Demonetisation the most senseless, cruel, heartless and reckless step since independence: Trinamool in LS

Speaking during a discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in Lok Sabha, Trinamool MP Saugata Roy said that demonetisation is the most  senseless, cruel, heartless and reckless step taken by a govt since independence.

He slammed the government over demonetisation, political vendetta, rising intolerance in the country, deaths due to railway accidents, Maoist attacks, law and order situation in Jammu & Kashmir and foreign policy vis-a-vis China and Pakistan.

‘Ardh Satya’

He called the President’s speech ‘Ardh Satya’ as it does not mention most of the important issue facing the nation. He expressed concern over the protectionist policy of US which may create problems for trade and industry in India; Saugata Roy expressed solidarity with IT technologists working in the US. He also felt worried about the China-Pakistan axis being active against India.

Demonetisation

He teared into the government on the issue of demonetisation. He said, “Demonetisation has destroyed the financial structure of our country. Why did you have to kill whole economy to get black money”? He added, “Ninety per cent of our people use currency notes, 45% of our economy is informal. Sir, you know the Prime Minister talks about digital economy. The total number of credit and debit cards in this country of 125 crore people is 9 crore. There are only 1.36 lakh bank branches in this country, only 2.18 lakh ATMs. Now, in a country which has 5.5 lakh villages, with this few debit and credit cards, with this few ATMs, how can you say that the economy will go digital? It has killed lives”

Saugata Roy demanded to know ow much of black money has been deposited in Rs 1000/500 notes? He said the RBI Governor could not provide the answer. The RBI Governor could not tell us how much time is required to remove the restrictions on withdrawals, he added. Calling demonetisation a surgical strike on the people of India, he said GDP will fall because of the reckless step and that people will respond to this action.

Political Vendetta

Terming the arrests of Trinamool’s Leader in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, and MP Tapas Pal as political vendetta, Saugata Roy said Centre is misusing agencies like CBI because the party, led by Mamata Banerjee, has been vocal against demonetisation from Day 1. Saugata Roy said the party will fight against political vendetta on the streets and people will ultimately throw this government out of power. He demanded to know why investigation was not being allowed into the Sahara diaries.

Bank NPAs

Saugata Roy made a mention of the crisis in banking sector, highlighting that total NPAs of banks stands at whooping Rs 8 lakh crore. He wondered how Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi were allowed to flee the country. He added that the President’s speech does not mention the word ‘unemployment’ and that the country is facing a crisis in private sector investment.

Law and Order

Saugata Roy criticised the government over the increased incidents of Maoist attacks in the country. He also highlighted the absence of any mention of ‘intolerance’ in the President’s speech. “Dalits were attacked in Gujarat. In Karnataka a rationalist was killed by Hindu extremists,” he said. Saugata Roy also spoke about the violence in Jammu & Kashmir in 2016 following the encounter of Burhan Wani. He attacked the government, which champions itself over women empowerment, over the fact that only Rs 400 crore out of Rs 2000 crore Nirbhaya Fund was in implementation stage.

 

Click here for the full transcript of his speech.

Atmosphere of political, religious intolerance in the country: Mamata Banerjee

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that an atmosphere of religious and political intolerance prevailed in the country.

While addressing a public meeting in Jamboni, West Midnapore, she said, “The entire country is witnessing religious and political intolerance. In Bengal we do not believe in this. We follow what people like Ramkrishna and Vivekananda said.

“We will not tolerate any kind of communal division. In Bengal, we don’t discriminate among people according to their religion. Five years ago, people in Jangalmahal were living in terror. Tides have turned. Smiles have replaced tears,” she added.

Stating that Bengal will not tolerate politics of communalism and riots, Mamata Banerjee said she took pride in the fact that “only Bengal can celebrate both Durga Puja and Muharram harmoniously”. The chief minister pledged to take the state to new heights of glory.

On Friday, reacting to Centre’s decision to take a private news channel off-air for a day, she tweeted, “NDTV ban is shocking. If Govt had issues with Pathankot coverage,there are provisions available. But ban shows an Emergency-like attitude.”

 

দেশে ধর্মীয় ও রাজনৈতিক অসহিষ্ণুতার পরিবেশ তৈরী হয়েছে: মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

বাংলার মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় বৃহস্পতিবার বলেন যে সারা দেশে ধর্মীয় ও রাজনৈতিক অসহিষ্ণুতার পরিবেশ তৈরী হয়েছে। জামবনির এক জনসভায় তিনি বলেন, বাংলায় মারা মানুষে মানুষে বিভেদ করিনা। আমরা রামকৃষ্ণ-বিবেকানন্দের আদর্শে বিশ্বাস করি।

তিনি জোর গলায় বলেন যে বাংলা দাঙ্গাবাজদের ক্ষমা করবে না। মুখ্যমন্ত্রী গর্ব করে বলেন একমাত্র বাংলাতেই দুর্গা পুজো এবং মহরম একই সাথে শান্তিতে ও সৌহার্দের সাথে পালিত হয়।

শুক্রবার যখন খবরে প্রচারিত হয় যে কেন্দ্র একটি বেসরকারি হিন্দি চ্যানেলের ওপর একদিনের জন্য সম্প্রচারে নিষেধাজ্ঞা জারি করেছে, তিনি বিস্ময় প্রকাশ করে টুইট করেন, “এনডিটিভির ওপর নিষেধাজ্ঞায় আমি বিস্মিত। পাঠানকোটে সংবাদমাধ্যমের ভূমিকা নিয়ে সরকারের আপত্তি থাকলে অন্য পন্থাও নিতে পারতো সরকার। কিন্তু এই নিষেধাজ্ঞা যেন জরুরি অবস্থার সমান।”

TMC shows solidarity with students protesting against intolerance in Hyderabad

Trinamool Congress today expressed solidarity with the students of University of Hyderabad, who are currently on a protest demanding justice for Rohith Vemula, a Dalit student who committed suicide after being expelled for his caste.

Leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien and Lok Sabha MP Pratima Mondal arrived in Hyderabad yesterday to meet the students. Addressing the students at the university campus this morning, Derek said,“I salute the students of the University of Hyderabad. We support what you are doing,”

“This is a students’ movement, we will not allow anyone to hijack the issue,” he added.

Responding to allegations of politicisation of Rohith’s death, Derek commented, “If showing solidarity with students is a political act, so be it. If supporting a students’ movement is politicisation, so be it. If demanding justice for Rohith is politicisation, so be it.”

The MP said that even though the Parliament is not in session, Parliamentarians will come to visit the students. “Yesterday a political party visited you. Today we are here. Tomorrow the Chief Minister of Delhi will visit you. Then the JD(U) will also send representatives.”

He solemnly promised to not let this incident be erased from the collective memory of the nation. “Rohith, if you are watching, we will continue to fight on your behalf. We need more Rohiths in the fight against intolerance,” Derek said.

 

 

অসহিষ্ণুতার বিরুদ্ধে হায়দরাবাদের ছাত্রদের প্রতিবাদের সমর্থনে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস

হায়দরাবাদের ছাত্র রোহিত ভেমুলার আত্মবলিদানের প্রতিবাদে সেখানে যে ছাত্র বিক্ষোভ শুরু হয়েছে সেই আন্দোলনকে সমর্থন করতে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের এক প্রতিনিধি দল গতকাল হায়দরাবাদ পৌঁছান।

তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের মুখপাত্র, রাজ্যসভার সাংসদ ডেরেক ও ব্রায়েন এবং লোকসভার সাংসদ প্রতিমা মণ্ডল গতকাল হায়দরাবাদ যান ছাত্রছাত্রীদের সঙ্গে দেখা করতে। আজ সকালে ছাত্র বিক্ষোভের সভামঞ্চ থেকে ডেরেক  বলেন,  ‘আমি হায়দরাবাদের  ছাত্রছাত্রীদের শুভেচ্ছা জানাই। আমরা আপনাদের সমর্থন করি’।

তিনি আরও বলেন, ‘ছাত্র বিক্ষোভকে ক্ষুদ্র স্বার্থে হাইজ্যাক হতে দেবনা’।

রোহিতের মৃত্যু নিয়ে রাজনীতি করা হচ্ছে এই প্রসঙ্গে ডেরেক বলেন ছাত্রদের সমর্থন করা যদি রাজনীতি হয় তবে তাই হোক। রোহিতের আত্মবলিদানের সুবিচার দাবি করা যদি রাজনীতি হয় তবে তাই হোক’।

সাংসদ আরও বলেন যদিও এখন সংসদের অধিবেশন চলছে না তবুও সংসদ আসবে ছাত্রছাত্রীদের সঙ্গে দেখা করতে। ‘গতকাল একজন দলনেতা এসেছিলেন,আজ আমরা এসেছি। আগামীকাল দিল্লির মুখ্যমন্ত্রী আসবেন দেখা করতে। জে ডি ইউ তাদের প্রতিনিধি দলকে এখানে পাঠাবে’।

দেশবাসীর স্মৃতি থেকে এই ঘটনা যাতে মুছে না যায় সেই অঙ্গীকার করেন ডেরেক। তিনি বলেন, ‘রোহিত তুমি যেখানেই থাক, শুনে রাখো আমরা তোমার আত্মবলিদান বিফল হতে দেব না। অসহিষ্ণুতার বিরুদ্ধে সংগ্রামের জন্য আমাদের আরও রোহিতের প্রয়োজন’।

Nobody can dictate what to wear or eat: Mamata Banerjee at Furfura Sharif

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today slammed the divisive forces in the country and the growing intolerance in India. She said no one has the right to dictate others what to eat or what to wear. Making a strong case for freedom of religion, she said that unity is strength and divisiveness spells doom.

Speaking at an event on the occasion of Minority Rights Day at Furfura Sharif, WB CM said under her government the budget of minority affairs department had increased five fold. “Few days ago a delegation of our MPs visited the Union Minister of Minority Affairs. They asked her to increase quota for scholarships,” she added.

WB CM announced the formation of Furfura Sharif Development Authority headed by Firhad Hakim. She allotted Rs 10 crore for the working of the board.

“Everybody has a right to religion. You can practice your faith freely. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isaai. Apas mein rehna bhai bhai,” the Chief Minister said.

Mamata Banerjee added: “We do not support Dadri killing. It is my right to eat fish. You can eat whichever meat you want. Some people wanted meat ban in Bengal during Durga Puja. I asked them will you ask a ban on fish? Don’t vegetables have life? Even plants have life. Will you ask people to stop eating vegetables? You eat what you want. Let others eat what they want.”

Vocally supporting the idea of ‘Sarva Dharma Samanyay’ she said, “Some people call their mother Ma, some call her Ammi. You cannot divide your mother. This is what Ramakrishna preached.”

In her speech, WB CM also listed the various initiatives by her government for minority development:

  • We have initiated several schemes worth Rs 75 crore at Furfura Sharif
  • We have increased budget for minority department five fold from Rs 470 Cr to Rs 2400 Cr
  • The Left distributed scholarships to 8 lakh minority students in last 4 years. We distributed scholarships to 84 lakh students
  • We have started Aliah University. Over 10000 people from Bengal went for Haj pilgrimage
  • We have introduced reservation for OBCs and minorities without touching general category
  • We have given computers to madrassahs. We are ready to recognise unaided madrassahs but we are unable to pay their salaries
  • Polytechnic colleges and ITIs are coming up. We are setting up Karma Tirthas where the youth will get jobs
  • We have built several hostels for students. We have built Minority Bhavan in 17 districts
  • We have given second language status to Urdu. We have set up Urdu Academy
  • We have instituted a Chair after Iqbal at Aliah University. He penned “Saare Jahaan Se Achha”

Sugata Bose speaks on the intolerance debate

The word ‘intolerence’ is a mere euphemism for a wave of unreason, injustice and inhumanity that has been unleashed across our country during the last few months. My friend, Mr Venugopal has already given a comprehensive catalogue of the incidents that have taken place, so I will not repeat that catalogue. In order to confront the challenges that confront our country today a powerful message needs to go out from this Lok Sabha, the House of the People, that reason (or akal) will be our only torch, justice (or insaaf) our only worship and humanity (or insaniyat) our only religion.

As the minorities face the cold winds of exclusion from the powers-that-be today, it is pertinent to recall what Dr Ambedkar said on the question of minority protection while introducing the draft Constitution on November 4, 1948. I will quote only one, the most important, sentence, from that historic speech: “It is for the majority to realise its duty not to discriminate against minorities.”

Whatever might be Mr Rajnath Singh ji’s reservations about the term ‘secularism,’ its use or misuse, will he as Home Minister at least perform this duty enjoined on us by the architect of our Constitution? If we wish to truly honour the lead author of our Constitution on his 125th birth anniversary, let us pledge today collectively never to let our minorities feel insecure in this great land of ours.

Had the honourable Speaker allowed this humble historian to say a few words in the discussion on the Constitution, I would have just said something about the concept of constitutional morality that our Home Minister referred to towards the end of his speech.

Dr Ambedkar invoked the concept of constitutional morality described by Grote, the historian of Greece, as “a paramount reverence for the forms of the Constitution enforcing obedience to authority acting under and within this forms yet combined with the habit of open speech and unrestrained censure of those very authorities as to all their public acts.”

Constitutional morality, Dr Ambedkar told us, is not a natural sentiment; it has to be cultivated and the people have to learn it. And he followed up this contention with a rather debatable contention: he said, democracy in India is only a top dressing of the Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic. Now in today’s climate, who knows, someone would probably label him unpatriotic, anti-national for having said so. But if we are a mature democracy we will ponder over his remark and embrace the value of constitutional morality as respect for forms and processes that enable us to negotiate and then rise above differences, difference which Grote described, are characterised by the bitterness of party contests. This Lok Sabha needs to transcend this bitterness of party contests.

In the course of the Constituent Assembly debates, Zairul Hassan Lari pointed out that constitutional morality was a value that not just citizens should learn but also the government must learn; the spirit underlying the Constitution and not just the words must guide the Government. When will this Government begin to appreciate that it can learn much more from the criticism of its opponents than from the eulogy of its supporters? I urge this Government to listen to the voices of our most brilliant thinkers and writers, historians and scientists, artists and activists, and not let loose their hounds in the social media on them whenever they express their anguish or concern. Don’t be sarcastic about them by calling them “our wonderful intellectuals.”

To be absolutely clear, we are not saying that India is intolerant. We are saying, followers, supporters and even some members of this Government are spreading a virulent form of prejudice and bigotry. The refusal to unequivocally condemn and take exemplary action against the offenders on the part of the leader of this Government must be seen as out of sync with the concept and the value of constitutional morality.

Our poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam had sung, “Hindu na ora Muslim oi jigyase kon jon/ Kandari bolo dubiche manush, sontan mor maa’r.” The duty of the captain of a ship is to treat his passengers in crisis equally as human beings, as children of the mother.

Intolerence is bad, Madam Speaker, but tolerance is not good enough. I agree with Supriya Sule that should we just be tolerating one another? That is not my idea of India; we have to aspire for something much higher. We must cultivate the value of cultural intimacy, ‘sanskritik sannidhya’, among our diverse communities, that was the foundation of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s political philosophy. He said to the Maharashtra Provincial Conference as early as 1928, that democracy is by no means a western institution, it is a human institution. He wanted to see a federal republic of India after independence, and he warned Indians not to become a queer mixture of political democrats and social conservatives, and he spoke in unequivocal terms about building political democracy on the pedestal of a democratic society; and he spoke about not just the depressed classes, the working classes, but also the women of India. He regretted that the different communities in India were too exclusive.

Fanaticism is the greatest thorn in the part of cultural intimacy, he told his audience, and there is no better remedy for fanaticism than secular and scientific education. That was the first occasion on which Subhas Chandra Bose used the term ‘secular.’ For him, secularism was not hostile to religion or religiously informed cultural differences, but he felt it could help foster cultural intimacy, ‘sanskritik sannidhya’ among India’s diverse religious communities.

Madam speaker, a few days ago I saw a beautiful photograph of our Prime Minister paying homage to Netaji and the noble martyrs of the Indian National Army in Singapore. Our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid her tribute during her visit to Singapore last year. Who were these martyrs? They were Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian soldiers who dined together before they went to war together, and their blood mingled in the battlefields around Imphal and Kohima so that India maybe free. The original martyrs’ memorial had been blown up by Mountbatten’s forces. The Singapore Government very generously built a new memorial fifty years later in 1995.

What was the name of the INA officer who built the martyr’s monument? His name was Cyril John Stracey, a wonderful Christian, an Anglo Indian officer of the INA, and the motto of the INA ‘Ittehad, Itmad aur Qurbani’ was emblazoned on it.  On the 16th, 17th January of 2016, we in Kolkata will be observing the 75th anniversary of Netaji’s Great Escape from India. Sisir kumar bose drove him out of Calcutta. But who received him in Peshawar? His name was Mian Akbar Shah a great freedom fighter of the North West Frontier Province. Who was Netaji’s only Indian companion on the perilous submarine voyage from Europe to Asia that took ninety days? His name was Abid Hasan from the Hyderabad Deccan. Who was the commander of the first division of the INA that fought in India’s North East? His name was Mohammad Zaman Kiani. Who hoisted the Indian tricolor in Moirang, near Imphal in 1944? His name was Shaukat Malik. And who was Netaji’s only Indian on his final flight in 1945? His name was Habibur Rahman. And what were the names of the three officers who were put on trial at the Red Fort 70 years ago? Their names were Prem Kumar Sahgal, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Shahnawaz Khan.

We have observed an anniversary of the Constitution, the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. I think we ought to be observing the 70th anniversary of the Red Fort Trials that began on the 5th of November 1945 and ended on the 31st of December 1945, and these three men were sentenced to deportation for life, but the British could not implement that sentence. The older generation will certainly remember that there was a slogan ‘Lal Quile se aye awaz Sahgal Dhillion Shahnawaz’. Mahatma Gandhi visited the INA armies in the Red Fort and he was told that in the INA, ‘we do not recognise any differences of creed and religion. But here, the British are serving us ‘Hindu Tea’ and ‘Muslim Tea’ separately. So Mahatma Gandhi asked, ‘Why do you suffer it?’ So the reply came, ‘no we don’t, we mix Hindu tea and Muslim Tea half and half and then serve the same with food’. We have to rekindle that spirit of the winter of 1945 in India Today.

Madam Speaker, our fight against intolerance is essentially a fight against on reason in justice and inhumanity.

In conclusion let me make a fervent appeal concerning a sensitive issue that has led to a tragic loss of lives in recent months. We do of course have Article 48 as part of the many directive principle of the state and the subject of agriculture and animal husbandry urging steps for prohibiting the slaughter of cows.

Now Smt Lekhi yesterday made reference to this detective principle to the course of fiery speech, but it cannot under any circumstances be used as a sordid pretext to take precious human life. Dr Ambedkar would have been horrified to see this happen.

In my maiden speech delivered in June 2014 I had mourned the death of Mohsin Sheikh, the computer engineer in Pune. The incident had happened just days after the new government took power. Today I mourned the death of Mohammad Akhlaq and others who have been victims in recent months of the poison of religious hatred.

In the name of by gone generations that have built the Indian people into a nation I invoke the noble meaning of word ‘Akhlaq’. What does ‘Akhlaq’ mean? It means ‘ethics’. And I urge those who holds the reins of power in our country today, especially our Prime Minister and our Home Minister Rajnath Singh ji, to uphold the fundamental right to lives & liberty of all our citizens and abide by ‘Akhlaq’, the ethics of good governance that have informed the very best of Indian political heart and practice through the ages.

Thank you Madam Speaker.

Trinamool calls for preserving the spirit of Constitution in Parliament

Trinamool Congress today called for preserving the spirit of the Constitution of India in the Parliament. Through their passionate speeches in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha respectively, Kalyan Banerjee and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy paid rich tributes to the chief architect of the Constitution, Dr BR Ambedkar.

In his speech, Kalyan Banerjee advised the Centre not to play the ‘Big Brother’ and treat the States as junior. Making a strong case for federalism, he said, “Funding for a large number of centrally-sponsored schemes, without consulting state govt, have been delinked. States were not taken into confidence before imposing Swachh Bharat cess. It is a burden on people and against federal structure.”

He also said that secularism means equality of all religions. It has been given a place of pride in the Constitution.

“Mother Teresa said “God has not called me to be successful but faithful”. After 65 years we must assess how much faithful to Const we are,” Kalyan Banerjee submitted.

In the Upper House of the Parliament, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy quoted Tagore’s verses to drive home the point about fulfilling the spirit of Constitution.

“Authority has been given by Constitution framers not to misuse them but to serve the nation. All forms of authoritarianism must be avoided,” he said.

Speaking on federalism, he said, “If govt is serious about cooperative federalism, it must implement the Punchi Commission report.” He also highlighted the rising instances of intolerance in the country.

Quoting the President of India on rising intolerance in the country, SS Roy called for introspection why the first citizen of the country was compelled to make such a statement.

“If we wish to preserve the Constitution, let us resolve let us not be turdy in recognition of the evils that lie in our path,” he added.

On the issue of secularism, Dr Roy quoted Babasaheb Ambedkar: “State is neither religious not anti-religious. It is totally detached from religion”.

Incidentally, the West Bengal Government has decided to observe 30 December as ‘Ambedkar Diwas’.

 

Full transcript of Kalyan Banerjee’s speech.

Full transcript of SS Roy’s speech.

Sudip Bandyopadhyay bats for tolerance in Lok Sabha

Speaking in Lok Sabha during a special sitting to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, the leader of the party in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandyopadhyay today asked the Prime Minister to rise to the occasion and act against the incidents of intolerance in the country.

“Every citizen have the right to practice their own religion. Few incidents are sending out a negative image of the country,” he said.

The Kolkata Uttar MP added, “People like Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, A R Rahman, Mithun Chakraborty are feeling unsafe in their own country. We must find the cause.”

“This is the country of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa Deb and Swami Vivekananda. We must show tolerance. Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa said ‘Joto Mot, Toto Poth’ (As Many Opinions, That Many Ways). We must respect this spirit,” said Sudip Banerjee.

He also showered praises on Dr BR Ambedkar, the chief architect of our Constitution who was elected to the Constituent Assembly from Bengal. He said Ambedkar was a revivor of Buddhism in India and a social engineer.

We should unequivocally lodge our protests from the Parliament against the incidents of intolerance, Sudip Bandyopadhyay advised the Prime Minister while concluding his speech.

 

Full transcript of his speech here

No one can dictate to people what to wear or eat: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Chairperson Ms Mamata Banerjee today expressed her concern over the rising incidents of intolerance in the country. She demanded to know from the party in power at the Centre how they can dictate to people what they can wear or eat.

Speaking of brotherhood and communal harmony at an event in Shahid Minar, WB CM said, “The Preamble of the Constitution states India is a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. The Constitution champions the ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, unity and integrity of the nation.”

Condemning all forms of terrorism, she said that terrorists have no religion and it would be wrong to brand certain communities as terrorists.

Slamming her detractors who were questioning why she was attending this event, she said that questions are not raised when attends functions of Ramakrishna Mission or Bharat Sevasram Sangha.

“I visit church on Christmas and also functions of Bharat Sevasram Sangha. I attend Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrations. Why cannot I attend a Muslim event?,” she remarked.

 

Highlighting the work done by her government for the development of minorities, WB CM said:

  • I had made a commitment of giving second language status to Urdu. We did that.
  • We have introduced reservation for minorities under the ambit of law without touching the general caste by increasing infrastructure.
  • Left Front gave scholarships to 4 lakh students in their last 4 yrs. We have given scholarships to 83 lakh students, highest in India.
  • The budget allotment for minority development during Left Front rule was Rs 400 Cr. We increased it to Rs 2400 Cr.
  • 115 hostels have been set up for students. A new campus of Aliah University is coming up.
  • 132 Karma Tirtha marketing hubs are coming up where our youth can set up shops.
  • We are giving cycles to over 40 lakh students irrespective of caste, creed, gender or religion.

 

She also slammed the Centre for the rising intolerance in the country. “On one hand they celebrate Constitution Day and on the other they profile people based on religion. This is unacceptable,” she said.

“Aamir Khan has said what he felt as an Indian. Who are you to tell him to leave the country? It belongs to everyone,” she added.

Mamata Banerjee said the Centre may unleash the CBI against her for attacking them, but her fight will continue as she does not fear death.

Trinamool wants Parliament to function: Sudip Bandopadhyay

Ahead of the Winter Session this week, Trinamool Congress on Saturday said it does not favour disrupting of Parliament proceedings and will raise issues of intolerance, communal harmony and strengthening of federal structure in the House.

“The strategy of our party is yet to be decided. It will be decided after discussions with our party chief Mamata Banerjee. But yes, we want the Parliament to function properly. We don’t want any disruption of the house,” TMC Parliamentary Party leader in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay said.

“If Parliament functions smoothly, we will be able to raise the burning issues of the country such as price rise, intolerance, threat to secularism and others. We can make the government answerable for these issues,” he said.

Sudip Bandopadhyay said, “The issue of intolerance and threat to communal harmony will top our agenda.”

“Never before has India gone through such an intolerant atmosphere. We want to raise this issue of intolerance in the Parliament. We have always spoken in favour of strengthening communal harmony of our country. In the present situation the communal harmony too is under threat,” he added.

The MP also lashed out at the Centre for interfering in the federal structure of the country.

“We have always spoken in favour of strengthening the federal structure and for more powers to the states. But under the present regime at the centre, the Prime Minister is calling up chief secretaries of the state bypassing the chief ministers.

“Is this the way you protect the federal structure, which is the basis of our country? We all need to strengthen the federal structure,” he added.

Mamata’s Bihar visit a protest against authoritarian attitude of Centre: Trinamool

Stating that the party would fight to “strengthen the federal structure” in the country, TMC on Thursday said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s attendance at the oath-taking ceremony of Nitish Kumar on Friday would be as a mark of “protest against authoritarian attitude of the Centre”.

“Our chief minister is going there (Bihar) to fight against intolerance and mark her protest against the authoritarian attitude of the Centre.

“Trinamool Congress will fight in favour of strengthening the federal structure and secular fabric of our country,” said party leader and state urban development minister Firhad Hakim.

Mamata Banerjee on Thursday left for Patna to take take part in Kumar’s swearing-in on Friday. She had congratulated Nitish Kumar over Twitter and termed the victory of the grand alliance as the defeat of “intolerance”.

Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) leader and the Bihar Chief Minister designate, and Mamata Banerjee had spoken over the phone after the Bihar Assembly elections results were announced with the former thanking the TMC chief for supporting the grand alliance in Bihar in its fight against BJP.