News Analysis India

Tag: Trinamool

  • Not forcing anyone to raise ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan: Yogi Adityanath on allged heckling of Mamata

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: No one is being forced to raise ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans and there is nothing to feel bad about such chants, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Monday after his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee refused to speak at an event over raising of such slogans.

    Banerjee on Saturday refused to speak at an official event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mark the beginning of the celebrations of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 124th birth anniversary after ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans were raised just before she was to start her address.

    Speaking to a select group of journalists, Adityanath said, “If someone says Jai Shri Ram there is nothing to feel bad about it as it is a greeting”‘.

    “If someone says ‘namaskar’ or ‘Jai Shri Ram’ it shows his etiquette,” he said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants at Mamata: Trinamool questions PM’s silence; Governor warns against attempts to ‘belittle’ Netaji

    Responding to questions on Banerjee refusing to speak after such chants, Adityanath said, “We are not forcing anyone to speak it. But if someone says Jai Shri Ram there is nothing to feel bad about it.”

    The West Bengal chief minister had expressed displeasure at BJP supporters at the event shouting slogans.

    She said such an “insult” was unacceptable.

    With elections due in the state in March-April, the tussle between the BJP and Banerjee’s TMC has intensified.

    Talking about law and order in the state, Adityanath, said the state witnessed several riots during earlier regimes while under this government the state has not witnessed any such incident.

    He claimed the law and order situation in the state is one of the best in the country.

  • ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants at Mamata: Trinamool questions PM’s silence; Governor warns against attempts to ‘belittle’ Netaji

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress workers staged demonstrations in several districts of West Bengal on Sunday in protest against the “insult” of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a programme at Victoria Memorial, where she was greeted with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants.

    TMC supporters reportedly raised slogans against the BJP and burnt tyres on streets in Birbhum, Hooghly and West Burdwan.

    Singer and former TMC MP Kabir Suman was also seen holding a placard that read ‘Jai Bangla’ at Gariahat in the metropolis.

    The 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Subhas Chandra Bose in the state had ended in abject bitterness on Saturday when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to deliver her speech at the main ‘Parakram Diwas’ event at Victoria Memorial, after ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans greeted her.

    “Never have I been prouder to be part of Mamatadi’s team. In an ocean of monkeys, she stands out as the lone lioness,” TMC MP Mohua Moitra said in a tweet on Sunday.

    The party on Sunday also expressed regret over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “silence” on the “reprehensible treatment” meted out to Banerjee.

    ALSO READ | ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants to her is like red rag to a bull: Anil Vij takes potshot at Mamata

    State minister Bratya Basu, during a press meet here, said the incident reflects the “misogynistic mindset” of certain people.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was present at the programme, did not utter a single word condemning the behaviour of a section of audience. This shows that the BJP has no respect for Netaji and has no idea what he stood for,” he claimed.

    The chief minister on Saturday declined to speak at an event, organised to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 125th birth anniversary, after “Jai Shri Ram” slogans were raised there, in the presence of Modi.

    The TMC MLA claimed that “a dark fascist force” was trying to grab power in West Bengal, and alleged that freedom of expression would be under stake, if it gets to seize control.

    “Please don’t allow this force to take control of Bengal. It will do away with our freedom of expression. People of different ideologies are free to air their views in Bengal. That would all come to end,” Basu said, after popular Bengali actress Kaushani Mukhopadhay and the chairperson of Eastern India Motion Pictures Association, Piya Sengupta, joined the ruling camp at the meet.

    “An ugly force is now out to throttle the voice of all artistes in the country. Director Anurag Kashyap and actor Naseeruddin Shah have already got a taste of it,” he underlined.

    Sengupta and her daughter-in-law Mukhopadhyay said they have always been inspired by the “pro-people approach” of the TMC supremo, and vowed to serve the people of the state.

    Among others, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh was also present at the hastily called press meet.

    Two days ago, popular actor Sourav Das joined the TMC, while actor Rudranil Ghosh, who was close to the CM till recently, was seen rubbing shoulders with saffron camp leaders, of late, fuelling speculation that he might switch sides.

    ALSO READ | Parakram Diwas: Trinamool, BJP lock horns over legacy of Netaji ahead of assembly polls

    Meanhwile, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose stood “too tall among us” and there should not be any attempt to “belittle the maker”, amid the controversy over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s refusal to speak at an event for celebrating Netaji’s birth anniversary when a section of the audience shouted ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

    In a series of tweets on the microblogging site, Dhankhar cautioned against any attempt of creating din on the legacy of the great patriot.

    “There cannot be any room for creating noise on legacy #NetajiSubhasChandraBose. Such attempt will only belittle the maker & be irrelevant.”

    “Netaji all through thrived for unity of country. He stands too tall amongst us. Lets dump any ulterior thinking on this great occasion,” the governor tweeted.

  • Need to induct leaders from other parties to expand base: Bengal BJP chief

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Amid a spate of defections from the ruling TMC to the saffron camp in Bengal ahead of the assembly polls, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Sunday allayed apprehensions of the turncoats getting more importance than the old timers,saying switching political allegiance doesnt always guarantee leadership positions.

    Ghosh, however, insisted that the party, in order to expand its base for coming to power in Bengal, needs to induct people from other political outfits.

    In an interview to PTI, he also clarified that everybody has to abide by the rules and regulations of the party, be it the old-timers or the newcomers.

    “The BJP is a growing force in West Bengal. Our organisation is getting strengthened with each passing day; people from other parties including the TMC are joining us. If we dont take people from other outfits, how will we grow? “No matter who joins the camp, I would like to add that everyone has to abide by the rules and regulations of the party. No one is above the party,” he said, when asked about reports of infighting in certain pockets of the state over induction of leaders from the Trinamool Congress.

    According to the saffron camp sources and media reports, several party cadres and the RSS the BJPs ideological parent are not very happy with the induction of certain leaders in the party.

    “There could be complaints against some leaders, but you have to understand one thing that whoever is joining us will not become a leader immediately. In a democracy, numbers play an important role. We have to get the numbers (to come to power),” he said.

    Ghosh further said and “regarding the question of getting a leadership position, it will be decided later by the party who will be the leader or the face.”

    Ghosh assured the old-timers that they have nothing to worry about, as each of them will be accommodated according to their ability.

    “Everybody be will be accomodated according to their ability and will get respect. All of us have to work together to oust the TMC,” he said.

    Many senior TMC leaders, including political heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari, 14 other MLAs and a sitting MP, have switched over to the saffron camp in the last two years.

    Three Left MLAs and four Congress legislators have also joined the saffron camp.

    Talking about Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees allegation that the BJP has turned into a “washing machine” that cleanses corrupt turncoats after inducting them, Ghosh said taking someone into the party fold does not mean justifying his/her wrong deeds.

    “We are not certifying or justifying anyone or anything. If someone is proven guilty, he or she will have to face the consequences. Its the TMC that believes in the culture of corruption.”

    “In our society, a section of people are into politics, and wherever this section goes, that party grows from strength to strength. If there are some politicians who are willing to join us, we will welcome them.Law, on the other hand, will take its own course,” he stated.

    Ghosh, however, maintained that the party has put in place a mechanism to look into the profile of cadres and workers before inducting them.

    “We are not here to judge anyone. But, that doesnt mean we will induct each and every one. There is a screening process and everybody has to go through it. We can never deliver good governance if we dont come to power. For that, we need to expand our base,” he said.

    Referring to the “outsider versus insider” debate in West Bengal, the state BJP chief said the TMC has raked up the issue as it has nothing else to talk about.

    “The TMC, after a decade in power in the state, has nothing to talk about, it seems. Ours is a national party, and our leaders will come here to assist us. But, those who are fighting elections or are working at the grassroots level are residents of this state. So the allegations are baseless,” he underlined.

    Exuding confidence that the BJP will come to power with more than two-thirds majority, Ghosh said the party would draft a road map for the development of the state.

    Speaking on the issue of projecting a chief ministerial candidate before the assembly polls, Ghosh said it is for the leadership to decide.

    “In states where we were in opposition, we chose our CM candidate after winning the elections. Our party believes in collective leadership. Naming a chief ministerial candidate is not important,” he pointed out.

    Asked if he would take up the challenge if the party anoints him as its CM face, Ghosh said, he is a loyal soldier of the BJP, and has always taken up all responsibilities bestowed upon him.

    “When I was asked to become the state president of the party, I accepted it. I worked hard. When I was asked to contest for an MLA or an MP post, I agreed. Whatever responsibility the party assigns me, I will perform my duty diligently,” he added.

  • Still with party, future move depends on situation: Trinamool MLA Rajib Banerjee

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: A day after quitting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, TMC MLA Rajib Banerjee on Saturday said he is still with the party but his future move will depend on the situation.

    Banerjee, while speaking to reporters after garlanding a bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in his Domjur assembly constituency in Howrah district, said he has no immediate plan to quit from the MLA’s post.

    “I will remain a party worker, a TMC MLA but I cannot say now what will be my future move, which will depend on the situation,” Banerjee, who had handled irrigation and forest portfolios, said.

    Banerjee had earlier aired his grievances over loyal and hard-working leaders and workers allegedly not being given due respect in the party and the disconnect between the top brass and grassroots.

  • ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants to her is like red rag to a bull: Anil Vij takes potshot at Mamata

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Saturday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan to her is like “red rag to a bull” that is why she stopped her speech at an event in Kolkata.

    Banerjee had declined to speak at the event to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary where “Jai Shri Ram” slogans were raised in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    “Jai Shri Ram” to #MamtaBanerjee is like a red rag to a bull that is why she stopped her speech at Victoria Memorial today,” the firebrand Haryana BJP leader said in a tweet.

    Banerjee had not started her speech when the slogan was raised by a section of the crowd at the Victoria Memorial event to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of the legendary freedom fighter.

    She said such an “insult” was unacceptable.

    “This is a government programme and not a political programme. There has to be dignity. It doesn’t behove anybody to invite people and insult. I won’t speak. Jai Bangla, Jai Hind,” she said, wrapping up.

  • Trinamool MLA Debasree Roy cheated people who voted for her: Sovan Chatterjee

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: BJP leader Sovan Chatterjee on Thursday came down heavily on his former colleague in the TMC and Raidighi MLA Debasree Roy, claiming that the actor- turned-politician has made false promises and cheated the people of her constituency in South 24 Parganas district.

    Chatterjee, during a public meeting in Raidighi, said that he regrets having campaigned for the once-popular Bengali film actress in 2016.

    “Instead of serving the people who elected her, she cheated them, made false promises. If she is fielded again, I will ensure she gets defeated,” Chatterjee, once a key member of Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, said.

    The former state minister also claimed Roy had turned up at the BJP office in Delhi in 2019 as she wanted to join the saffron camp, but after “coming to know about it, I ensured she was not inducted”.

    Responding to Chatterjee’s comments, Roy said she “did not even steal 10 paisa”, while working for the people of Raidighi.

    “I don’t have that sick mindset. I dont cheat the poor to get rich,” Roy stated.

    “I would not want to criticise any individual, but Chatterjees remarks reflect his mentality. Please don’t force me to open my mouth,” she said.

    Countering claims that she wanted to join the BJP, the MLA said, “I fell victim to a conspiracy. I was framed.”

  • Whoever fights as BJP candidate from Nandigram, Mamata will be defeated: Suvendu

    Adhikari apologized to the people of the district for the movement against farmland acquisition in Singur, which forced Tata Motors to scrap the plan of an automobile hub.

  • Nadda writes to BJP workers on completion of his first year in office, slams Mamata

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: BJP president J P Nadda on Wednesday lauded the party’s recent victory in a number of state and local body polls and set the target of “historic” wins in the next round of assembly elections, in an open letter to party workers to mark the completion of his first year in office.

    Nadda, who had taken over from Home Minister Amit Shah on January 20 last year, also praised the party’s welfare work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In the letter, the BJP chief slammed the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal as “dictatorial” and alleged that over 300 saffron party workers have been killed in the poll-bound state in the last few years.

    He expressed confidence that ‘lotus’, the BJP’s poll symbol, will bloom there during the assembly elections, expected to be held in April-May.

    He exhorted the party workers to ensure a historic win for the BJP in the next round of assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal and play an important role in continuing the nation’s “vikas yatra” (development journey) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Under Modi’s leadership, the BJP has achieved victory in every election, he said, noting its impressive show in the Bihar assembly election and state bypolls in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Karnataka and Telangana.

    He also cited local body polls in Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Ladakh and Hyderabad among others.

    The BJP also “exposed the disinformation campaign of the Congress and its allies” on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, farm reform laws and the border row with China, he said.

    Nadda said the BJP has set an unparalleled example with its welfare work for people during the pandemic while noting that the year was unprecedented in many ways.

    The time was full of pain and hardships for humankind, but BJP workers followed Modi’s call of “seva hi sangathan” (organisation is for service) and served people across the country.

    BJP workers provided food and ration to over 30 crore needy people, Nadda claimed, adding that India under Prime Minister Modi showed the way to the world in combating the pandemic.

    “As a leading political party our goal is to win elections and work tirelessly for the goodwill and betterment of common people; but how a political party can effectively work as a potent tool of social service and help people in times of need, the world has witnessed an unmatched example of this through your service and hard work during the Corona pandemic,” he wrote.

    The BJP had lost badly to the Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi assembly polls last year, the first under Nadda, but has since then done well and continued with its expansion in regions where it had been traditionally weak.

    Referring to Bengal, he said, “When a person like me, who is the National President of India’s largest political party and who is always covered with security personnel, had to face a murderous assault during daylight while on a visit to West Bengal, it can be well imagined how difficult it would be for a common BJP worker to work under such tough and demanding circumstances.”

    His cavalcade was recently pelted with stones in the state, and the BJP had alleged complicity of the ruling party, a charge denied by the TMC.

    Nadda said the kind of success the BJP got in the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, emerging as the single largest party, was possible “only due to the supreme sacrifices of our party workers and also their hard work and perseverance”.

  • Mamata should contest from Nandigram alone: Suvendu Adhikari’s challenge to TMC chief

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday dared West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to contest the upcoming assembly polls only from Nandigram, the seat held by him before he switched over to the BJP.

    Adhikari, during a rally at Khejuri in Purba Midnapore, said it’s not fair on the part of the Trinamool Congress supremo to contest from two seats.

    Banerjee sprang a surprise on Monday when she declared that she will contest the assembly elections from Nandigram.

    “If possible, I will contest from both Bhawanipore and Nandigram. Nandigram is my elder sister and Bhawanipore is my younger sister. I will give a strong candidate from Bhawanipore also, in case I don’t fight from that seat,” she had said.

    Adhikari said the TMC is like a private limited company run by two people, referring to Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek.

    “Didi, you have to contest from only one seat, Nandigram. You cannot fight from two seats, that is not going to happen,” he asserted.

    Nandigram was the scene of massive public protest against “forcible” land acquisition by the erstwhile Left Front government for the creation of a special economic zone.

    During another public meeting on Monday, Adhikari had said he will defeat Banerjee her by a margin of “at least 50,000 votes” if fielded from Nandigram.

    Adhikari also alleged that many BJP workers were attacked by the TMC earlier in the day.

    “There have been attacks at five places. The police was busy ensuring a smooth passage for the CM’s convoy for her rally at Purulia in the afternoon,” he claimed.

    The political heavyweight from Bengal also said while Banerjee specialises in telling lies, her nephew is an “extortionist”.

    “Her (Mamata’s) days are numbered as the chief minister. She should be ready with a letterhead that reads former CM,” Adhikari said.

  • Mamata has forgotten role played by BJP leaders in Nandigram movement: Sovan Chatterjee

    By PTI
    AMTALA: BJP leader Sovan Chatterjee said on Monday that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was indulging in a “dangerous game” by branding saffron camp leaders as outsiders, as it was detrimental to the interest of the nation, which is a classic example of unity in diversity.

    Chatterjee, who was once a close confidante of Banerjee, claimed that the TMC supremo has forgotten the fact that Suvendu Adhikari, who recently switched over to the BJP from the ruling camp, had played a vital role in the Nandigram movement — which was also backed by saffron party leaders L K Advani and Rajnath Singh.

    “You are indulging in a dangerous game by harping on the outsider issue over and over. In India, language, dialect, customs change every 50 kilometres. Our country is an example of unity in diversity,” the BJP leader said at a public meeting here in Diamond Harbour constituency.

    Earlier, Chatterjee and his friend Baisakhi Banerjee led a roadshow from Dhankol More in Bishnupur to Circus ground of Amtala in South 24 Parganas district.

    “The TMC boss has forgotten about the role played by L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh in the Nandigram movement. They visited the strife-torn area in 2007 to provide support to the movement that catapulted her party to power.”

    “In 1998, the TMC had entered into a seat-sharing pact with the BJP, which is now the ruling party’s main opponent for the upcoming assembly elections. You are calling the BJP a washing machine, it is the same machine you had used back then,” he said.

    Banerjee had contended that the BJP runs the party like a washing machine, where corrupt leaders turn into saints the moment they join the organisation.

    Chatterjee also recalled that the Adhikari family, including patriarch Sisir and sons Suvendu and Dibyendu, had fought tooth and nail against the CPI(M) during the Nandigram movement in 2007.

    “Mamata Banerjee has now forgotten their contributions. People there will force her to return empty- handed after the assembly elections,” he said.

    The CM, earlier the day, said that she will contest the assembly elections from Nandigram, a seat held by Suvendu Adhikari till December.

    She currently represents Bhowanipore constituency in south Kolkata.

    “If possible, I will contest from both Bhowanipore and Nandigram. Nandigram is my elder sister and Bhowanipore my younger sister. I will give a strong candidate from Bhowanipore, in case I don’t fight from that seat,” she said.

    The BJP leader, a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, claimed that it is the TMC supremo’s “lack of confidence” that is forcing her to fight from two constituencies.

    “Actually, Mamata Banerjee is not sure where she would be getting a solid ground under her feet and where lay quicksand,” he said.

    Claiming that Banerjee is no longer the same person he knew 10 years ago, Chatterjee said “she has lost her self- confidence and the decision to fight from two seats is an indication of that”.