rs 16,72,352.

    The Trinamool Congress supremo’s asset during the 2016 election when she contested from Bhawanipore constituency in the city was Rs 30,45,013, the ‘Analysis of criminal, financial education, gender and other details of candidates’ for West Bengal phase II polling stated.

    Assets of Banerjee’s party colleagues Mamata Bhunia and Sukumar De, who are in the poll fray, decreased by 37.53 per cent and 36.18 per cent respectively.

    CPI(M)’s Panskura Purba candidate Sk Ibrahim Ali witnessed a surpsiring 2141.48 per cent growth in his asset, the highest among candidates between 2016-2021, it said.

    Ali’s total asset during the 2016 elections, when he contested from the same seat was Rs 49,730.

    This year his total worth is Rs 10,64,956.

    TMC sitting MLA of Kakdwip, Manturam Pakhira’s assets grew by a considerable 735.95 per cent, the report said.

    In 2016 Pakhira’s net worth was Rs 8,02,335.

    It has increased to Rs 59,04,754 this year.

    In the second phase polling will be held on April 1 in Bankura (Part II), Paschim Medinipur (Part II), Purba Medinipur (Part II), South 24 Pargana (Part 1).

  • The loss of CPM brought BJP to the fore in West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

    By ANI
    BISHANPUR: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday remarked that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is doing the same things which were done by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) years ago.

    Speaking at a public rally in Bishnupur, Mamata said: ” CPI(M) is responsible for this (BJP’s entry in Bengal). The loss of CPI (M) has brought BJP to the fore. BJP is doing the same things the CPI (M) used to do.”

    Attacking the BJP on lifting Provident Fund (PF) and gratuity payments, Mamata said that it had promised to make 10,000 teachers permanent before the elections, yet kicked them out after polls.

    She also referred to BJP as a ‘party of liars, thieves and dacoits’.

    “We do not spew lies like Prime Minister Modi. We introduced Rupashree, to provide Rs 25,000 to a poor girl’s family, We have provided free cycles. We have provided Rs 10,000 to class XII students. We will provide Rs 10,000 more if our government remains,” she said.

    “From May, guardians and women of every family would receive Rs 500, and Rs 1,000 for scheduled castes and tribes. Widows will receive Rs 1,000. Class XII students will receive Rs 10,000 for smartphones. and also credit cards with a limit of upto Rs 10 lakh will be provided for them,” she said further on.

    Speaking on the alleged attack on her earlier this month, the Chief Minister said: “A lot of people asked me how are you doing this on one leg, this was due to my willpower. Doctors advised me to remain in the hospital for 15 days. I said that I had a belief in Maa, and I will accomplish this on one leg.”

    Mamata also alleged that she was attacked with an iron rod, causing her to get 46 stitches on her head.

    The BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) are at loggerheads in poll-bound West Bengal. with both sides holding public meetings and roadshows across the state in recent months.

    Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. 

  • Shah and Mamata trade salvos as game of blaming each other goes on

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  Election campaign in West Bengal is turning out to be a contest to outscream each other. More than political agendas, parties are pursuing personal lines of attack and indulging in a game of mu slinging. Tuesday was no different as West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Union Home Minister Amit Shah traded barbs during addressing ralliess.

    Shah hit out at Mamata’s nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee and accused him of messing up with funds sent by the Centre as relief for the victims of Cyclone Amphan. The CM branded BJP as a party of monsters and dacoits.

    Addressing a rally in Gosaba, a stronghold of the ruling TMC in South 24 Parganas district, Shah warned that all those involved in the compensation scam will be put behind bars if the saffron party comes to power in the state.

    “Modiji had sent Rs 10,000 crore for Amphan relief. Did you get its benefit? Nephew and his associates siphoned off the fund. After coming to power, we will set up a special investigation team and probe all discrepancies. No one will be spared. We will put all those involved in the scam behind bars,’’ said Shah without mentioning Abhishek’s name.

    TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee termed Shah’s claim false. “The Centre had given only Rs 1,000 crore against our demand of Rs 6,000 crore,’’ he said. In a prompt reply after Shah’s attack, Mamata said: “They (BJP) want to run one factory in the country which is manufacturing lies. They are selling everything. BJP is a party of monsters and dacoits.’’

    Though Mamata had hitherto not named the saffron camp for the injury on her leg, on Tuesday she held BJP responsible for the incident. “BJP thought I would not leave home after they hit my leg. My one leg is enough to kick them out of Bengal,’’ she said at a rally in Purulia district.

  • BJP govt closing down central concerns; PM’s ‘factory of lies’ alone will remain: Mamata

    West Bengal chief minister claimed that BJP governments in the two northeastern states have rendered thousands of government employees jobless.

  • Mamata vs Smriti sends poll mercury soaring

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  With four days left before campaigning ends for the first phase of polling on March 27, mercury has soared in West Bengal’s electoral battleground. Heavyweight campaigners crisscrossed two districts on Monday. Union minister Smriti Irani and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee were locked in a war of words, addressing rallies in East Midnapore and Bankura, respectively.

    Irani addressed three rallies in East Midnapore district. The Nandigram constituency, where Mamata is contesting against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, comes under East Midnapore. The CM, too, attended three rallies and unleashed a scathing attack on BJP.

    Star BJP campaigner Smriti Irani (centre, picture left) at an election rallyin East Midnapore,

    Mamata’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee also addressed three rallies in East Midnapore.  BJP’s state president Dilip Ghosh led a roadshow in West Midnapore. Sanyukt Morcha’s Mohammad Salim, a politburo member of CPI(M), and Indian Secular Front founder Abbas Siddiqui also addressed three rallies in the district.

    “Khela hobe. Emon khela hobe BJP boundaryir baire giye porbe (A game will take place. Such a game that BJP will be hit out of the boundary line),” Mamata said. Irani hit back. “Banglar ghorer meye bairer loker sathe khelche? Uni banglar meyeder sathe, goribder sathe khelchen (Is Bengal’s own daughter playing with outsiders? She is playing with the women and poor people of Bengal),” the MP said in Bengali, taking a jibe at Mamata’s effort to brand BJP as a party of outsiders.

    Mamata described BJP as a venomous cobra, which will bite if it manages to come to power in West Bengal. Branding the state’s ruling party an organisation full of corrupt leaders, Irani said: “TMC’s goons did not even spare the towers of cell phone providers in their areas. They steal the battery of the towers.’’Reminding people of the promises mentioned in her party manifesto, Mamata said: “Drinking water will be supplied to all the households. More than 70 lakh families have already been brought under the state government’s drinking water supply scheme.’’

  • ‘BJP making false poll promise of free ration, will not fulfil it’: Mamata Banerjee tells voters

    By PTI
    KOTULPUR: Hitting out at the BJP over its promise to dole out “free” rice and pulses to people, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the saffron party makes “tall promises” ahead of elections, and never delivers.

    The TMC supremo, who held three poll rallies in Bankura district during the day, claimed that the BJP has “roped in goons to threaten people.

    These goons might visit households and ask women with folded hands to vote for them or face the threat of being herded out”.

    “The BJP peddles lies before elections. They promise rice, pulses, chakri (job), everything. After polls, they are nowhere to be seen. I want to know what happened to the party’s promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of every citizen (before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls).”

    “Be ready with cooking utensils to chase away such elements if they issue a veiled threat,” Banerjee said, addressing the women.

    She claimed that the saffron party has hired ‘borgis’ (plunderers) from outside to “loot votes”.

    Mocking the BJP’s promise of 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs, the CM said, “They couldn’t take necessary steps to ensure 33 per cent female representation among elected representatives on different platforms.”

    “On the contrary, the TMC has already made sure that women get 50 per cent representation in panchayat and local bodies. Also 40 per cent of TMC representatives in Parliament are women.”

    The BJP, in its election manifesto released on Sunday, promised “KG to PG” free education, 33 per cent quota in government jobs, free travel in public transport for women, strict enforcement of the new citizenship law, and Rs three- lakh accident cover for farmers The party gave assurance that ‘Annapurna Canteen’ will be set up across the state to provide cooked food three times a day at Rs 5 per meal.

    It also said that subsidised ration would be doled out through the public distribution system — rice or wheat at Rs 1 per kg, dal at Rs 30 per kg, salt at Rs 3 per kg and sugar at Rs 5 per kg.

    Accusing the BJP of issuing diktats over food and clothes in states where the party is in power, the TMC chief said, “They (saffron camp leaders) dictate whether someone should wear a sari or any other attire. They decide if a pregnant woman should eat eggs.”

    If the BJP is elected to power, it will roll out the NPR and NRC exercises and remove names of bona-fide citizens from these registers, she said.

    “The party wants to change the history and geography of India. They change names of educational institutions at will. A cricket stadium in Gujarat has been named after PM Modi. One day they will change the name of our nation.”

    “Narendra Modi will soon be projected as someone bigger than Ambedkar. Even bigger than Tagore,” she claimed.

    Taking potshots at the saffron camp’s vow to free Bengal of corruption, Banerjee said, “We are yet to know the details of the money spent under PM Cares Fund. What all has been going on under the garb of disinvestment is no secret. I, on the other hand, don’t take single paise as salary. I have forfeited my allowance as a former MP, and as an MLA.”

    “Modibabu, you should explain why you are so eager to sell off stakes and close down Coal India, BSNL, MTNL and SAIL. Why you are so keen on closing down nationalised banks,” she pointed out.

    Training guns on the CPI(M) and the Congress, the feisty leader said that the two parties have entered into a deal with the BJP.

    “CPI(M) goons had unleashed terror in Kotulpur, Chomkaitala belts (in the 90s and early 2000), when I was an opposition leader. They had even attacked me when I visited the affected areas to be on side of victims families. Those same CPI(M) harmads (goons) have joined the BJP.”

    Talking about the injury she sustained on her foot during electioneering in Nandigram on March 10, the TMC boss claimed she was victim of a conspiracy hatched by rivals.

    “They had hit my head, my back, my hands and almost every part of my body in the past, you all (people) know that. This time, they (rivals) decided to target my leg to stop me from stepping out of home. But they don’t know Mamata Banerjee well,” she asserted.

    The CM, who addressed her second meeting at Indus, called upon party workers to stay alert when the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are put to test or faulty equipment is replaced.

    “Also, please don’t accept any food and cigarettes from a stranger during the voting exercise. Don’t go anywhere leaving the EVMs unguarded, no matter who asks you to,” she cautioned.

    The CM also urged the electorate to steer clear of people who offer gifts in exchange of votes.

    “I won’t ask you to reject the offer because anything that they are giving you has been bought with misappropriated public money. But do not vote for them,” she insisted.

    In a dig at BJP MP from Asansol Babul Supriyo, who has been fielded by the party from Tollygunje assembly seat, Banerjee, during the third meeting at Barjora, said, “Did he have to flee Asansol and move to Tollygunje, after having not done enough for his Lok Sabha constituency?”

    Apparently referring to TMC turncoats and parliamentarians who have been fielded as BJP candidates, Banerjee noted, “Some people want to achieve everything in life — they want to become MPs, MLAs, councillors as well as panchayat heads. They practise gaddari (betrayal) and rush to Delhi every now and then.”

    The CM further gave assurance that OBC communities which did not figure in Mandal Commission’s list will be registered by the state government, and a panel has been formed to look into the issue.

    She said 250 more madrasas will be set up in the state by her government to impart modern education to Muslim community children, and scholarships worth over Rs 2 crore are already in place for them.

    Banerjee also said that a dedicated freight corridor will be set up connecting several districts of south Bengal.

    It will foster economic activities and generate employment in several areas including Bankura, she added.

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  • Mamata questions EVMs fearing defeat, says PM Modi

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  Unleashing a blistering attack on the West Bengal chief minister on Sunday, Prime Minister Narandra Modi said Mamata Banerjee is repeatedly questioning the credibility of EVMs due to her fear of defeat. “You are questioning about EVMs’ functioning. These EVMs gifted you 10 years in power. Now you are questioning because you are anticipating your defeat,” the PM said at a rally in Bankura on the second day of his visit to the state. 

    Claiming that wall posters put up by the TMC showed Banerjee kicking at his head, Modi said if the Bengal CM wants, she can put her foot on his head and kick him but not the state’s development and the dreams of people living here. “I saw Didi’s men drawing pictures on walls where Didi is playing football with my head,” he said, questioning why the TMC supremo was insulting the heritage and culture of Bengal.

    The state has a long tradition of using wall etchings of cartoons and grafitti for political messaging.Modi’s attack is believed to be in backdrop of Mamata’s slogan Khela Hobe (there will be a game) which she is raising in poll campaigns. Modi’s speech on Sunday centred around the CM as he hit out at her on several issues. “Didi, you have made only false announcements in the last 10 years. Had people known about your governance, they would not have elected you 10 years ago. You keep saying Khela Hobe when people have decided to Khela Shesh Hobe (the game will be over),” said Modi.

    Reiterating the issues of cut-money and corruption, Modi said after wresting power, the BJP-led government will drag all those who are involved in the malpractice to the court of law. The saffron camp has engaged its heavy artillery in south Bengal as Union Home Minister Amit Shah also addressed a rally in East Midnapore district and came down heavily on the Bengal CM. Hitting out at her on aunt-nephew issue, Shah said, “Corruption and cut-money have shattered the dreams of poor people in the state. The cut-money that your nephew earns reaches you too. The electorate of the state will give a befitting reply to you in the upcoming Assembly elections,” said Shah.