Month: July 2012

July 21, 1993, was a day that shook the pillars of democracy in Bengal 18-years ago, when the then Calcutta Police, under Left Front Government mercilessly opened fire and killed 13 innocent activists.

Youth Congress supporters under the leadership of Ms. Banerjee, then West Bengal State President of Youth Congress had organized Writers' Abhijaan (march towards Writers' Building) in demand that the 'Voters' Identity Card' be made the only valid document to verify voters in order to put a stop the rampant 'scientific rigging' gathered at five different points across the city.

The Youth Congress supporters gathered at five different points in the city and the one which had assembled at the Howrah station and began marching towards the destination along Brabourne Road were stopped by a large contingent of police near the Tea Board office, barely few minutes from the Writers' Building. An unleashed police force started beating up the crowd mercilessly in order to drive them away from the vicinity of the Writers' Building.

The Youth Congress supporters who were peacefully rallying refused to stop and walk ahead.. The police started lathicharge and many rounds of teargas shell were fired but undeterred the supporters kept on moving. Ms. Banerjee tried to pacify the supporters but the police which went berserk in a spate of revenge did not even spare her. The supporters and some of the leaders including Saugata Roy were severely beaten up.

The Youth Congress supporters approaching from Brabourne Road, BB Ganguly Street, Mission Row, Mayo Road heading towards the Writers' Building were stopped as gathering was prohibited under the Section 144. The place transformed into a battle ground. People started running across Curzon Park. The police opened fire killing 13 supporters and leaving 200 severely injured. Surprisingly, the police aimed for head and chest of the ensemble mass, a thing unheard of in any civilized country. Ms. Banerjee was beaten up brutally and collapsed on the road. Later she and the injured were removed to hospital.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee convenes an emergency meeting at Writers' Building to discuss soaring prices of vegetables in the markets. The meeting was attended by representatives across 11-market associations, concerned ministers and secretaries of respective departments and administrative officials including Kolkata Police Commissioner.

`I have taken up the matter seriously with all the concerned departments. After listening to all the suggestions, I have decided to set-up a task force which will start functioning from tomorrow itself, the committee members will sit daily in the morning`, said Ms. Banerjee who added that she is concerned over the fluctuation of prices in different markets, `I find that the prices of commodities vary in different markets. I will not accept such practices and I have made this clear to the members of the task force`, added Ms. Banerjee. Apart from that she said, `I fail to understand how can the same potato costs 18 to 24 rupees which is procured at nine rupees in Posta or Koley market. I do agree that traders will add the cost of transportation to incur a profit and I have no objection to that but even then the prices will have an increase by two rupees. What makes them charge such a hefty amount`, said an aggrieved Ms. Banerjee.  

`I am surprised to find that potato sells at Rs 16 a kg at Koley while farmers are selling it for Rs 8 a kg. Why this gap? I am told that a section of traders are hoarding big time. Potato and seasonal vegetables are being stored for three to four days, thus creating an artificial crisis. The price of rice has gone up from Rs 3 to Rs 5 a kg. It is the poor who are at the receiving end of this inflation` was the immediate reaction of Ms. Banerjee who took surprise visits of Koley and Lansdowne markets on Saturday, `A section of hoarders are creating this artificial crisis of essential commodities. After getting complaints against price rise from common people, I decided to pay surprise visits to these markets. My government won`t allow these black marketers to do whatever they like. I shall take stern steps against them if they don`t heed to our warning`, said the Chief Minister. `I can`t run about inspecting markets. The department concerned should be doing its job`, added Ms. Banerjee.

On Monday the Chief Minister called an emergency meeting to discuss the issue and also explore ways to control the problem. During an hour-long-meeting the Ms. Banerjee gave a patient hearing to the representatives from the market associations and tried to explore the reason behind the price rise. Trying to explore ways to curb this menace the Chief Minister announced an 11-member-monitering-committee headed by the Chief Minister.

Speaking on this occasion Chief Minister said that she will not tolerate the illegal hoarding as it is due to them that the situation has become so grave, `There is a attitude among average traders keep rice and grains on hold and sell next year to avail of the increased price offered by Central Government. I would like to tell them that don't do this mistake as the grains and rice you are staging may go waste due to various reasons, what will you do then. Besides next year you will have fresh growth and you can avail off the new prices`. In this regard the Chief Minister referring to the Forwarding Policy of the Central government said that her government will not accept such policies in Bengal as this is the reason behind such inflation. `I want to make it clear that I will not tolerate anything which helps the black maketeirs and hoarders to flourish, if required I will take stern action and see such things are stopped`, added Ms. Banerjee.

The committee member consists of members of the market association, Horticulture Minister, Agricultural Minister and respective secretaries. They will take rounds of all the markets in the city and will submit the observations along with the possible suggestive measures to check inflation. The committee will again meet on July 17, 2012 when they will apprise the Chief Minister of their findings. However, Chief Minister made it clear that this should not hamper the supply and consumers should get vegetables easily. To enable easy availability of green chilly the state government has decided to import green chilly from Katihar in Bihar, `I have asked them to procure the chilly for the time being from Bihar as the availability is low in Bengal st this moment`.  

Last year in August, on the completion of 100th day in office, Ms. Banerjee had visited two-major-markets across Kolkata to check the prices of the vegetables which had trebled with the onset of a flood-like situation in some parts of the state. Ms. Banerjee had set up a task force for controlling price rise.

Trinamool Congress Chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee convened the meeting of the Trinamool Congress Core Committee at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in Kolkata. The meeting was attended by all the party MPs and select MLAs.

 `Trinamool Congress is a 100 per cent disciplined party and what one or two say, does not matter`, was the clear message to the party members by the Trinamool Chairperson. However, she reiterated that discipline in the party is a matter of foremost importance and all the party members will have to abide by disciplinary norms. `There is nobody above the party`, added the Chairperson.

Chairperson Ms. Banerjee said, `The people of this state have voted the Trinamool Congress for a change and naturally they have some expectations and it is our duty to respect their sentiments. Left Front has ruined the state in all perspective and people should be reminded of the development that has taken place within one-year`. The Chairperson said that during the past 34-years the CPI(M) larders preferred to run the working of government within the four walls of Alimuddin Street instead of Writers` Building but Trinamool Congress has changed this trend.

Ms. Mamata Banerjee said that the final decision on her party's stand on Presidential election would be taken three days before the polling date on July 19 and requested all  her party MPs, MLAs to be present in Kolkata for the Presidential election on that day.

The Trinamool core committee had met earlier on Saturday at Town Hall. It was decided that the venue of Trinamool's July 21 rally this will be shifted to Esplanade. Last year, even Brigade was filled to brim as nearly a million-strong crowd, braving the inclement weather attended it.

 

Kolkata:Vowing to restore strict discipline down to the party`s booth level, the Trinamool Core Committee on Saturday decided that the central leadership of the party will take decision over the subject matter that will be painted on the posters and placards for campaigning.

Party's core committee meeting was held at Trinamool Bhavan on Saturday.

The party also decided to shift the venue of July 21st rally scheduled to take place at  Brigade Parade Ground. It will now take place at Esplanade instead apprehending weather adversities. The campaign against alleged slandering campaign of the CPI-M against the State Government will also be intensified.

A set of guidelines regarding campaigning for the Government`s welfare schemes will be issued to the party workers. Trinamool Congress would observe the Marty`r`s Day and organize rally at each block and district across West Bengal on July 21 this year.