News Analysis India

Tag: Mamata Banerjee

  • Bengal govt appoints Gyanwant Singh as director security following ECI order

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The West Bengal government on Monday appointed IPS officer Gyanwant Singh as the new director security in place of Vivek Sahay who was removed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the incident in Nandigram in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was injured, an official said.

    Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay held a meeting with Director General of Police P Nirajnayan and decided to appoint Singh, who was the additional director security, for the post.

    A communication about the state’s decision was forwarded to the ECI which had directed the administration to appoint a new director security by 1 pm on Monday, the official said.

    The chief minister was injured on March 10 during campaigning in Nandigram constituency in Purba Medinipur district, from where she is contesting the assembly election.

    The ECI suspended and removed Sahay “for grossly failing in discharge of his primary duty as Director Security to protect the Z+ protectee”.

    The IPS officer was also suspended by the poll panel.

  • Suvendu seeks rejection of Mamata’s nomination for ‘suppressing’ info on criminal cases

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP candidate against Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram, Monday said he has sought rejection of the nomination of the West Bengal chief minister for not declaring six criminal cases against her while filing her papers.

    In his complaint to the Election Commission, Adhikari, a former confidante of Banerjee, claimed she suppressed the information about five cases filed against her in Assam and another lodged by the CBI in West Bengal.

    He said he has mentioned the case numbers in his complaint but did not elaborate on the offences allegedly committed by the TMC supremo, sources in the office of the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said.

    “The TMC candidate for the Nandigram assembly constituency, the honourable chief minister, in her affidavit has not mentioned at least six cases which are under trial against her.

    One is a CBI case and five others are in Assam.

    “I have appealed to the ECI (for rejecting her nomination). I hope they will take necessary action. I will wait and see what action they take. The action must be as per the law,” Adhikari told reporters.

    A senior EC official said the matter is being looked into.

    No immediate reaction was available from the TMC.

    In a significant ruling in March 2018, the Supreme Court had said the returning officer for an election can reject nomination papers of a candidate for non-disclosure and suppression of information, including those related to their assets and criminal background.

    It had ruled that voters have a fundamental right to know about their candidates and leaving columns blank in the nomination paper amounts to violation of their right.

  • Bengal polls: Conspiracies cannot stop me; will continue to fight BJP, says Mamata

    By PTI
    JHALDA: West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Monday said no conspiracy can stop her from campaigning ahead of the assembly polls in the state and will continue to fight against the BJP.

    Addressing her first rally in a district after being injured at the hustings in Nandigram, Banerjee said as long as she has her voice and her heart functions, she will continue to fight.

    “Wait for a few days, my legs will be better. I will see whether your legs move freely on Bengal’s soil,” Banerjee said without naming anyone.

    “Only conspiracy,” she said, addressing the election rally here in Purulia district.

    She also said the BJP has come from Delhi with many of its leaders to win the assembly elections.

    “But I say you will not get Bengal,” she said, claiming that her government has done a lot of development and welfare works in the state in its 10-year rule.

    “No other government in the world has been able to do as much work as ours. Their (BJP) prime minister cannot run the country, totally incompetent,” she said.

    The Trinamool supremo said that her government will deliver free ration to the people of West Bengal at their doorsteps if voted to power.

    “TMC government will remain in power, you will continue to get free ration. We will deliver ration to your doorstep. You don’t have to come to the shop after May,” said Banerjee.

    “My government has taken the decision in the budget to give Rs 1,000 to all the widows,” she said adding that a pension of Rs 2,000 was also provided in the Budget for tribals aged above 60 years.

    “This is the only state that has not snatched the land rights of tribals,” Banerjee said.

    Banerjee was injured in her left leg, head and chest while campaigning in Nandigram on March 10 after filing her nomination from the high-profile seat, an incident the ruling TMC claimed was a “BJP conspiracy to take her life”.

    The Election Commission, however, ruled out that there was an attack on the chief minister after reviewing the reports sent by its two special poll observers and the state government.

    The poll panel concluded that Banerjee sustained injuries due to a lapse on part of her security in charge.

  • What happened to Mamata was accident, should’nt be politicised: Nitin Gadkari

    By ANI
    The incident in which West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee suffered injury was an “accident” and it should not be politicised, said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday, adding that such controversies ruin the atmosphere of the elections.

    Gadkari also termed the accident “unfortunate” and said we should not tarnish polls.

    “Polls further dignify our democratic traditions. We shouldn’t tarnish polls. What happened with Mamata Banerjee was an accident, everyone says it. This should not be politicised. She and we are going to the people’s court. One should go ahead by accepting the decision,” Gadkari told ANI.

    “The BJP is appealing to the people, they (Trinamool Congress) should also do the same. Whatever the public decides should be accepted and they should move forward. Creating such controversies and ruining the atmosphere of the elections is not right. The accident was unfortunate but I urge her not to politicise it,” he added.

    Earlier on March 10, Banerjee had alleged that she was pushed by a few unidentified people during her election campaigning. Later, she was brought to Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital by road from Nandigram. Banerjee sustained “severe bone injuries” on her left foot and ankle as well as bruises and injuries on her shoulder, forearm and neck, according to the report of her initial medical examination. She was discharged from the hospital on March 12.

    Following the alleged attack, the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer in the state, demanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s treatment history at SSKM hospital to be made public.

    Last week, a delegation of six MPs of Trinamool Congress (TMC) met the Election Commission officials in the national capital to raise their concern over the Nandigram incident. “The events/actions leading up to the attempt on her life, leave no doubt that the attack was premeditated and part of a deep-rooted conspiracy,” read a letter by the TMC to the Election Commission.

    A BJP delegation also met the Election Commission of India and demanded an impartial probe into an alleged attack on Mamata Banerjee.

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

    Elections to 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.

  • Bengal polls: Trinamool appoints Yashwant Sinha as party’s vice president

    By ANI
    KOLKATA: Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha, who recently joined the Trinamool Congress, has been appointed the Vice President of the Mamata Banerjee-led party.

    The former union minister has also been made a member of the TMC national working committee as per the order issued on Monday by TMC General Secretary Subrata Bakshi.

    On March 13, Sinha joined the TMC in Kolkata ahead of the state Assembly polls.

    West Bengal will witness eight-phased Assembly polls beginning March 27.

    The tenure of the 16th Legislative Assembly of West Bengal will end on May 30 this year. A total of 7,34,07,832 voters will choose their representative for the 17th Legislative Assembly of West Bengal.

  • ‘Demand high-level probe’: Trinamool disagrees with EC’s ‘no attack’ on Mamata observation

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The TMC said on Sunday it disagrees with the Election Commission’s observation that there was no pre-meditated attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram and demanded a high- level probe into the incident, insisting the inquiry by election observers lacks credibility.

    However, party spokesperson Sougata Roy expressed satisfaction that the EC agreed that there were security lapses and took action against some officials.

    Earlier Sunday, the Election Commission concurred with the reports sent by its two special poll observers and the state government that there was no pre-meditated attack on the TMC supremo on Wednesday, indicating that her injuries were the result of a security lapse.

    The poll panel ordered that Director (Security) Vivek Sahay, an IPS officer, be removed from his post and placed under suspension immediately.

    The Superintendent of Police of Purba Medinipur Pravin Prakash was also suspended, while District Magistrate Vibhu Goel was transferred.

    “We disagree with the EC’s observation based on the report of special election observers that there was no attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The report of the election observers lacks credibility and fails to inspire confidence. We reiterate our demand for a high-level probe into the incident,” Roy said.

    ALSO READ | BJP asks EC to make Mamata Banerjee’s treatment history public

    Reacting to the removal of officials by the EC over security lapses, Roy said, “It is good that at least they have accepted that there were security lapses.

    “It is a welcome move that the EC has removed the officials over security lapses. At least they have taken some action. We had raised this question as to how there were lapses in the security of the chief minister,” he said.

    After reviewing the reports sent by its two special poll observers–Ajay Naik and Vivek Dube– and the state government, the EC concluded that Banerjee sustained injuries prima facie due to a lapse on the part of her security in- charge, sources in the poll panel said.

    ALSO READ | Mamata should apologise to Nandigram people for false claims over ‘attack’ incident: BJP MP Locket Chatterjee

    While Banerjee was using an ordinary vehicle, her director of security Vivek Sahay was in a bulletproof car when the incident took place.

    Also, no approval was taken from the returning officer of the area where the incident took place, the sources said.

    Due to this, poll officials could not deploy videographers or flying squads, they added.

  • ‘Injured tiger more dangerous’: Mamata Banerjee leads TMC’s Kolkata march on wheelchair

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: True to her street fighter image, Mamata Banerjee was back on the roads of Kolkata on Sunday, four days after being injured at the hustings in Nandigram, leading a TMC march on a wheelchair and declaring an injured tiger is far more dangerous.

    Accompanied by senior TMC leaders, Banerjee was seen greeting the crowd with folded hands, with security personnel pushing her wheelchair.

    Banerjee joined the five km road show from Mayo Road to Hazra More as part of observation of Nandigram Diwas to commemorate the killing of 14 villagers in police firing during the anti-land acquisition protest in 2007.

    Banerjee is contesting the high-profile Nandigram seat for the first time against former confidante-turned-adversary Suvendu Adhikari, the sitting MLA, who resigned and switched over to the BJP.

    Addressing the gathering after the hour-long march, Banerjee said attempts to incapacitate her to stop her from campaigning have failed, and asserted she will canvass for TMC candidates across the state on wheelchair.

    “I have faced a lot of attacks in my life but I have never surrendered before anyone. I will never bow my head. An injured tiger gets more dangerous,” she asserted.

    ALSO READ | Mamata Banerjee calls on West Bengal to ‘never bow down to cowardice’

    Banerjee was injured in her left leg, head and chest while campaigning in Nandigram on March 10 after filing her nomination, an incident the ruling TMC claimed was a “BJP conspiracy to take her life”.

    The Election Commission, however, ruled out that there was any attack on the West Bengal chief minister and the ruling Trinamool Congress leader after reviewing the reports sent by its two special poll observers and the state government.

    The Commission concluded that Banerjee sustained injuries due to lapse on part of her security in charge.

    The poll panel Sunday ordered that Director (Security) Vivek Sahay, an IPS officer, be removed from his post and placed under suspension immediately.

    The Superintendent of Police of Purba Medinipur Pravin Prakash was also suspended, while District Magistrate Vibhu Goel was transferred.

    “Doctors advised me against going out for campaign today. But I felt that I should participate in today’s rally as we have already lost a few days due to my injury.

    “My pain is not greater than the suffering of people as democracy is being trampled through dictatorship. If I sit at home for such a long time that will serve the agenda of the conspirators. They will be successful,” the fiesty TMC supremo said.

    Banerjee said she chose Hazra as the point to end the Kolkata rally as she had been subjected to “many physical attacks at this spot” in her political career.

    TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, her nephew, said at the start of the rally his party will not bow before “outsiders” and asserted she will win the election battle no matter what challenges are thrown before her.

    He also urged people to put up a united fight against the CPI(M) and its ally, the Congress, and claimed that the communist regime had perpetrated atrocities on the poor farmers of the state, citing the Nandigram movement of 2007.

    “We will not bow before the BJP, we will not bow before the outsiders,” he asserted.

    Shouting slogans such as ‘Modi babu ashe Modi babu Jay, Bangla nijer meyeke chay’ (PM Modi may come and go, Bengal wants its daughter to rule the state), the Diamond Harbour MP said, “Despite her serious foot injury, our leader has joined the rally. She will conquer the battle with her broken foot.”

    Carrying posters and placards hailing Banerjee as the “daughter of Bengal”, TMC supporters raised slogans against the BJP and called for “defeating the outsiders” in the assembly elections.

    The TMC activists also chanted the slogan “Bhanga Paye Khela Hobe!” (Will play with broken leg), a reference to Banerjee’s leg injury.

    “We will continue to fight boldly! I’m still in a lot of pain, but I feel the pain of my people even more. In this fight to protect our revered land, we have suffered a lot and will suffer more but we will NEVER bow down to COWARDICE!” Banerjee had earlier tweeted minutes before arriving for the march.

  • Mamata Banerjee injury: Director Security, SP suspended, DM removed over Nandigram incident

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday suspended director of security, West Bengal government, and superintendent of police, East Midnapore, in connection with the incident in which chief minister Mamata Banerjee was injured in Nandigram on March 10. The ECI also removed the district magistrate of East Midnapore.

    The ECI said the decision of suspending two IPS officers and removing an IAS was taken on the basis of reports submitted by the chief secretary West Bengal, special general observer Ajay Nayak and special police officer Vivek Dubey. The Commission found the two suspended officers found the two suspended officers failed to protect the Bengal CM.

    Mamata received injuries on her left foot while greeting her supporters standing on the footboard of her vehicle and got sandwiched between the front door and seat of the car because of pressure from the crowd. Initially, she described the incident as a fall out of conspiracy but next day, in a video message from SSKM hospital, she distanced herself from her allegation and said the crowd came close to her car and she got crushed.

    ALSO READ | Injuries sustained by Mamata Banerjee not result of attack: Election Commission

    In a report to the ECI by the two special observers, it was said that the incident was an accident, not an attack and held the police arrangement responsible for the event.

    In a statement, the ECI said Vivek Sahay shall be removed from the post of director security and be placed under suspension immediately. ‘’The charges must be framed against him within a week for grossly failing in discharge of his primary duty as director security to protect the Z+ protectee,’’ the statement says.

    The Commission also directed to frame charges against police superintendent Pravin Prakash immediately for major failure of bandobast.

    The ECI also instructed to identify other security personnel who were in close proximity of the Bengal CM. ‘’A committee of Chief Secretary and DGP shall identify within next three days the other proximate security personnel below director security, who failed in their duties to prevent the incident and protect the Z+ protectee  VVIP and take suitable action for their failure under intimation to the Commission by 1700 hours on 17th March, 2021,’’ the ECI said.

  • Mamata Banerjee continues poll campaign, kicks off roadshow on wheelchair in Kolkata

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: In her first public appearance after receiving injuries in Nandigram, the West Bengal chief minister kicked off a roadshow on the wheelchair in Kolkata on Sunday and said she would campaign across the state with her injured casting-covered foot on the carriage cart.

    “I am hurt and unwell, but my goal remains the same. My body is full of bruises. I will continue to roam around Bengal on this wheelchair. If I go on bed rest, who will reach out to the people of Bengal ?” asked Mamata, while addressing a rally at Hazra crossing in south Kolkata at the end of the roadshow.

    On March 10, Mamata received injuries when she was greeting her supporters standing on the footboard of her vehicle and got sandwiched between the front door and the seat because of a pressure from the crowd in Nandigram from where she is contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections. She was under treatment at SSKM Hospital and released on Friday last week.

    The roadshow was planned after Mamata came out of the hospital. She was accompanied by the candidates fielded in Kolkata along with hundreds of party supporters.

    “Remember, an injured tiger is extremely dangerous. I will never bow down. May the unholy powers be destroyed and the good prevails,” she said.    

    In Nandigram, the Assembly constituency which has become the epicenter of Bengal’s fierce electoral battle, Mamata is contesting against her once-trusted lieutenant and colleague in her cabinet Suvedu Adhikari, who defected to the BJP.

    Mamata, after the roadshow, flew to Durgapur to address a series of rallies in Junglemahal, where the BJP made deep inroads by bagging all five Lok Sabha seats in 2019 general elections, starting from tomorrow.  

    Mamata’s roadshow on Sunday and her announcement to travel across Bengal on the wheelchair have triggered concern in the saffron camp as the Bengal CM’s arch-rival party is fearing the TMC supremo might draw sympathy votes in her favor.

    BJP’s Bengal chapter, on Sunday, wrote a letter to the chief electoral officer requesting him for furnishing the medical treatment history of Mamata for the public to know the truth.

    “The Trinamool Congress and its cadres have attempted to use the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s purported injury, which seems self-inflicted in order to gain sympathy and cause violence in different parts of the state…. It has been noted that a multi-specialty medical board was promptly consulted by SSKM hospital to treat the Hon’ble Chief Minister, but the health bulletins issued by them thereafter had been opaque non-specific….We sincerely urge you to seek details from the treating hospital regarding diagnostic and treatment history of her injury,’’ the letter said.

  • Mamata should apologise to Nandigram people for false claims over ‘attack’ incident: BJP MP Locket Chatterjee

    Taking potshots at the TMC boss, Locket Chatterjee said #39;the plaster on the CM #39;s left foot was replaced with bandage in just 24 hours, and that was something unusual #39;.