Author: AITC

Bengal will surge ahead on the path of development: WB CM at Haldia

Posted on | by AITC
A 600 MW, coal-based Haldia Thermal power plant of Haldia Energy Limited (HEL) was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamta Banerjee today.
About the plant
The power plant is hailed as the Bengal’s largest industrial investment of recent times. Spread over an area of 317 acres, the power plant has the second tallest transmission tower in the world. At a towering height of 236 m, the transmission tower is next only to the one located at Mount Damaoshan, Zhejiang province, China.
Haldia Energy Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) Ltd, has entered into Boiler Turbine Generator contract with Shanghai Electric Co. from China and Punj Lloyd Ltd received the contract for the balance of the plant package.
Unit 1 of the power plant will on online in December while Unit 2 of the plant will be operational from February 2015, confirmed a source of CESC.
An ideal rehabilitation village has been set up with the aid of Haldia Development Authority at Srikishnapur which is 7 km from the site of the power plant so as to accommodate 450 families who have been shifted from the project site.
Skill development programmes will be organised for the villagers, which would help them come up with sustainable form of livelihood.
Here are some excerpts from the Chief Minister’s speech:

  • We have started helicopter services between Kolkata and towns like Haldia, Balurghat, Durgapur.

  • NTPC is setting up a power plant at Katwa.

  • There was a land dispute. We solved the issue.

  • We have land banks.

  • Land will not be an issue for industry.

  • Another power plant is coming up at Raghunathpur.

  • Bengal has surplus of power.

  • Small issues can be solved through talks.

  • There was some problem at Andal. It was a local issue. We solved the problem.

  • There has to be a bridge between the employer and the the employee. Then there will never be any problem.

  • Industrial growth in Bengal is on a good track.

  • I thank all chambers of commerce and all federations for your cooperation.

  • Bengal’s growth rate in service sector, industry is higher than national average.

  • Number of mandays lost in Bengal has come down from 80 lakh to zero.

  • We are building Kisan Bazaars in every block. This is being done in PPP mode.

  • Agricultural marketing is an important sector with a lot of potential.

  • Industrial infrastructure is being developed in Bengal.

  • Bengal is a gateway to North East.

  • Bengal will surge ahead on the path of development.

(Image is a representative one)

Decontrol, Disinvestment and Deregulation are maha mantras of this government: Debabrata Bandyopadhyay in Rajya Sabha

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Trinamool MP Debabrata Bandyopadhyay today opposed the Labour Laws Amendment Bill, 2014 in Rajya Sabha. During his speech he made a fervent appeal to the Central Government to withdraw it.
Full transcript of his speech:
I oppose the Bill for various reasons. I have some credential in the labour area. As a serving office in the IAS of 36 years I spent in the West Bengal as a Labour Commissioner, at Secretary level and also in the central government as Secretary of Labour for quite some time. So, I think I have some credential to speak about it.
I say very simply this is an anti-labour law and this is draconian in nature. This government's maha mantra is 3D formula. These 3 Ds are Decontrol, Disinvestment and Deregulation. But the mixed economy that was developed under the Rubien economic model has starved the deep roots in our society.
Public generally has some high expectation from the government
but this government is bent upon dismantling the structure for the exclusive benefits for the predators of this economy. But they are very clever, not to do so at a stroke they are doing it by a slow process.
 
An iceberg sir only shows one-tenth of the mass keeping of it under water. Its invisible part of the ice-berg is more dangerous than the visible part. The 9/10th invisible part of the ice-berg tore off 300… of the titanic's bottom line and resulting in its immediate sinking.
This Bill looks very simple, on the ways it appears to be innocently technical. 
Currently all establishments employing more than 90% have to give return regularly about employment or every other things. This Bill wants to substitute the word nineteen by a simple word forty. The purpose to give lift to the owners of small establishments. But for the labourers it is highly injurious. 
Subject to correction it is estimated at 70% of returns will be exempted; they don't have to submit a new return. And this establishment employee according to the estimates is 80% of the total work force. Thus to give relief to the owners of the manpower, the bulk of the labour force would lose all legal protection today.
It is ethically wrong and legally injurious to the interest of the working class. The bulk of the economy handed over to a group whose main purpose is only to make money and to order their own nest. This is juridically untenable because the legal protection that the people have for so long would be lost without any alternative legal cover.
Hence I am opposing and make a fervent appeal to the government to withdraw the Bill in the interest of the working class.

TMC MPs protest in Parliament over black money issue

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The Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party agitated outside the Parliament House today. Sitting on a Dharna from 10 AM the MPs demanded that the Centre should take steps (as promised before elections) to bring the black money stashed away in foreign banks.
The innovative protest saw the party MPs using black umbrellas and placards during the dharna at the Parliament gate.
Trinamool Congress had also given a notice to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to suspend the Question Hour and take up a discussion on the Black Money issue.
Majority of TMC MPs were present at the gate shouting slogans like “Modi tanashai nahin chalegi” (Dicatorship will not be tolerated), “kala dhan wapas lao” (bring back black money) among others.
TMC MPs protesting at Parliament gate
The MPs also raised the black money issue on the floor of Parliament. Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 Noon following protests by TMC MPs while the party MPs chanted slogans in Rajya Sabha.
Even throughout the Zero Hour, Trinamool MPs kept chanting slogans in Lok Sabha demanding that Black Money be brought back to India.

TMC MPs protesting at Parliament gate

Trinamool MPs, accompanied by other Opposition parties, rushed to the well of the Lok Sabha to register their protest.
“I had given a notice demanding a discussion on Black Money, asking for suspension of Question Hour. Now Mr Venkaiah Naidu is saying some things. Why did they not speak before? We want Black Money to be brought back to India. This is a very serious issue,” Sudip Bandyopadhyay said.
In Rajya Sabha, Derek O'Brien said, “The Govt said that Black Money will come back in 100 Days… But nothing has happened. We have given a notice. There has to be a structured debate. This is not an issue of a few political parties. This is a national issue.”
Trinamool and other Opposition parties staged a walkout in Lok Sabha over Black Money issue.

We have to build clean and green Digha: WB CM in East Midnapore

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee held an administrative review meeting at Digha today to take stock of the developmental works in East Midnapore district.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the Gateway of Digha, set up by the Digha-Shankarpur Development Board. She also inaugurated the renovated Digha Youth Hostel.
The Chief Minister address a public meeting at the Police Holiday Home Ground in Digha and inaugurated thirty one completed projects. These include girls’ hostels, water supply projects, new roads, a power substation and units in hospitals and health centres.
The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for nineteen new developmental projects. She also distributed benefits of schemes like Kanyashre and  Gatidhara and handed over different scholarships and grants to beneficiaries.
Ministers from the West Bengal Government, MPs Shishir Adhikari and Suvendu Adhikari and MLAs from the district were present at the programme.
Excerpts from the Chief Minister’s speech:
WB CM inaugurates Digha Gateway, renovated Youth Hostel at Digha and a slew of other development projects. Lakhs of foreign tourists visit Digha every year. We are committed towards developing the infrastructure. We have to build a ‘clean and green’ Digha. We are working for the benefit of fishermen.
A Digha Gate has been built in a small span of time. This will be a tourist attraction. Bengal is a very beautiful State. We have a lot of potential. We are going to build a 40-km long Marine Drive from Digha to Mandarmani. The Marine Drive will generate a lot of employment and attract a lot of tourists.
Our Irrigation Minister has talked with Centre. We are going ahead with Ghatal Master Plan. It will solve flood problem here. We are building an alternative road connecting north and south Bengal. We are building Krishak Bazaars and 500 Marketing Centres. They will create employment opportunities.
Bengal is No. 1 in 100 Days Work Scheme, Skill Development and MSME sector. World Bank has rewarded 986 gram panchayats in Bengal with a grant of Rs 20 lakh each under ISGP. The Left incurred debts. Centre is taking away our revenue as installments for the debt. Despite the financial crunch, we are working for the people.
Medinipur has a history of nationalism and patriotism. We have opened 8 new universities in 3 years. Left set up only 3 universities in 34 year. We set up 31 new colleges in 3 years. There were only 34 colleges in Bengal till 2011.
We have started fair price medicine shops and fair price diagnostic centres. Healthcare has become affordable for poor. We are setting up 34 multi super-specialty hospitals. We have made all beds at government hospitals free.
We want the youth to be self-sufficient. We want them to pursue higher education. We have introduced reservation for OBCs and minorities, without touching General class. We created infrastructure for that.
Where there is a will, there is a way. If someone wants to work for the people, no one can stop them.
We have started Kanyashree scheme to encourage girls to pursue studies and to prevent child marriage. We have started schemes like Yuvashree and Sikkhashree for the youth and students. Work for the people. If you serve them, people will shower their love on you.
I want the well-being of my fishermen brothers. They are doing a great service. We started a scheme called Nija Bhoomi Nija Griha. We have distributed land pattas to the poor. We will give ID cards to hawkers. We have adopted the policy to assist slum dwellers to build homes for themselves.
Those who are jealous of us, I ask them to come to Digha. See the development here. Don’t you feel proud?
We are working. We will keep working for the people. We will take Bengal to new heights of glory.
Our dream is to make Bengal No. 1 in every sphere.

Digha to get its own ‘Marine Drive’

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The state irrigation department is preparing a sketch to set up a 30-km long ‘Marine Drive’ from Contai to Digha. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit Digha today to inaugurate a number of projects in the area, including the Digha Welcome Gate.
State irrigation and waterways minister Rajib Banerjee said: “It will be a shorter route from Contai to Digha that will reduce the distance by 5 km. From Contai, the road will move through Mandarmani and Tajpur and end at Digha.”
The ‘Marine Drive’ plan was conceptualized last year after the CM proposed it.
Surge of development along the coastal areas
The irrigation department has already spent about Rs 86 crore for development projects along the sea coast -from Old Digha to the Bengal-Odisha border in Udaypur.
“The entire coast line has been concretized to prevent soil erosion. Sewer lines have been revamped and further beautification work will be taken up. Two lighthouses have also been set up,” the minister said.
The Digha Shankarpur Development Authority is already working on a number of projects to develop the coastal areas of Digha, Mandarmani, Shankarpur and Tajpur.

WB CM inaugurates a slew of projects at Bongaon

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today chaired an administrative review meeting with the district officials of North 24 Parganas at Bongaon. She took stock of the developmental works done so far in the district, and reviewed the progress of the projects underway.
At 1 PM, at a public meeting held at Bongaon Stadium, the Chief Minister inaugurated 75 projects that have been completed. These include new cold storage units, roads, bold preservation units, hostels, and water supply projects among a host of other projects. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for 73 new projects.
She distributed benefits like Kanyashree, Yuvashree, Sikshashree, land pattas and different grants and scholarships from the stage.
It may be noted that the West Bengal Chief Minister and her entourage of secretaries have already conducted more than seventy five review meetings, visiting each district at least thrice.
Highlights of her speech:
  • I will be attending a rally at Kolkata after this meeting. I have a packed schedule for the week after that.
  • Earlier people of districts had to come to Kolkata for official work. We have taken the Secretariat to the districts. 
  • We announce several projects during a district visit and during the next visit, we inaugurate them. 
  • We try our best to extend maximum benefits of various schemes to the people. 
  • We began our administrative review meetings from North 24 Parganas and in future too we will keep coming here. 
  • If you work for people, they will love you back. 
  • I like to give a fitting reply of the Opposition's malicious propaganda through my developmental projects. 
  • We have made all beds free at government hospitals. 
  • We have set up fair price medicine shops. We are setting up fair price diagnostic centres. Now MRI, CT Scan, Dialysis will become affordable for the poor. 
  • We are setting up 34 multi super-specialty hospitals in Bengal. Two of them are coming up in Bongaon and Basirhat.

Sea of humanity at Trinamool’s protest march against Centre

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Trinamool Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee today led a massive protest rally from College Square to Dorina Crossing, Esplanade. The march started at 3 PM. Even while the Chairperson was speaking at Esplanade, protestors joined the rally at the starting point.
The protest rally was held against the conspiracies of Centre to defame the party and also against the attitude of ‘political vendetta’ against Trinamool.
Eminent intellectuals, besides the party leaders, were present at this protest march.
This is what the Chairperson said:
Why has the Centre not given a nod to our chit fund law yet? Were BJP leaders sleeping when chit funds were set up in Bengal? Why have they failed to bring back black money? Why are they targeting us?
We do not require certificates from people whose hands are stained with blood of riots. Danga Gurus have become Dharma Gurus these days. All my life I have fought for the people on the streets and I will continue to do so.
See… I am speaking here and still people are coming from College Square. Do not assume our silence as our weakness. Sickle-hammer, hand and the lotus have become one. From intellectuals to the common man on the street – everyone is present here.
Where is the Centre getting so much money for foreign trips? How are they financing the pompous shows at America? We will take people from Bengal to Delhi to protest against Centre’s anti-people policies.
Centre does not care for people. They only care about riots. True leaders do not allow divisive politics. I know political courtesies. I have always visited Atal ji, Jyoti babu. Those in power today do not deserve it. People from across sectors must come together to protest against Centre.
Let there be apolitical protests by intellectuals, sportspersons, actors, writers and thinkers. Bengal protested during Vietnam War. Bengal hit the streets in solidarity when East Bengal was fighting Muktijuddha.
We want every penny of black money back. We want account of all the expenses of the PM’s trips. Why did SBI give away Rs 5000 crore to a private company? Isn’t this Hawala?
Ever since this government came to power riots are happening everywhere – UP, Maharashtra and even Delhi. We are also born in Hindu families. We respect Ramakrishna Mission, Shankaracharya.  We have a selfie danga guru.
BJP won because there was no alternative. Other parties are afraid that is why they are silent. I dare the Centre to arrest me. This is the place where I went on hunger strike for 26 days. Here I organised dharna for 21 days for human rights.
Bengal is No. 1 in 100 Days Work Scheme. What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow.  Peace prevails in Darjeeling. Peace prevails in Jangalmahal. Are they jealous because peace prevails in Bengal. Infiltration is under Centre’s jurisdiction.
People who migrated to India from Bangladesh during Partition are legal citizens of India not infiltrators. Bangladesh is our neighbour and like a sibling. Terrorists have no religion. We arrested the kingpin of chit funds. We arrested the terrorist associated with Burdwan blast.
Border areas are under BSF, SSB and other central agencies. We will give a fitting reply to the BJP politically. The tricks of danga gurus will not work on the pure soil of Bengal.
When we give a speech, some channels are asked not to telecast it. But when danga gurus speak, it is shown everywhere. They have carried out many riots in Gujarat. Spare Bengal.
I apologies to the people for causing inconvenience. But today’s march was necessary. Next time, we will protest in Delhi.

Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien issues statement in Kolkata

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Here is our response to the statements about Bengal and other issues made by Mr Arun Jaitley, sitting in his perch in Delhi:
  • The gentleman arrested is the editor and owner of a reputed newspaper in Bengal. His family comes from a ‘good gharana’ of business families in the state. A few years ago our party gave an opportunity to some journalists and newspaper personnel and inducted them. They made a lateral entry into Trinamool Congress, even though they are not ‘born and bred’ members of the Trinamool family.
  • I am not surprised that the BJP is unfamiliar with the history of modern Bengal and the decades-long struggle and people-movements led by Mamata Banerjee. The people of Bengal have given her the privilege of carrying forth their dreams, hopes and aspirations.
  • Let me ask the BJP leadership a few straight questions. Where did the BJP raise their billions of dollars to spend in the Lok Sabha elections? How much money was spent on Maharashtra and Haryana elections? Where is the party getting its massive funding to continue the lavish spending in Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand? Why don’t they provide transparent accounts for this unprecedented splurge?
  • If the nation gets to know how much black money the BJP has spent this year on elections, the party will get black-listed. The All India Trinamool Congress is one of India’s poorest political parties. Please see our EC returns.
  • Some more questions for the BJP to answer. Who is footing the bill for the over-the-top trips of the BJP President and the PM’s election campaign? Why don’t the BJP provide the real numbers and transparent account of expenditure?
  • Let me re-emphasise that the Trinamool will not bow down. We will speak our minds.
  • The honourable Mr Jaitley has also written about the Burdwan blast and linked it to nationalism. Let me make three specific charges here:
i. This is all part of a devious BJP master game plan.
ii. The current PM used this narrative throughout his election campaign in Bengal. This wasn’t a mere coincidence. It was a plan.

iii. The NSA is a known RSS sympathizer. These devious plans are all conceived, drafted and approved at RSS HQ.

  • Mr Jaitley, nothing personal. Do what you may from your perch in Delhi – but Bengal, its people, and the TMC need no lessons on patriotism and nationalistic ideas. The air in Bengal has breathed nationalism for centuries.
—
পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সম্বন্ধে অরুণ জেটলির কিছু মন্তব্যের প্রত্যুত্তর দিলেন ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন:
  • যিনি গ্রেপ্তার হয়েছেন, তিনি কলকাতার এক ‘ভালো ঘরানার’ ব্যবসায়ী পরিবারের মানুষ। উনি নাম করা এক সংবাদপত্রের সম্পাদক ও মালিক। কয়েক বছর আগে আমাদের দল কিছু সাংবাদিকদের সুযোগ দেয় ও দলে গ্রহণ করে। এটা এক প্রকার ‘ল্যাটারাল এন্ট্রি’ বলতে পারেন। তাঁরা তৃণমূলের জন্মলগ্ন থেকে দলে ছিলেন না।
  • পশ্চিমবঙ্গের সাম্প্রতিক ইতিহাসের সম্বন্ধে যে বিজেপি একেবারেই অবগত নয়, তাতে আমরা একটুও আশ্চর্য নই। মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের সংগ্রাম ও জন-আন্দোলনের সম্বন্ধে তাদের সম্যক ধারনাও নেই। বাংলার মানুষের আশা, আকাঙ্খা ও স্বপ্নের ধারক ও বাহক মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।
  •  বিজেপি নেতৃত্বকে আমি কিছু সোজাসাপ্টা প্রশ্ন করতে চাই। লোকসভা নির্বাচনে বিজেপির বিলাসবহুল প্রচারের জন্য কোটি কোটি টাকা এলো কার কাছ থেকে? হরিয়ানা ও মহারাষ্ট্রে সদ্য-সমাপ্ত নির্বাচনেও বা প্রচারের টাকার যোগান হল কিভাবে? জম্মু ও কাশ্মির এবং ঝাড়খন্ডের নির্বাচনের প্রচারের ব্যয়ের বোঝা বইছে কে? পার্টির তহবিলের উত্সই বা কি, জনসমক্ষে প্রকাশ করুক বিজেপি।
  • যদি দেশের মানুষ জানতে পারে বিজেপি লোকসভা নির্বাচনে কত কালো ধন ব্যবহার করেছে, তাহলে তাদের দলটাই কালো তালিকাভুক্ত হয়ে যাবে। সর্বভারতীয় তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস দেশের দরিদ্রতম দলগুলির অন্যতম। আমাদের ইসি রিটার্নে সব দলিল রয়েছে।
  • বিজেপি নেতৃত্বের কাছে আমরা কিছু প্রশ্নের জবাব চাই। তাদের সর্বভারতীয় সভাপতির ভ্রমণ ও প্রধানমন্ত্রীর নির্বাচনী প্রচারের খরচ যোগাচ্ছে করা? নিজেপি কি পারবে তাদের তহবিলের হিসেব জনসমক্ষে প্রকাশ করতে?
  • তৃণমূলকে ধমকিয়ে চুপ করানো যাবেনা। আমরা কারও কাছে মাথা নত করব না।
  • মাননীয় জেটলি জি বর্ধমানের বিস্ফোরণ ও জাতীয়তাবাদ নিয়ে অনেক কিছু লিখেছেন। ওনাকে উত্তরে আমি তিনটে কথা বলতে চাই:
(i)এ সবই বিজেপির পরিকল্পনামাফিক হয়েছে।
(ii) বর্তমান প্রধানমন্ত্রী নির্বাচনের সময় ঠিক একই ভাবে প্রচার করেছিলেন পশ্চিমবঙ্গে। এটা কাকতালীয় হতে পারেনা। সব বিজেপির প্ল্যান।
(iii) বর্তমান জাতীয় নিরাপত্তা উপদেষ্টা আরএসএসের একজন সমানুভাবি। এইসব পরিকল্পনা ভাবা ও অনুমোদিত হয় আরএসএস এর হেডকোয়ার্টারে।
  • মাননীয় জেটলি মহাশয় কে বলছি, এটা ব্যক্তিগত আক্রমণ নয়।  আর যাই করুন, পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মানুষ ও তৃণমূলকে জাতীয়তাবাদের পাঠ পড়াতে আসবেন না। দেশাত্মবোধ বাংলার মাটিতে মিশে রয়েছে, বহু শতাব্দী ধরে।

Trinamool to protest against Centre’s anti-people policies

Posted on | by AITC
At a meeting with about 40 Trinamool MPs, party Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee said that she focused on the state administration for the last three and a half years but now that the Central government is out to discredit the party, a reply has to be given politically.
Trinamool will hit the streets in Kolkata on Monday against the “political vendetta” of the Narendra Modi government. Party MPs have been asked to stay back for the ‘mahamichhil’ to step up pressure.
Trinamool MPs will also boycott the all-party meeting called by Union parliamentary affairs minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Sunday, called at a very short notice.
“The Modi government has a pro-MNC agenda, whereas we have a pro-people line. Our MPs will raise the black money issue for the first seven days in Parliament. Other issues such as poll reforms, communalism, political vendetta and the 100-day hoax will follow,” Derek O’Brien, National Spokesperson and Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha, said.

Sanitation facilities in schools: Bengal shows the way

Posted on | by AITC

West Bengal government has added another feather to its cap, this time for sanitation facilities in schools. The state has received 'Three Star' mark from the Union Human Resource Department reveals a recent survey.
Cleanliness and sanitation in government-sponsored schools in West Bengal have been a top priority for Trinamool Congress led West Bengal Government. While most of the schools in other states like Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan lack basic facilities like toilets, most schools in West Bengal have proper sanitation system and toilets.
With the projects like Kanyashree and Sikhhashree in place proper mid-day meal scheme, dropout rate has also come down in the State. Additionally, the schools provide purified drinking water and have proper boundaries and separate toilets for boys and girls.
Bengal also features among the top States in the implementation of Right to Education, the survey of the Union HRD Ministry has revealed.