Bangla CM slams BJP’s politics of hate and discrimination

Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today slammed the BJP for its politics of hate and discrimination. She was speaking at the Khelashree award ceremony. She said an atmosphere of fear prevailed in the country. CBI is hounding anyone who criticizes the BJP.

She also said that sting operations are being organised for money. From computers to internet, mobile phones to banks, even the privacy of people was under attack, she commented.

Highlights of her speech:

Industry is suffering due to GST and demonetisation. Sports and cultural fields are the biggest sufferers due to lack of sponsorship.

They are creating hurdles if someone wants to help the clubs. CBI is hounding them. People are afraid.

Do not be alarmed. Law will take its own course. They want to use state machinery for their political gain; this cannot be allowed.

They are spending money to conduct sting operations. They are recording personal conversations of friends, married couples, journalists, judges, industrialists.

From computers to internet, mobile phones to banks, even the privacy of people was under attack, she commented.

We organise Durga Puja, Christmas, Eid, Buddha Purnima. We all participate in festivities. This is our pride.

In Bangla, even if we have to starve, we will share our food with others. We want our youths to conquer the world. They are our pride.

We love our country and we will not allow anyone to divide it.

Someone’s surname cannot become their identity.

We believe in the ideology of Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Netaji. We believe in the philosophy of Rabindranath and Nazrul. We believe in unity and harmony.

Does anyone ever ask whether Gandhiji was Gujarati or Bengali? No. Gandhiji was Gandhiji. Someone who takes everyone along can become the leader of the nation.

This country is our pride. Bangla’s soil is the purest. Where else can you find soil enriched with such purity? This soil taught us the meaning of freedom. This soil taught us about the renaissance. We must maintain the dignity of this land.

Let the new generation come forward. Even Swami Vivekananda used to say that playing football is an easier way to reach God instead of reading the Gita. Sports promote an environment of harmony and culture.

The Indian Cricket team has seen the captaincy of Md Azharuddin as well as Sourav Ganguly. Have we ever questioned whether they are Bengali or Hindu or Muslim? We work together in harmony.

Those who are the citizens of this country cannot be called foreigners. We are all citizens of this country. We vote; we all hold bank accounts. If one cannot provide their birth certificate of their parents, are they not citizens of the country? This is what is happening in the country. New agendas are being chalked up to discriminate against the people.

To become a citizen (as per the new Bill), one must be considered as a foreigner for the first six years; only then can one receive citizenship. This is the provision. These are election tactics, don’t believe them. Till the time we are alive we cannot be intimidated with such tactics.

If something happens to one person, another will stand up for him/her. People’s court is the highest court. Let everyone live in peace.

Special ration package for the festive season

The State Food & Supplies Department has come up with a special ration package for the festive season. This special package would include edible oil, maida, and sugar.

The beneficiaries of Antyodaya and Special Priority (SPPH) under National Food Security Act (NFSA) will receive these ration packages. The total number of eligible beneficiaries would be nearly 3 crore.

Every eligible family will be entitled to receive 500 g sugar and 500 g maida twice during the festive period at Rs 30 and Rs 23 respectively. 500 ml and 1 litre of kachhi ghani mustard oil will be available at Rs 52 and Rs 101 respectively. Equivalent amount of palm oil will be available at Rs 48.50 and Rs 94 respectively.

The prices of these items have been subsidised by the state government. It may be mentioned that the government gives such a ration package during Eid too.

 

Mamata Banerjee conveys message of love and peace from Red Road

Today is Eid. The festival of happiness is being celebrated across the nation, and of course in Kolkata.

In Kolkata as well as in many other places in Bengal people are offering namaz. From the morning, the traditional mass namaz is being offered at Red Road with much fanfare. Live every year, this year too Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was present during the offering of namaz.

From the stage, she once again gave out a strong message of love and peace. She commiserated with the people for standing in this heat, after the fasting during the month of Ramzan.

She said that she goes to every place of worship, be it temple, mosque, church or gurdwara. She further said that her parents had taught her to always respect all religions. She went on to say that India is for everyone, be they Hindu or Muslim or anyone.

On the occasion of Eid, festivities would be spread out through the whole day in Kolkata. At 3 pm, a peace procession would commence from Park Circus. Another one will wind through Park Street, Mallikbazar, AJC Bose Road, Beckbagan, Exide Crossing and JL Nehru Road, to end at Mayo Road.