News Analysis India

Tag: West Bengal

  • Mamata Banerhee steps up pressure on PM Modi with third letter 

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: For the third consecutive day since the start of her third term on Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday wrote to the Prime Minister seeking the allocation of more medical oxygen for the state. In her letter, the TMC supremo alleged that the Centre has increased allocation of medical oxygen to other states from the total production in West Bengal in the past 10 days, but kept the allocation for the state constant at a level which is much less than the requirement.

    Mamata’s non-stop letter-bomb targeting the BJP-led Centre is said to be part of her efforts to counter the saffron camp’s attack on the ruling TMC government over the post-election violence in West Bengal. Alleging that the Centre is not paying any heed to the state’s request, the Bengal CM wrote, “Instead of allocating oxygen as per the requirement of West Bengal, Government of India has increased allocation of oxygen to other states, from the total production in West Bengal, during the last 10 days from 230 MT to 360 MT, keeping the allocation for West Bengal constant at 308 MT per day despite its requirement being of 550 MT per day.’’

    Replying to Mamata, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday wrote saying that Centre stands ready to provide all support to the state in order to help it effectively fight the pandemic. He however also urged Banerjee, who also holds the health portfolio in the state, to ramp up testing, especially in districts that have reported more than 40% test positivity rate. On oxygen, Vardhan wrote that as many as five Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants have been sanctioned for the state, out of which, two have already been made functional. “Similarly, 849 D-Type and 1504 B-Type oxygen cylinders have been allocated to West Bengal. Out of this, 700 will be delivered on or before May 21.”

    Two, including BJP worker, arrested The West Bengal CID arrested two youth, including a member of BJP’s students’ wing ABVP, on Friday on the charges of circulating fake videos related to post-poll violence on social media.  Argha Saha, an ABVP member was arrested from his residence in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas

  • West Bengal moves SC, seeks universal vaccine drive

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: West Bengal government on Friday has approached the Supreme Court seeking directions to disband phase 3 of the Covid-19 vaccination policy and adopt and implement a uniform policy by doing away with the differential pricing mechanism.“The Government of India must take urgent steps on a war footing basis to ensure that Covid-19 vaccines are made available to the states for free decentralized distribution to the masses without any further delay,” the plea said. For ensuring the same, the Centre should place a single bulk order for Covid-19 vaccines from both domestic and foreign manufacturers to ensure universal coverage at the shortest possible time frame, it was contended.

    The State government further prayed that differential pricing mechanism for Covid-19 vaccines should be set aside and the price for Covid-19 vaccines should be capped at a uniform price of Rs 150 per dose. The current vaccination policy, the application alleged, will lead to an inequitable distribution of vaccines and defeat the very objective of universal coverage, which is crucial for achieving herd immunity. This is because States will be made to compete with each other for obtaining the vaccines. The state government said it had, on April 29, placed orders for 1 crore doses of Covishield vaccines and 1 crore doses of Covaxin to Bharat Biotech at prices of Rs 300 and Rs 600 per dose, respectively.

  • All possible support to be provided to West Bengal to deal with Covid crisis: Harsh Vardhan

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying that the Narendra Modi government stands resolute to provide all support to the state in order to help it effectively fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

    He however also urged Banerjee, who also holds the health portfolio in the state, to ramp up testing, mainly in districts reporting over 40% test positivity rate.

    His response comes in the wake of the West Bengal CM shooting a letter to the PM in which she requested him to allow free of cost Covid-19 vaccination for all and also pleaded for the adequate supply of essential drugs and hiking medical oxygen to her state.

    Vardhan said in his letter that the state has been supplied with over 1.18 crore doses so far while 2 lakh more doses are lined up for immediate supply.

    It was stated in the letter that the quantity of doses available for “other than government of India channel” was worked out on a state wise population of 18-44 years pro rata and it had already been conveyed to the state at the end of April.

    The letter also said that the state had been allocated 308 MT of oxygen from April 25 and out of 1, 27,000 oxygen cylinders that the Centre will procure, 700 will be delivered to Bengal this month.

    The Centre, according to the letter, has sanctioned 5 PSA oxygen plants for the state out of which 2 are already functional.

  • West Bengal’s post-poll violence shows gory side of politics: Shiv Sena

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Friday said the violence that has erupted in West Bengal after the Assembly election results, reveals the gory side of politics and it shows that the rule of force prevails instead of democracy.

    The party also said that maintaining law and order in the state was equal responsibility of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the central government.

    “What is exactly happening in West Bengal and whose invisible hands are there behind it? These things need to become clear. Ever since the BJP lost the election in that state, news reports of violence erupted there are being flashed. It is being said that TMC workers are beating their BJP counterparts. But all that is mispropaganda,” the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

    Out of the 17 people who have so far died in the post-poll violence in West Bengal, nine are linked to the BJP, while the rest are TMC workers. This means that both sides are involved, it said.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation from West Bengal governor over phone. A senior BJP functionary moved the high court, holding Mamata Banerjee responsible for the violence and sought imposition of the President’s rule in the state,” it said.

    All this shows that the BJP is indulging in foul play, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party alleged.

    In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had got 18 seats in West Bengal.

    Following that, violence erupted and TMC workers were attacked, it said.

    “If this is Bengal’s culture, then Ravindra Sangeet, Ravindranath Tagore, Bengali literature, the state’s social reformist movement and contribution it to the freedom struggle have gone waste?” the Sena asked.

    Violence has also broken out in Delhi after the BJP lost the assembly elections there, it said.

    Coronavirus has been claiming so many lives in the country. So why play politics of riots and defame the country? the party asked.

    It wondered if anybody had forgotten that maintaining peace and law and order in West Bengal was the responsible of Mamata Banerjee as well as of the central government.

    It also criticised West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for their poll campaign speeches made in West Bengal, as it accused them of inciting violence against the TMC.

    “The threats by these leaders during the campaign suggested that there would have been a bloodbath against TMC workers had the BJP won the election in Bengal,” it said.

    This post-poll violence shows gory side of politics and it shows that ‘thokshahi’ (rule of force) and not ‘lokshahi’ (democracy) prevails, it said.

    Mamata Banerjee took oath as the chief minister on Wednesday and till then the administration was in the hands of the Election Commission (EC), which means it was controlled by the Centre, it said.

    “The EC had shifted several top officers in West Bengal government before the voting. So how does the blame of violence fall only on Mamata Banerjee?” it said.

    If the TMC’s version that the violence is taking place where BJP candidates won is true, thenis it taking place to create trouble for Mamata Banerjee? it asked.

    The Trinamool Congress (TMC) won the West Bengal elections, pocketing 213 of the 292 assembly seats that went to polls and secured a third straight term in office.

  • Mamata’s quarantine deterrent for Centre

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  The tense relations between the BJP-led Centre and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached another flashpoint on Thursday with the latter saying all visitors must produce a Covid-negative test report and stay in 14-day quarantine at their own cost. In other words, she sought to shoo off visiting Central teams.

    Responding to allegations that a Union minister’s vehicle was attacked in West Midnapore district, Mamata charged that he had come to stir up communal discord.  Alleging that Union minister V. Muraleedharan’s visit was aimed at instigating BJP supporters, Mamata said: “Their continuous visits in the past six months have resulted in a record spike in infections. Now that all political meetings and rallies have been banned in the state, why are they still coming here? They want to instigate their supporters.” 

    Stating that controlling the second wave was the priority, she said: “All visitors, including Union ministers, have to produce negative RT-PCR test report to enter the state. Rule is same for all. Even for me. If anyone comes in a special flight, they too will have to either produce a negative report or get the test done. If the report is negative, they will have to undergo 14-day quarantine at their own cost,’’ she said.      

    Earlier, a Home ministry team landed in Kolkata in the wake of the post-poll violence. Muraleedharan’s convoy was attacked and his vehicle was vandalised by alleged Trinamool Congress supporters at Pachkudi in West Midnapore district. In addition, a TMC candidate who stood for election in Dinhata was beaten up by alleged BJP supporters. 

    Though the minister escaped unhurt, the driver of his car was injured. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Union minister’s visit was unnecessary and BJP leaders are trying to create communal discord by instigating their supporters. The incident took place when Muraleedharan went to the area to meet the families  of those who were allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress supporters during the recent post-poll violence. 

    “He, accompanied by BJP leader Rahul Sinha, got off his vehicle and started talking to villagers who were attacked by the alleged ruling party’s supporters. Suddenly, a group of villagers, armed with bamboo sticks and bricks, attacked the convoy parked on the road and vandalised the minister’s vehicle,’’ said a police officer in West Midnapore.

    In Dinhata, Cooch Behar, TMC candidate Udayan Guha, who lost by 57 votes to BJP’s candidate and sitting MP Nisith Pramanik, was attacked by alleged supporters of the saffron camp. Guha sustained fracture injury on his left arm. ‘’The attack on Guha took place when he was returning home from the party office. His security personnel were also injured,’’ said a police officer.

    Pay farmers their arrears: CM to ModiKolkata: Adding pressure on the BJP-led central government for the second consecutive day on Thursday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee shot a letter to PM Narendra Modi reminding him of his assurance made during election campaigns on releasing arrears of `18,000 to farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme. She also said in the letter that no fund has been received by either the state government or the farmers.

  • Mamata writes to Modi asking him to keep his promise of giving farmers Rs 18,000

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA: Mounting pressure on the BJP-led central government for the second consecutive day on Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shot a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminding him of his assurance made during election campaigns on releasing arrears of Rs 18,000 to farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme.

    She also said in the letter that no fund has been received by either the state government or the farmers.

    On Wednesday, Mamata wrote her first letter to Modi after assuming office for third term asking him to ensure free vaccination for all in the country.

    “I would like to further impress that during your recent visit to the State, you gave repeated assurances on releasing the arrear amount of Rs 18,000 to each farmer, but till date, no fund has been received by the State of West Bengal or the farmers.

    I would, therefore, request you to kindly advise the concerned Ministry to release due fund to the eligible farmers and share the database of the 21.79 lakh farmers,” Mamata wrote.

    In its election manifesto, the BJP promised to give Bengal’s farmers Rs 18,000 to 75 lakh farmers in one go which has been lying due for three years.  

    Out of 21.79 lakh farmers who had registered for the scheme as per the letter of the Union Agriculture Minister, dated 6th November, 2020, 14.91 lakh data have been uploaded in portal, which were duly verified and of which 9.84 lakh data are ready for PFMS.

    Mamata also reminded Modi of the letters written to Centre earlier by the state government on providing farmers of West Bengal with the benefits of the central scheme.

  • MHA forms four-member team to probe poll violence in West Bengal: officials

    A four member fact finding central team has been sent to West Bengal by the Union Home Ministry of India , to submit its report on post poll violence in next 48-72 hours.

    The Ministry of Home Affairs has deputed a 4-member team, led by an Additional Secretary level official to visit the State and assess the ground situation. A team would reach the State today.

    This is one of the major step taken by Ministry of Home Affairs after Bengal government failed to respond to the letter asking for the report on the post-election violence targeting opposition political workers in the state.

    Political workers, including BJP, were allegedly targeted by opponents since the announcement of results.

    The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday has dispatched another letter to the chief secretary of West Bengal.

    According to sources, in the letter, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked the Chief Secretary of Bengal that why they have not sent the report which was sought on May 3.

    The Union Home Ministry has asked in the letter that political violence is still going on in Bengal, what has been done on it so far?

    The Ministry has said strongly that if the report on political violence in Bengal is not received at the earliest, it will be taken very seriously.

    Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress won 213 seats in the just concluded West Bengal assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party garnered 77 seats in the 294-seat state assembly. However, elections for two seats in Murshidabad are postponed due to the demise of candidates due to COVID.

  • West Bengal CM Mamata shoots letter to PM Modi on day 1

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  On the first day of her third term as West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting free vaccination for all. She has also demanded that the Centre bring transparency to the process of supplying vaccines and oxygen. 

    Analysts see Mamata’s letter to Modi, right on the first day of her third term, as a move by her to mount pressure on the BJP-led Centre on the issue of the second wave of Covid-19, which dominated her campaigning for elections.

    In her two-page letter, Mamata reminded Modi that her communication on February 24 seeking the Centre’s nod to allow the state government to procure vaccines from manufacturers for vaccinating the people of the state free of cost has not yet been addressed.

     Demanding allotment of more oxygen, she wrote, “Use of medical oxygen has increased rapidly from 220 MT per day to 400 MT per day now.” Party sources said, after TMC’s victory, Mamata has become the face of anti-BJP forces. “The Centre is being held responsible by the opposition for the spike in Covid cases. She is trying to mobilise anti-BJP sentiment,’’ a party leader said.

  • West Bengal: 50 per cent of BJP’s 77 seats in dalit strongholds

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA:  About half of the 77 seats won by the BJP in West Bengal were reserved for Dalits, including members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The state has 84 seats reserved for SC and ST candidates.

    The saffron camp has won 38 of these seats. Among the SC/ST seats won by the BJP, 18 are in north Bengal, where the party has made deep inroads since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In all, the BJP won 31 seats reserved for the SCs and seven seats reserved for the STs.

    Many of the seats are dominates by the Matuas, a Hindu religious sect comprising people who had immigrated from Bangladesh. They have been promised Indian citizenship by the BJP-led Central government through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly opposed the CAA.

    The saffron camp has also managed to retain its Dalit vote-bank in north Bengal regions where the Rajbanshi community forms a considerable chunk of the electorate. The Dalits, however, in Junglemahal voted against the saffron camp. The BJP won only in three constituencies out of 12 seats reserved for Dalits in Junglemahal.

  • Centre asks West Bengal government to send report on post-poll violence ‘at once’

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Alleging that there is “no let-up in post poll violence,” the Union Home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday once again wrote to the chief secretary of West Bengal alleging that “no effective measures have been taken by state government so far to contain violence.”

    Without mincing any words, the union home secretary in his letter said that if a report on the poll-related violence and the necessary measures to contain it, were not submitted to the centre “at once” the centre would view the matter “very seriously”.

    In the communication to Alapan Bandopadhyay, West Bengal Chief Secretary, Bhalla said that the centre had still not received any response to its May 3 letter in which it had asked for a report on the “post-election violence targeting opposition political workers in the state.”

    ALSO READ: Violence taking place in those areas where BJP won in elections, claims CM Mamata Banerjee

    “Unfortunately, no response has been received from the government of West Bengal in this regard till date. According to media reports, there is no let-up in post poll violence. It is evident that no effective measures have been taken by the state government so far to contain violence,” sources in the ministry quoted the letter.

    Bhalla requested Bandhopadhyay to “ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent such incidents without loss of time and a detailed report is furnished at once” and warned that in case of “non-receipt of response of state government, the matter will be viewed very seriously.”

    Around 14 deaths of political workers have been reported from West Bengal since May 2 when the assembly results were announced, in which the incumbent Trinamool Congress received a thumping majority.

    ALSO READ: Dire crises spawned by COVID, political violence await Mamata as she strides back to office

    BJP leaders have alleged large scale violence against their workers and vandalization of their party offices. TMC leaders have also levelled allegations of violence against its party workers at the behest of BJP.

    Taking note of the violence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself called up the West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to enquire about the violence apart from the Union Home Ministry seeking a report from its state counterpart.

    BJP president J P Nadda arrived in West Bengal on Tuesday and met families of some of the victims.