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Didi promises Guru Nanak memorial bhavan in Kolkata

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today attended the 550th Parkash Parab Utsav celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Kolkata. While highlighting the teachings of the leading Sant, she announced a Punjab bhavan in his name. Here are the details of what she said:

I thank my Sikh brothers and sisters for giving me the opportunity to attend this auspicious occasion. I would like to convey my greetings to all Sikh brethren not just in the State but in the country and the world as well on this landmark celebration.

Guru Nanak Ji was not just the leader of one religion, but a world leader as well who had no feelings of divisiveness. We still follow the thoughts and ideals that he had expressed so many years ago. He was considered a guru for Hindus and a peer for Muslims.

Guru Nanak Ji took everyone along with him on the path of peace, unity and in upholding the country’s traditions, and this has become the main goal of our lives. It will never become old, nor will it go away. As the years go by, this tradition will become stronger.

The Punjab Chief Minister had also invited me to attend the celebrations there, but the communication came in a bit late, and as you know, a cyclone hit the southern districts of the State and I could not go. A lot of losses have occurred, with about 1.75 lakh people requiring assistance. The measures taken by the administration restricted the death toll. I had gone there today to work for the relief of the people.

Guru Nanak Ji too always worked for the relief of people suffering as well as for their betterment. Even today, his blessings continue to work for the people and those affected by the cyclone.

On this landmark completion of 550 years, I would like to do something in his name. Please tell me what can be done that will help the community. Firhad Hakim (mayor) and Anuj Sharma (police commissioner) are here with me now….Bacchan Singh Saral (editor?) just told me that a bhavan is required. Alright, though vacant land is scarce, we will try to build a nice bhavan in Guru Nanak Ji’s memory near Ruby Hospital. I will tell Firhad hakim to work out the details so that the hand-over can take place in this year itself.

We are there to help you, as you are there to help us. This is one of the basis of Guru Nanak Ji’s teachings. Continue to be good, and do good as he would have wanted us to do.

Bangla’s rights will be taken by force from Delhi: Abhishek Banerjee

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A large protest meeting was held at Gandhi’s statue on Mayo Road to protest against the NRC and to ask for Bangla questions in the Joint Entrance Examination. President of Trinamool Yuva Congress and MP Abhishek Banerjee was the leading speaker.

Highlights of his speech:

We will never accept the way Bangla is being insulted. Standing here, we vow to continue fighting following the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.

Regarding setting question in Bengali in the Joint entrance Examination, three days back, the National testing Agency said that the Bangla Government had not sent it any letter regarding this. Now I ask, when the Centre removed CRPF from Jangalmahal and Darjeeling, and when Central Government leaders come here and give inflammatory speeches, did they take our permission?

After Hindi, the largest group of speakers in the country are Bengalis. Therefore, if you set questions in Gujarati and Hindi, and keep Bangla out of the ambit, people won’t take it lying down,

Bangla has been the land of famous people. And during the election, BJP supporters broke the statue of Vidyasagar in Kolkata. Additionally, 12 lakh Bengalis were left out of the NRC of Assam.

While abrogating Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre had stated this would lead to less terrorism. Yet just a month after that, five workers from here were killed in cold blood in Kashmir.

Why is there so much hatred for Bangla? We had 34 MPs in the Lok Sabha earlier, now we have 22 – but the Centre would still not be able to pass the FRDI Bill.

Common people’s money is not safe any longer even in banks. Therefore, in homes there is fear of ‘chors’while in banks there is the dear of the ‘chowkidar’.

We respect all languages. But Bengali must never be insulted too. This protest against the one-sided decision of not making questions in Bengali too will continue. If required, we will take Bangla’s rights from Delhi by force.

In the World Hunger Index, India’s rank is 102, out of 117 countries. Even Bangladesh and Nepal are ahead.

NCRB data says Bangla has a very low crime rate. Calcutta University and Jadavpur University are the top two State Government universities, according to a Centre-recognised report. These have been possible only because of Mamata Banerjee. She brought Bangla out of the cycle of violence.

The Centre is not even permitting the change in the State’s name. Of course, those who do not understand Bengali, how will they understand Bengalis’ sentiments? This is the land of Netaji, Rammohan Roy, Vidyasagar and Sri Ramakrishna.

Even after getting 40 per cent votes in the Lok Sabha election, nobody can see their MPs here. One cannot become a ‘chowkidar’ by just writing the word beside the name. Mamata Banerjee is the only hope of the people here.

Today the Opposition here is silent. Mamata Banerjee cancelled her north Bengal tour to be beside the people during their time of need. She toured the affected areas and met the people.

There is a big difference between Mamata Banerjee and other chief ministers. She still lived in a small house. She was in the control room at Nabanna the whole night.

Of the 19 lakh people left out of the NRC in Assam, 12 lakh are Bengalis. If it wants, Bangla can shake up the throne of Delhi. The time for that has come.

State Govt’s efforts saved many lives: Mamata Banerjee

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today went on a tour of the cyclone-affected areas in the Sundarbans region. After the tour, she held an administrative meeting in Kakdwip on the relief and rehabilitation of the people.

She held a press conference after her meeting, in the course of which she gave a tally of the deaths and damages, and announced relief measures.

Excerpts:

Damages

* Seven people have died (in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur) and eight are missing

* About five to seven lakh people have been affected

* Two lakh mud houses have been destroyed; many such houses have been partly damaged

* 21 electric sub-stations have been destroyed, to repair which would take seven to 10 days

* Large-scale damage to croplands, cultivated paddy, betel leaf plants, leafy vegetable plants

Relief and rehabilitation by the State Government

* Rs 2 lakh for each of the families whose members have died

* Destroyed houses to be rebuilt under Bangla Awas Yojaja scheme

* Dams and built riverbanks and would be repaired

* The mangrove forests of the Sundarbans helped in lessening significantly the effect of the storm. More efforts would be made to conserve the mangrove forests and new mangrove plants would be planted.

* 471 relief camps have been set up; more would be set up if required

* 323 public kitchens have been opened

* 100% crop insurance would be ensured

* Men and women of working age would be employed under the 100 Days’ Work Scheme

* Special task force to be created for each of the affected districts under the respective district magistrates

* Relief and rehabilitation efforts to be monitored in 48-hour cycles

* Special ration for all affected – special nutritious biscuits, puffed rice (muri), crushed rice (chire), baby food, medicines, tents, etc.

Mamata Banerjee also said that had the 1.78 lakh people not been put up in cyclone shelters, there would have been many more deaths and injuries. She also mentioned the fact that constant announcements warning people of danger played an important part in saving lives. The Central Government too had praised this particular step, she said.

Last but not the least, the chief minister asked the district magistrates and other district officials to give more time to ensuring proper implementation of all the steps announced by the State Government and to maintain peace. Everyone must work with humility, she said.

Phones, WhatsApp being tapped; even my phone is tapped. This is a serious situation: Didi

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came down heavily on the invasion of privacy through WhatsApp. What sort of freedom do the people of this country enjoy if they don’t have the freedom to speak without conversations being tapped and recorded, she asked.

Speaking after presiding over a Chhath Pujo function in Kolkata, she said anyone’s WhatsApp communications could be tracked through the NSO Group, an Israel-based organisation that was using spyware for this purpose.

“Neither land phones nor mobile phones nor WhatsApp is safe now. Spying is going on at random by various agencies. Even your phones are tapped. My phones are tapped. So what can be done? Will we not speak without being tracked down like this?” she asked.

This is a very serious situation, and I will request the Prime Minister to intervene and take care of this very unwelcome turn of events.

It is a fact that Israel’s NSO Group has supplied all this information of individual persons to the Government. “WhatsApp had given info to CERT-IN, a Government agency in May about the breach of privacy. I know that the Government is using Israel’s NSO Group to watch activities of politicians, media, judges & other important personalities. It is wrong, you cannot capture privacy. It is in total contravention of the rights of an individual. This must stop,” she said.

We want everyone to live in peace – in unity, like brothers and sisters: Mamata Banerjee

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today presided over a programme on the occasion of Chhath Pujo.

Highlights of her speech:

A few days after Diwali comes Jagaddhatri Puja. And in between, we have Chhath Pujo. Festivals are meant to be celebrated by one and all – we don’t differentiate on that.

Bangla’s urban and semi-urban areas, like Kolkata, are cosmopolitan areas, where we live in peace and respect each other’s festivals, taking part in them wholeheartedly.

Festivals take place all through the year. Even a Vigyan Mela is a festival, a film fest is also a festival. They are not just about religion. I go to whichever place Maa (Holy Mother) is worshipped from the heart.

We try to solve traders’ problems every time they ask for help. Our govt has ensured there are enough police stations and fire stations in Burrabazar.

After demonetisation, I came to see how the traders were doing. The economy is in a bad state now. I would pray to Maa Jagaddhatri that everything becomes normal and the situation improves.

I am very sad that five people from Bangla were killed mercilessly in Kashmir. Some BJP leaders have taken it lightly and even insulted them, saying they are labourers, not Bengalis. This is incredible. What is wrong in accepting the truth? This is how they set up fights between Bengalis and non-Bengalis

Workers from our state have been killed even in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and I have helped their families. One who goes to work in Kashmir is very much an Indian. People from all across India, including from Kashmir, come to work here. They can work in any place in the country, for that matter.

We don’t make distinctions among people of different religions. Be it food, culture or anything – everyone has the right to follow their beliefs.

What is happening is deplorable. NRC is a detrimental decision. Even if you say that you want to throw out non-Indian Muslims, you have excluded in NRC’s list people from Bihar, Assam. Gurkhas and Bengalis as well are left out.

Look at other States, where so many lynchings are taking place. It is much better here in Bangla. We want everyone to live in peace – in unity, like brothers and sisters.

I ensure that people get enough holidays. I personally make the official list of Government holidays, so that everyone has enough time to celebrate. There are 11 days of holidays for Durga Puja next year.

I wish Chhath Pujo goes off well for everyone. We have made five to six ghats ready for Chhath Pujo. We will ensure that the river is cleaned after the pujo.

Regarding immersion, the Central Government too should consider the sentiments of crores of people.

I have heeded the (Green Bench) orders and made alternative arrangements for pujos – at the same time ensuring that people are not hassled.

Jai Hind, Jai Bangla, Jai Maa Jagaddhatri.

Seven more medical colleges with Rs 1,750 cr outlay

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The Bangla Government has decided to set up seven more medical colleges at a cost of Rs 1,750 cr.

Five of these would start functioning before the next Assembly election in 2021. These five are to be set up at Barasat, Arambagh, Tamluk, Uluberia and Jhargram. The other two would be located in the districts of Jalpaiguri and Paschim Bardhaman.

All five would have 100 seats each. The hospitals attached to each of these would have 500 beds. Hence there would be enough patients for medical students to have clinical experience.

The construction of the buildings in Barasat, Arambagh and Tamluk has already started.

Four medical colleges in the State have already received the permission of Medical Council of India this year to start functioning while another is expected to receive it soon.

We want everyone to live in peace, unity and harmony: Mamata Banerjee

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Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned the cold-blooded murder of five labourers from Bengal in Kashmir. was speaking at the inauguration of Jagadhatri Pujo organised by The Posta Bazar Merchants’ Association, Kolkata.

“A BJP leader commented that they were labourers not Bengalis. When people from Gujarat are killed don’t we say Gujaratis died? Why then this shame in calling people from Bengal Bengalis?” Mamata Banerjee said.

She added, “Bengali labourers have been killed in Rajasthan, when their government was in power, and even Gujarat. Brothers and sisters from Bihar, Rajasthan, UP, Maharashtra, MP, and many South Indian States live here in Bengal. Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of movement. So, if someone goes to Kashmir for working, how are they outsiders?”

The CM maintained that every State has their individual identity and people of other States also live there, in harmony. “We can never say, you are from UP/Bihar so get out of here. We respect the Indian Constitution,” she said.

She also slammed the proposed move to implement NRC in Bangla. “Some people are saying they will bring NRC. They want A to stay, not B; C to remain not D. In Assam names of 13 lakh Hindus were not included. Names of Biharis, Gorkhas were removed too. Can you furnish 50 years old documents belonging to your parents to prove your citizenship? Now documents are digital. Earlier records were not even maintained properly.”

The CM also spoke in favour of individual freedom of choice. “Someone eats vegetarian food, some eat non-vegetarian. It is their personal choice. But nowadays they are interfering in individual matters. We want everyone to live in peace, unity and harmony.”

She also slammed the Union Environment Ministry for seeking to restrict Durga immersion and Chhath Puja in the Ganga. The CM said, “We clean the ghats and pull away the idols from the river after immersion. What have they done?”

She hoped that before passing any order, the authorities would keep the issue of public order in mind.

Bangla has a cosmopolitan culture, we don’t discriminate: Mamata Banerjee

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Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today reiterated that festivals are for all. “We don’t discriminate between anyone. Bengal has a cosmopolitan culture. We all participate in each others’ festivals,” she said.

The CM was speaking at the inauguration of Jagadhatri Pujo organised by The Posta Bazar Merchants’ Association, Kolkata. She added, “Some people use religion for divisive politics. We don’t subscribe to such an agenda. We believe unity is strength.”

She said that since Posta and Burrabazar have become congested, the government was considering a plan to construct a multi-storeyed market to accommodate maximum number of people. She also said that this area did not have basic amenities. “After coming to power, we have fulfilled the demands of traders to the best of our abilities.”

Recalling her visits to Burrabazar during notebandi, the CM said, “ The country is passing through an economic slowdown. We have to work together to tide over the crisis.”

“Workers are dying due to unemployment. Traders are suffering losses. And then labourers are killed in cold blood. Is this humanity,” she wondered.

Mamata Banerjee Assures “All Help To Families Of 5 Workers Killed In Kashmir”

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Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that all help will be extended to the families of the five workers from the State’s Murshidabad district who were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Describing the killings as “brutal”, Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock and grief over the incident.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened at the brutal killings in Kashmir. Five workers from Murshidabad lost their lives. Words will not take away the grief of the families of the deceased,” the chief minister wrote on her Twitter handle.

 

 

State Govt to create forests across Bangla using Miyawaki Method

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The State Panchayats & Rural Development Department has decided to create forests across Bangla using the Miyawaki Method, a Japanese method of tree planting that helps in building dense, native forests. The government would be using the 100 Days’ Work Scheme to implement it..

The Miyawaki Method involves planting dozens of native species in the same area, which becomes maintenance-free after the first three years. This method ensures plant growth is 10 times faster and the resulting plantation is 30 times denser than usual.

The first such forest would be coming up on 1,000 acres in the village of Shibganj, in Shyampur-I block in Uluberia subdivision in Howrah district. This forest would be named after the famous Swedish environment activist, Greta Thunberg.

Besides Howrah, the other districts where such afforestation has been planned are Purulia, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Bankura, Jhargram, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Purba Bardhaman and South 24 Parganas.

According to the plan for the pilot project, 3,280 saplings would be planted on 1,000 acres, which would be able to increase their sizes by 30 times in just seven months with the help of the Miyawaki Method. The plants to be planted are native species species like bahera, bael (wood apple), jamun (blackberry), mango, haritaki, babla, banyan, palash, shirish, tal, karamcha and mahua.

Preparations for the pilot project are on in full swing. A 10-day workshop was organised in Shibgunge where 36 officials from various districts participated. A private organisation conducted the workshop.