News Analysis India

Tag: West Bengal

  • Nadda to visit Bengal’s rice-bowl on January 9 to woo farmers

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA: In a bid to blunt TMC chief Mamata Banerjee’s barrage of attacks in the backdrop of farmers’ protest, BJP’s national president JP Nadda will visit Katwa in East Burdwan district, known as Bengal’s rice bowl, on January 9 and address farmers on the issue of newly passed Farm Bills.

    In an attempt to woo farmers, Nadda will meet a few of them and collect rice as a “good gesture” which would deliver a message that the BJP-led Centre is not anti-farmers.

    With Nadda’s Bengal visit, the party is all set to launch an outreach drive titled “Shunun Chashibhai” (listen to farmer brothers) across the state, and BJP leaders will carry out a door-to-door campaign in the areas where people depend on agriculture for livelihood.

    “The ruling TMC is preparing for an attack on our party on the farmers’ issue. There is a large number of people directly or indirectly depend on agriculture. If the ruling party portrays the BJP as a force that is against the farmers, it will cause a jolt to us in the Assembly elections. Before they start attacking us, we will have to reach the farmers and Naddaji’s event was scheduled aiming on it,” said a senior BJP leader.

    There are 71.23 lakh farm families in West Bengal of whom 96% are small and marginal farmers.

    The saffron camp’s Bengal chapter assigned Hooghly MP Locket Chatterjee, who is the observer of the party’s farmers’ wing, to oversee the new outreach initiative. “Naddaji’s visit to East Burdwan and farmer families will deliver a positive message. Our outreach drive will be carried out from north Bengal to the remote villages in south Bengal,” she said.

    Sources in the BJP said the party’s lower-tier functionaries would visit farmers’ families door-to-door and make them understand about the positive impacts of the new Farm Bills. “We will also highlight the TMC-led state government’s anti-farmer policy,” said a BJP leader.

    Referring to Nadda’s forthcoming Bengal visit, TMC MP and spokesperson Saugata Roy said he (Nadda) should stand beside the farmers of Punjab and Haryana. “Instead, he is rushing to Katwa. It will not bring them any dividends. People of Bengal understand all these dramas,” he said.

  • Industrialists originally hailing from outside integral part of Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee

    Most of those who spoke at the meet highlighted the positive changes that happened in Bengal, an industrialist said.

  • Calcutta HC directs Bengal govt to file supplementary affidavit in Manish Shukla murder case investigation

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government to file a supplementary affidavit on developments in the CID investigation into the murder of BJP leader Manish Shukla within two weeks.

    The court also allowed Chandra Mani Shukla, father of the deceased, to be added as a supporting party in the PIL seeking a probe by a central investigating agency into the killing.

    Granting liberty to the West Bengal government to file the supplementary affidavit on developments in the state CID investigation into the murder of Shukla, a division bench comprising Chief Justice T B N Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee directed that it be filed within two weeks.

    Petitioner Priyanka Tibrewal has prayed that the investigation into the killing be carried out by an independent and central investigating agency like the CBI, which is outside the control of the state administration, for the purpose of a free and fair probe.

    Shukla was shot dead at Titagarh in North 24 Parganas district by some assailants on October four last year.

  • TMC MLA Ananta Deb Adhikari booked for ‘slapping’ journalist in West Bengal

    By PTI
    JALPAIGURI: A case has been registered against a ruling TMC legislator for allegedly slapping a journalist of a Bengali newspaper in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district for reportedly publishing a news item on his criticism of the Zilla Parishad, police said on Wednesday.

    The MLA, however, denied that he had slapped the journalist.

    The alleged incident took place in Mainaguri area on Tuesday after the inauguration of an open gymnasium by local MLA Ananta Deb Adhikari.

    As per the FIR lodged by reporter Somnath Chakraborty, the legislator asked him about the news item, a police officer said.

    When the reporter said he had written whatever the MLA had said, the legislator had allegedly slapped Chakraborty in front of everybody present there, he said.

    “I have registered a police complaint against Mainaguri MLA Ananta Deb Adhikari for slapping me,” Chakraborty said.

    While denying that he had slapped Chakraborty, the legislator, however, said, “Everyone should read what the journalist had written and tell me whether it would not make me angry.”

    Journalists, on the other hand, took out a protest march against the incident in Mainaguri town in the evening.

    The legislator had reportedly criticised the Zilla Parishad during a programme organised on Monday.

  • Bengal should answer why no businessman wants to invest in the state: Union Minister Anurag Thakur

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Monday took a dig at the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and said the state government should answer why businessmen are hesitant to invest in the state.

    It is time for West Bengal to take a decision so that the state realises its own potential, the union minister of state for finance said at an event organised by direct tax professionals here.

    “Bengal should answer a few questions. Why it is that businessmen are hesitant to invest in the state? Will corporates be allowed to do hassle-free business here?” Thakur said.

    He sought to know whether Bengal has built an eco-system for entrepreneurs and unicorn companies.

    “Or they will be harassed by the ‘goondas’ rogue elements, from certain organisations?” “How long will the party (TMC) continue to milk professionals? Will Bengal be known for political disruptions or disruptive innovation? Bengal needs to take a decision,” he quipped.

    He said the for the development of the state, both it the Centre will have to “sing the same tune” on what help is required from the Centre to realise its potential.

    “Bengal can leave many states behind and be among the top two. Bengal’s intellectuals and industrialists will have to decide on that”, Thakur added.

    The union minister said that a lot of money will be spent on infrastructure in the east and northeast.

    “If India has to grow, growth has to come from the east and northeast,” he added.

  • Disgruntled Bengal Minister Rajib Banerjee alleges some TMC leaders treat party workers as servants

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal minister Rajib Banerjee, who had earlier expressed his grievance against a section of ruling TMC leaders, was heard purportedly alleging in a video that some functionaries treat party workers as their servants.

    The video which went viral on social media on Sunday surfaced days after he met TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee.

    “There are some leaders, who are using the workers for their benefits and are treating them as their servants. There are several such leaders.

    “I urge them not to play with the sentiment of the loyal party workers,” the Domjur MLA was heard saying in the video and getting applauded by the audience.

    ALSO READ: West Bengal Forest Minister Rajib Banerjee​ escapes unhurt as mini truck hits his car

    He could not be reached for his comment about the purported video.

    Banerjee had, on December 5, claimed that those who keep the leadership “in good humour” are brought to the forefront, while hard workers are shoved to backbenches.

    At another function at Kamarpukur, the birthplace of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, the state forest minister had said that the saint had said as there are several beliefs, there are several ways.

    “This saying of Sri Ramakrishna is universally true for everyone.”

    As his remarks raised speculation about his future in the TMC, Banerjee was invited for discussions with Chatterjee, a senior minister in the state, at his residence in presence of election strategist Prashant Kishor.

    Banerjee had attended two meetings with the TMC secretary general in December “to discuss future strategies”.

    He had, however, asserted that he should not be equated with Suvendu Adhikari who recently joined the BJP.

    He had claimed that posters with his and Adhikari’s photos were put up without his consent.

  • West Bengal Forest Minister Rajib Banerjee​ escapes unhurt as mini truck hits his car

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Forest Minister Rajib Banerjee had a close shave on Sunday as a mini truck hit his car in Kasba area of Kolkata, police said.

    The minister escaped unhurt but his driver suffered minor injuries in the mishap.

    The driver of the mini truck was arrested, police said.

    Banerjee told reporters that his car was travelling along Rasbehari Connector towards Ruby Crossing when the mini truck, laden with stone chips, suddenly swerved to the right and hit his vehicle damaging its side-view mirror.

    Banerjee’s car then chased the speeding mini truck and stopped it.

    “I intercepted the truck and informed the police. The driver was taken into custody. He claimed to us that the vehicle’s brake had failed,” the minister said.

    A police officer said that the driver was arrested on the charge of rash driving and the impounded vehicle to examine if there was any mechanical fault.

    Another car was arranged to take Banerjee home.

  • TMC forcibly occupied two Zilla Parishads in 2018 panchayat polls: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari

    By PTI
    JHARGRAM: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday alleged that his former party, the ruling Trinamool Congress, had forcibly occupied two Zilla Parishads in south Bengal’s Jangal Mahal region during panchayat elections in 2018 which, he claimed, witnessed “vote loot”.

    Adhikari, who switched sides to the saffron party in December, also accused the TMC leaders of pocketing funds released for various projects of the state and central governments.

    Rejecting the charges, senior TMC leader Tapas Roy claimed that those who joined the BJP raise baseless allegations to strengthen position in their new party.

    Addressing a BJP meeting at Jhargram, Adhikari said, “You know how the TMC had looted votes in the 2018 panchayat polls here. How they had changed the people’s verdict and true results overnight to occupy the two Zilla Parishads. I am giving my word to people that we won’t allow that to happen again.”

    He, however, did not mention any Zilla Parishad.

    Jangal Mahal comprises four districts – Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia and Jhargram.

    Adhikari asserted that the TMC will be defeated by a huge margin in all four seats in Jangal Mahal belt of the district in the assembly polls due in April-May this year.

    “The TMC will be trounced by at least 50,000 votes in each of Nayagram, Gopiballabhpur, Binpur and Jhargram seats in the upcoming assembly elections,” he said at the meeting.

    Adhikari claimed that he has always worked to establish democracy in the area.

    He described the TMC as “Amphan-er tran chor” (Thief of cyclone Amphan relief funds) and alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government has been changing names of central projects such as PM Awas Yojana and projected them as state schemes.

    “However, the affected people, the poor people, are not the beneficiaries. The money is being pocketed by local leaders who are building palatial houses and buying flats in towns and cities,” the former Bengal minister said.

    After May, the BJP will make a list of people who illegally received compensation money from the government after cyclone Amphan, he said.

    He also alleged irregularities in Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), School Service Commission (SSC) and other recruitment tests organised by the state government and said that after coming to power, the BJP will see to it that such tests are held annually in a fair and transparent manner.

    At a meeting in Contai after a road show, Adhikari claimed that once the model code of conduct comes into force before the election, “all miscreants of the TMC will hide. The paramilitary forces will conduct votes and vote looters will face the music.”

    Senior TMC leader Tapas Roy denied the accusations.

    “It seems there is a competition among those who joined the BJP to make wild claims. People of the state will also not accept unfortunate comments against Mamata Banerjee. This is an insult to women,” Roy added.

  • BJP will solve problems of Matuas after coming to power in Bengal: Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya

    By PTI
    HOWRAH: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday said that the BJP, after coming to power in West Bengal, will redress the grievances of the Matuas who are refugees holding sway in many seats in the poll-bound state.

    Attacking the Trinamool Congress, Maurya alleged that activists of ruling party indulged in violence across the state.

    “The BJP will solve the problems faced by the Matua community after coming to power,” he said at a public meeting at Gangarampur area of Uluberia in Howrah district.

    Maurya and several state leaders of the BJP had lunch at the house of a Matua family in Gangarmpur where a large number of people belonging to the community live.

    The Matuas, who have a sizeable population in the state, are being wooed by both the BJP and the TMC in the run-up to the assembly elections due in April-May next year.

    On the outsider issue, the leader from UP told reporters that the BJP is an all-India party and its leaders can go to any other state in this democratic country.

    The TMC does not have leaders across the country, Maurya said.

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and leaders of her party, the TMC, often accuse the BJP of bringing in “outsiders” to the state ahead of the assembly polls due in April-May next year, while the saffron party has raised questions how people from other states coming here can be termed so.

    Around 300 workers of various political parties joined the BJP on Sunday and Maurya handed over the party flag to them.

  • West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Appoints Alapan Bandopadhyay As New Chief Secretary

    Alapan Bandopadhyay, the current Additional Chief Secretary of West Bengal’s Home department has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of the state. In a major rejig in the West Bengal administration, Alapan Bandopadhyay, the current Additional Chief Secretary of West Bengal’s Home department, was appointed as the new Chief Secretary of the state on Monday. Bandopadhyay will take over his new role from Rajiva Sinha, the current Chief Secretary after he retires on September 30 Apart from Bandopadhyay’s appointment, H K Dwivedi, the current Finance Secretary will be the new Home Secretary. Manoj Pant who is set to take charge as the new Finance Secretary in the state administration is at present the principal secretary of the Land and Land Reforms and Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Department. Thanking the outgoing Chief Secretary, Mamata Banerjee announced that Sinha is being appointed as the Chairman of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation on Monday. She said, “I would also like to announce that outgoing Chief Secretary of West Bengal Shri Rajiva Sinha, has now been appointed the Chairman of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation for a period of 3 years w.e.f 1st October. I thank him for his tireless service to GoWB.”