Tag: Mamata Banerjee

Didi led an anti-CAA protest march in Hills today

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Didi led an anti-CAA protest march in Hills today

Today, Mamata Banerjee led a 4-km-long protest march in Darjeeling hills against the new citizenship law. The rally began at Bhanu Bhakta Bhavan near Mall in Darjeeling and concluded in the Chowkbazar area.. For the last few weeks, Didi has been leading protests across the State against this unconstitutional law.

Several protest marches have been held in Kolkata, led by Mamata Banerjee. Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and Trinamool Mahila Congress have held sit-in demonstrations as well. 

Bangla is the only State to boycott the meeting on NPR called by the Union Government. At the inauguration of the Uttarbanga Utsav too she had said that there will be no NPR and CAA in Bangla. She assured the people that she would guard them 365 days a year.

 

State Assembly to pass resolution against CAA on Jan 27

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on State Assembly to pass resolution against CAA on Jan 27

The Bangla Government is going to bring a resolution against the amended Citizenship Act (CAA). The resolution will be taken up for discussion and passing during a special session of the State Assembly on January 27.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday had announced that her government would pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) soon.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Partha Chatterjee today said, “There will be a special session of the State Assembly on January 27 at 2 PM to discuss and a resolution against CAA.” He also called on other political parties to support the resolution.

It may be mentioned that on September 6, a resolution was adopted in the State Assembly against the NRC process in Assam. Since CAA was not passed in parliament at that time, CAA was not mentioned in that proposal.

Partha Chatterjee said that it is important to pass this resolution in the interest of democracy.

Modi Govt following ‘divide and rule’ policy: Didi

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Modi Govt following ‘divide and rule’ policy: Didi

Bangla Chief Minister and Trinamool Chairperson, Mamata Banerjee, speaks about her views on CAA, NRC, NPR, the situation in Kashmir and the misinformation campaign by BJP.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

Q: The Prime Minister recently visited Belur Math where he said that the Opposition was misleading people on CAA

Didi: The Prime Minister went to Belur Math on a personal visit. We have great regard for Ramakrishna Mission. We have never seen anyone use the stage for political speeches. I am thankful to the monks of Ramakrishna Mission for protesting against it.

Instead of paying respect to Swami Vivekananda ji, he did a mischievous thing – he did political propaganda. We don’t agree with his political vision. He wants to fulfill his political agenda. We don’t agree with that. In parliamentary committee, we opposed this from the beginning.

Everyone with documents like the voter ID card, PAN card, Aadhaar card, passport etc are citizens of the country. If the Opposition is misleading the people, why are people protesting in BJP-ruled States? Why are States like Assam against NRC? We support their protests. Actually, BJP is misleading the people.

They are following a divide-and-rule policy through CAA. It depends on their choice. They are in power. They must ensure ‘roti-kapda-makaan’ and not promote politics of hate. This policy is being criticised worldwide. We love our country and he is dividing the country.

The country’s economy is a disaster now. Prices are skyrocketing, unemployment is rising, industries are shutting down. Walmart is closing down their chapter in India. Instead of giving attention to these problems, they are trying to discriminate (among people).

Swami Vivekananda never said divide the country. He worked for the downtrodden people. He said unity is strength and weakness is death. Divide and rule is BJP’s manifesto, their agenda and they want everyone to follow them. This will destroy the secular fabric of the country.

Q: So, you are opposing CAA, NRC, NPR

Didi: At first we thought NPR is related to census. But now we know it is connected to NRC. There is no convention or provision that discriminates among refugees. India is a vast country, with so many languages, cultures. There are even different dialects in Bengali in every district. Even if we do not understand their language, we respect and love them. That’s the beauty of our country.

Q: So, you are saying refugees must not be discriminated against

Didi: It is not a matter of refugees. People will have to surrender their citizenship for five years. Everything will be lost. There are many discrepancies. Why have they not included Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka? It is our neighbouring country.

Q: So, you are saying NRC is anti-Bengali

Didi: Obviously it is anti-Bengali. But most importantly, it is anti-India. You can see how Bengali migrant workers are being treated in other States. Some of them were brutally murdered in Kashmir. So many migrants work in Bengal. We do not discriminate among them. How can you divide them like this?

Q: Centre claims there is normalcy in Kashmir

Didi: Kashmir is our heart. We love Kashmir. If the situation is normal, why are so many leaders under house arrest for such a long time? Why is there internet shutdown? People are suffering. Problems can be solved by taking people into confidence. But if you bulldoze your views on others, there will be issues.

Words and vision are the credibility of a politician. Your character is your credibility. Your character is your credential.

Kashmiris should have been taken into confidence. Why were political parties not called for a meeting? I want to visit Kashmir and visit Farooq (Abdullah) Ji, Mehbooba (Mufti), Omar (Abdullah). I don’t want to go as a Chief Minister but as an individual, as the Chairperson of All India Trinamool Congress. Foreign dignitaries are welcome (in Kashmir) but Indians cannot go. That is the problem. I want to go and see how Kashmiri brothers and sisters are.

Our party’s delegation is not allowed in Assam, Lucknow, Kashmir. This is the condition.

Q: Political dynamics has changed. Trinamool, DMK, Shiv Sena, SP, BSP didn’t attend the meeting (in New Delhi). The message is loud and clear – regional parties want to play on their own terms

Didi: Regional parties are feeling isolated. Why local leaders in Tamil Nadu are blaming Stalin? Shiv Sena is in a government with them, but they are also feeling isolated. Same with Arvind Kejriwal. Only meetings won’t help. This is a public movement. Let everyone carry on the protests in their own way.

We are all together.

Q: Do you mean the Congress is unreliable?

Didi: I don’t have any comments. Words are silver and silence is golden

Q: BJP accuses Trinamool of appeasement politics. In 2005, you raised your voice against illegal immigration but now you have changed your stand

Didi: BJP is misinforming, misleading, disinforming the people. My protest was ‘No ID card, no vote’. Only that can prove the genuineness of voters. Why would one name appear in 50 places? Names of genuine voters were missing. I was fighting for voting rights of genuine voters. For this movement, 13 youth workers were killed in firing by the Left Front Government. Why was I not allowed to speak in the Parliament? What BJP is saying is fabricated. Our movement started in 1991.

Honouring the legacy of Swami Vivekananda

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Honouring the legacy of Swami Vivekananda

The great follower of the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is, she has named schemes and places after the great son of Bangla.

Here is a list of the works of the Bangla Government in preserving the legacy of Swami Vivekananda:

  • Giving autonomy and special status to Ramakrishna and Sarada Mission educational institutions, which are associated with Swami Vivekananda’s ideology to impart education and foster character-building
  • Naming the Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences being built by the Ramakrishna Mission as ‘Vivek Tirtha’ by Mamata Banerjee
  • Acquiring and handing over premises adjoining Swamiji’s ancestral house to Ramakrishna Mission
  • Renovating ‘Mayer Bari’ in Baghbazar, Kolkata at a cost of Rs 30 crore
  • Acquiring Sister Nivedita’s house at Baghbazar and handing it over to Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, and giving it heritage status
  • Allocating Rs 2 crore for the renovation of ‘Roy Villa’ in Darjeeling, associated with Sister Nivedita, and handing it over to Ramakrishna Mission
  • Building a skywalk connecting Dakshineswar railway station to the famous temple there; it is named Dakshineswar Rani Rashmoni Skywalk
  • Renaming Yuva Bharati Krirangan after Swami Vivekananda, as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan
  • Naming the Self-Help and Self-Employment Department-run self-employment scheme as Swami Vivekananda Swanirbhar Karmasansthan Prakalpa
  • Naming the scholarship for economically disadvantaged families as Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship
  • Organising Vivek Chetana Utsav from January 10 to 12, for commemorating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, across the State

Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary being observed as Vivek Chetana Utsav across Bangla

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary being observed as Vivek Chetana Utsav across Bangla

The Bangla Government is celebrating the 157th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in association with the Ramakrishna Math and Mission through the three-day long Vivek Chetana Utsav, from January 10-12.

All the 341 blocks, 117 municipalities, six municipal corporations of the State, the 144 wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) and all the district headquarters are celebrating Vivek Chetana Utsav through processions, exhibitions, symposiums and quiz competitions on the life of Swami Vivekananda, and debates, exhibition football matches and other cultural programmes.

The State Youth Welfare Department is organising the festival. It may be noted that January 12 is a State holiday since 2012, with the inspiration of Mamata Banerjee.

TMCP to organise sit-in demonstration against CAA-NRC: Didi

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on TMCP to organise sit-in demonstration against CAA-NRC: Didi

A mega rally was held in North 24 Parganas today against the unconstitutional Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). Mamata Banerjee led the protest march.

The rally began at 1 PM at Madhyamgram and culminated at Barasat Kachari Maidan.

Speaking on the occasion, Didi announced that Trinamool Chhatra Parishad will organise an indefinite sit-in demonstration at Rani Rashmoni Avenue from tomorrow.

Highlights of her speech:

We had passed a resolution in the State Assembly in September, 2019. We will not accept NRC and Citizenship Amendment Act.

We do not discriminate among people on the basis of caste, creed or religion.

We believe in the spirit of united India, united Bangla. Sarva Dharma Samannay is our motto. We will work together for all

Some people are spreading misinformation. Do not fall into their traps.

We have given land rights to refugees. We have recognised refugee colonies as well.

We have given land pattas to the residents of 94 refugee colonies on government land. We have passed a law to recognise even the colonies on centre’s land.

Some religious organisations are claiming Matuas will be given unconditional citizenship. But they are already citizens of this country. They have been voting since 1964.

To get citizenship, you will be declared a foreigner for 5 years. So, they will take away your citizenship, and all the services you receive

They want to deceive people. Poor people will stand in queues and they will discriminate among people

We are all citizens of the country. All of us cast our votes in elections

Political parties have no right to harm people. Protests must be peaceful. Hurling bombs on railway tracks, setting buses on fire won’t be tolerated

A protest which takes everyone along, which is peaceful, will become successful

Some people are trying to sow the seeds of communalism. Beware of them.

As long as I am alive, I will work for the people. I will not allow CAA-NRC-NPR

The anti-CAA protests began in Bangla. Let us carry it forward by protesting democratically, peacefully in a humane manner

Won’t allow anyone to snatch people’s rights: Mamata Banerjee

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Won’t allow anyone to snatch people’s rights: Mamata Banerjee

Contending that she was the custodian of people’s rights, Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said she would not let anyone harm their interests. She was speaking at a public distribution programme at Pathapratima in South 24 Parganas district.

Asserting that the agitation against National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) would go on as long as necessary, Banerjee said that she would do everything in her power to protect the people of the state.

“We do not live at the mercy of anyone… I will not allow anyone snatch our rights,” the CM said at a public meeting here, on the western fringes of Sunderban forests.

“I am your ‘pehradar’ (custodian), if anyone comes to take away your rights, he will have to do it over my dead body,” Banerjee, who has been one of the most vocal critics of CAA, NRC, added.

“The central government did not provide a single penny for relief operations. We distributed three lakh tripals, and arranged for six lakh packets consisting of sarees, blankets, sheets, foodstuffs and stoves, for this district alone,” she said, referring to the damages caused by Cyclone Bulbul.

The CM added, “We provided compensation to two million farmers in this district; I urge all farmers to enroll in the crop insurance scheme, which is fully funded by the State Government.” She also said that those who lost their homes in the cyclone, would get a house under Bangla Awas Yojana.

She reiterated that Sundarbans and Basirhat will become new districts.

Didi pens poem against the unconstitutional CAB and NRC

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Didi pens poem against the unconstitutional CAB and NRC

Mamata Banerjee has penned a poem against the CAB and NRC, undemocratic processes which the Central Government is trying to impose on the country. People across the country are staging protests against them.

Today, she addressed a public meeting at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Kolkata. Tomorrow she will address another public meeting at Park Circus.

At all the meetings, the common slogan was ‘No NRC, No CAB’, coined by Mamata Banerjee herself. She assured everybody that neither CAB nor NRC would be allowed in Bangla and that Trinamool will continue the fight against them.

As a mark of protest, she has coined a poem titled ‘Citizens’.

Citizens

All of us
Citizens.
Democratic
Citizens.
On the streets
Citizens.
Constitutional
Citizens.
On the highways
Citizens.
Marching together
Citizens.
Raising our voice
Citizens.
Fighting oppression
Citizens.
Victory belongs to… us.
Citizens.

Dr Santanu Sen speaks on practice of hiring villagers as dummy patients to get MCI recognition

Posted on | by aitc | Leave a Comment on Dr Santanu Sen speaks on practice of hiring villagers as dummy patients to get MCI recognition

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Sir, I would request you to kindly allow me to read out.

The subject is ‘hiring villagers to show as patients for medical college hospitals before Medical Council of India to get recognition of MCI’. RIMS Medical College of Raipur, Chattisgarh, is hiring villagers at the rate of Rs 100 to 200 per day to show them as patients to MCI. So most of the admitted patients are healthy villagers. Every day, dummy files of emergency and OPD patients are being prepared. College buses are being used to bring children, youth and elderly persons from villages. Adults are being given Rs 100 to 200 per day and children, Rs 50 to 100 per day. No investigation for them, no dietary request for them. They are there just to make up IPD and OPD numbers.

As per MCI guidelines, for the first four years after the opening of a medical college, a minimum of four OPD patients per day per student intake are required and at the end of fourth year, this should increase to a minimum of eight OPD patients per day per student intake are required.

Sir, it is reflecting on the level of performance of the present board of governors of MCI which has replaced the actual proper functioning of the original MCI. So the Government needs to be very much careful to look after the proper functioning of the MCI and the board of governors.

 

Invest in Bangla, where there’s scope for the future: Didi’s call at Bengal Business Conclave, Digha

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on Invest in Bangla, where there’s scope for the future: Didi’s call at Bengal Business Conclave, Digha

Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today inaugurated the Bengal Business Conclave at Digha. Held at the newly inaugurated Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, the two-day programme is being attended by industry representatives and diplomats from around 20 nations.

Here are the excerpts from her inaugural speech:

In Kolkata, there is a big convention centre. I am proud to say that it is one of the biggest convention centres in the world. It is a destination for industry leaders and everything related. Digha is not too far away from Kolkata. Road connectivity is there for tourism and industry. What we have started today will work for tomorrow. Adjacent to this convention centre is a hotel with 70 rooms. Corporate houses, industrial houses can organise seminars or their office meetings here.

Digha is a beautiful place. You will appreciate that within these 8 years, Digha has been developed like anything. I am proud to say that a promenade like Marine Drive is coming up. The road is already complete. Two bridges are being made. It is adjacent to Puri. Puri has a famous temple. A temple is also coming up here, the Mashibari Temple. A port is coming up at Tajpur.

Representatives of 20 countries are present here. They are from the UK, Poland, Australia, the Netherlands, Argentina, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, USA, Australia, France, Russia, Italy, Thailand, Germany, Japan, China, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Also present here are representatives of the United Nations and a team from the World Bank. The Asian Development Bank also gave us Rs 150 million for a project. We want to congratulate them. Industry depends on the economic situation. Economic situation is something very important nowadays.

After 34 years of Left misrule, our State has overcome the situation. Now if we see the GDP growth, in the second quarter of 2016-17, it was 8.87 %. But in the second quarter of 2019-20, the rate dipped to 4.55%. Industry growth has also gone down. In 2015-16 it was 9.58 %, which in 2018-19 dipped to 6.86%. Manufacturing growth rate also went down from 13.06% in 2015-16 to 6.94% 2018-19. Industrial production growth rate went down. In September 2018, it was 4.63% while in September 2019 it is -4.27%. FDI growth rate is also down from 22% in 2014-15 and 35% in 2015-16 to 1% in 2018-19. Even unemployment rate is also highest in last 45 years.

But I am proud to say that in Bangla, we have decreased unemployment by about 44%. It depends on attitude, working capacity and government policies.

Why you should come to Bangla? If you compare, you will see that Industrial production IIP of India was only 30.6% in 2018-19, exactly double that of India. Poverty rate decline in Bangla is highest among all the states. Through the social security scheme, poverty has declined by 6%. This means that we have worked hard. State Plan Expenditure is six times higher. Social Sector Expenditure has grown by 4.5 times. Physical Infrastructure Expenditure has grown by 5 times.

We are No. 1 in this country. We are the No. 1 in lending by banks to MSME, skill development, in rural connectivity and rural housing, in generation of 100 days’ work for the poor people, in expenditure outlet for 100 days programme. We developed in so many areas because of our intention and integrity.

We want you to invest in Bangla. Choose your place where you have the scope and future. We will get the opportunity to employ people. We are not only proud of Bangla because we stay here. Bangla is not only the gateway for Bangladesh, Bhutan and North-Eastern countries; it is the lifeline for the business of the nation. It is the lifeline for the Asian countries also. Bangla has potential enough to do business.

Anyone can say anything politically. But no one can deny the fact that we have done for Bangla in the last 8 years. Bangla is now a model for the industrial development and every other development. We don’t divide the people. We never utter a single word against any cast, religion or community. We believe in togetherness. We feel we are the same family.

More than 13 lakh people are already employed in the tourism industry. My young generation is getting employment. In the hotel industry, the investment was about Rs 39,800 crore. Every year almost 16 lakh tourists are coming up in Bangla. And 8 crore domestic tourists are coming up. Our airport has grown by 178 %. International passengers have grown by 135 %. You can see the highest growth rate of passengers at Bagdogra Airport.

Our workforce is very good. In the last 8 years we have set up about 300 polytechnic and ITI colleges. We have all that you need to invest. We agree to cooperate. We have Land Bank. We have also Land Utilization Policy. We have IT Policy and Tea-tourism industry too.Along with all these we have talented students. Our young generation is working from Uk to USA to NASA to Japan, everywhere.

I will request you to invest in Bangla. We promise to give you full assistance. More than 200 acres we have allotted for silicon valley, IT sector. Our transport sector is a very potential sector.

I have the readymade business in every corner of the State. You have to use it. Invest your money for the betterment of the future. I can tell you that the Bangla will be the NO 1 destination for the world one day.

One country had said, I will not take the name that the Bangla will be on NO1 within 20 years.

We have set up 26 helipads already. We are trying to make the Air connectivity better also. I will request my UK friends to give some direct flights. There was British Airways previously. Now we are giving the fuel subsidy too. I will request you, if there is any opportunity you can pursue the matter. Airports at Balurghat, Malda, Coochbehar Airports are also coming up. Airport in Durgapur is almost ready.

There are so many areas where you can invest your money. You can enjoy our hospitality and friendship. Bangla loves all of you.

Bangla is the cultural capital of India. You can experience good culture, good behaviour, good transparency and good accountability from us. Our credential is our credibility.

I welcome all my friends from 20 different countries , my diplomats, my counsellor general and all. Thank you so much for coming here. Enjoy our hospitality. You give us business, we will offer you our all support with smile. Our country is your country too.

The next summit will be on 15-16th December, 2020 in Kolkata. I extend my open invitation to all of you.