March 26, 2016
Defeat the Opp nexus to maintain peace in Jangalmahal: Didi in Silda
Trinamool Congress Chairperson Mamata Banerjee addressed a mass rally at Silda in Paschim Medinipur district today. Speaking to the huge gathering people who came from far interior areas of Jangalmahal, she reiterated the developmental work her government undertook in the district to improve the lives of the people and also restored peace in the areas which were troubled by extremism earlier.
She sent a stern message to her political opponents, namely the Left, Congress and the BJP and challenged them to fight her politically and not by slandering her party. She also called the alliance between the Left and Congress ‘unholy’ and that urged the people of Bengal to reject such alliances which is void of any ideology. Here are some excerpts from her speech:
- Silda once made headlines for the massacre of Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) jawans. In 2010-11, over 400 people were killed due to violence in Jangalmahal. Peace prevails in Jangalmahal now. The region is turning around. People are happy. I have visited Jangalmahal several times in the last four-and-a-half years. I am here to serve people.
- In 1993, I had conducted a mass-contact programme which started from Belpahari. We have not forgotten that people ate eggs of ants in Amlashole in the past. We have come a long way since then. We have done a lot of work for the development of Jangalmahal. Ninety-three per cent of the people in Paschim Medinipur have received direct services from government. We have built roads, bridges, schools, colleges, industrial training institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics. We have set up a new hospital in Belpahari and a Mother & Child Care Hub in Jhargram. We have made healthcare free at all government hospitals. We believe in ‘Health for All’.
- Almost eight crore people in the State, incl;uding those in the Jangalmahal region, are receiving rice at Rs 2 per kg. Today peace prevails in Silda, which was infamous for bloody violence once upon a time. Those who have ignored you all for 34 years are now making grand speeches on TV; there is no cure for jealousy. Some people are jealous of the surge of development. We have launched the Jal Sathi Scheme for the drier regions of Jangalmahal. Twenty-five lakh students have received bicycles under the Sabuj Sathi Scheme. Fifteen lakh more bicycles will be distributed soon. Thirty-three lakh girls have received the benefits of the Kanyashree Scheme. We have increased the minimum support price (MSP) of kendu leaves. We have started a social security scheme for kendu leaf collectors. The youth of Jangalmahal are getting jobs; they are active in various sports. Folk art is flourishing.
- ‘Maa bonera bendhe jot/ Unnayoner jonyo, shantir jonyo/ Joraphool-e shob vote.’ I request my Adivasi brothers and sisters to cast their vote on the ‘joraphool’ symbol. Your vote will defeat the CPI(M)-Congress nexus. The CPI(M) and the Congress have given up on their ideological beliefs to form an alliance. I challenge my detractors to fight me politically and ideologically. We must take a pledge to ensure that the days of violence under the rule of the CPI(M) do not return. Jangalmahal will show the way. Trinamool will come to power in Bengal. Cast your votes freely, without any fear. Vote for the prosperity of Jangalmahal; vote for ‘joraphool’. We want peace and development to continue; we want the people of Bengal to remain happy.
জঙ্গলমহলে শান্তি রক্ষা করতে বিরোধী জোটকে হারিয়ে দিন: শিলদায় মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়
আজ পশ্চিম মেদিনীপুরের শিলদা, কুলটিকড়ি ও নয়াগ্রামে তিনটি জনসভা করেন তৃণমূল নেত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। আজ জঙ্গলমহলে মমতাদির প্রচারের দ্বিতীয় দিন ছিল।
জঙ্গলমহলের প্রথম দিনের প্রচারে তিনি দুটি জনসভা করেন, প্রথমটি লালগড়ে এবং দ্বিতীয়টি গোয়ালতোড়ে। এরপর তিনি মেদিনীপুর শহরে একটি পদযাত্রাও করেন।
তিনি আজ তাঁর বক্তব্যে বলেন, গত চার বছরে জঙ্গলমহলে রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসা কমে গেছে। তিনি আরও বলেন, জঙ্গলমহলে এখন শান্তি ফিরে এসেছে। কিষাণ মাণ্ডি, আইটিআই, পলিটেকনিক, ব্রিজ, রাস্তা থেকে শুরু করে নতুন স্কুল-কলেজ সবই তৈরি হয়েছে জঙ্গলমহলে। জঙ্গলমহল এখন হাসছে।
কেন্দু পাতা সংগ্রহকারীদের জন্য সামাজিক সুরক্ষা প্রকল্পগুলিও তুলে ধরেন তিনি। এছাড়াও আদিবাসী ভাই ও বোনেদের জন্য নানা উন্নয়নমূলক কাজের খতিয়ান ও দেন তিনি।
আগামী ৪ঠা এপ্রিল জঙ্গলমহলে প্রথম পর্যায়ের ভোট।
