Tag: movement

Trinamool workers to hit the streets for three days starting December 14

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Trinamool Congress workers and supporters will hold protest rallies in each and every block in the state for three consecutive days from December 14.

Trinamool Congress workers and supporters will hold protest rallies in each and every block in the state for three consecutive days from December 14, demanding the withdrawal of the Centre’s decision to demonetise high value of notes.

Partha Chatterjee, secretary general of Trinamool Congress, said: “Trinamool Congress workers and supporters will hit the street on December 14, 15 and 16 protesting against the demonetisation of notes that led to nothing apart from harassment of common people. People will hit the streets to demand withdrawal of the Centre’s hasty and arbitrary decision of demonetising Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.”

He urged people to join the rally to build up protest against the loss of crores of rupees due to announcement of demonetisation without any proper planning. There will be protest marches in the nooks and corners of the state.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held rallies against demonetisation in Delhi and other places including Lucknow and Patna in the last week of November. She also led a rally from College Square to Esplanade on the same issue. Now, the party has given call to build up protest in the entire state.

He said that people from different parts of the state had been complaining about the daily ordeal which they are passing through due to demonetisation of notes. Condition of farmers is also poor as it was announced at a time when they need good amount of cash in their hands to buy seeds and fertilizers.

The party workers started preparing for the rallies soon after the announcement made by Partha Chatterjee. There will be a major rally on the same issue in the city as well. Senior leaders of the party will head the rally in the city. Besides holding rallies, there will also be street corner meetings all across the state.

It may be recalled that Trinamool Congress had put up posters all across the city protesting against demonetisation of notes by the Centre a few days after it was announced. Now, all the posters would be put up across the state.

নোট বাতিলের বিরুদ্ধে ফের পথে নামছে তৃণমূল 

ফের পথে নামছে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস৷ নোট বাতিলের জেরে মানুষের দুর্দশার প্রতিবাদে ফের রাজ্যজুড়ে বিক্ষোভ কর্মসূচির ডাক দেওয়াহয়েছে৷ আগামী বুধ, বৃহস্পতি ও শুক্রবার রাজ্যজুড়ে চলবে বিক্ষোভ সমাবেশ৷ হবে প্রতিবাদ মিছিল৷ নোট বাতিলের হয়রান হয়েছেন এমন নাগরিকদের সঙ্গে নিয়ে মিছিলে শামিল হবেন নেতারা৷

রবিবার সাংবাদিকদের সামনে বিজেপির রাজ্য সভাপতি দিলীপ ঘোষের মন্তব্যের কড়া সমালোচনা করেন তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের মহাসচিব পার্থ চট্টোপাধ্যায়৷ দিলীপ ঘোষকে কটাক্ষ করে বলেন, “উনি মানসিক ভারসাম্য হারিয়েছেন৷তৃণমূলকর্মীদের খুনের হুমকি দিচ্ছেন৷ তৃণমূল এই বিষয়টিকে ভাল চোখে দেখছে না৷ তীব্র প্রতিবাদ জানাচ্ছি৷”

মহাসচিব জানান, “এমন ব্যক্তিগত আক্রমণের বিষয়টিকে কোনওভাবেই রেয়াত করা হবে না৷ আসলে উনি প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কাছে নম্বর বাড়াতে চাইছেন৷ খবরের শিরোনামে আসতে চাইছেন৷ বাংলার রাজনৈতিক সংস্কৃতিকে কালিমালিপ্ত করার চেষ্টা করছেন৷ কিন্তু মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়কে আটকাবে কার সাধ্য? তাঁকে দেশের কোথাও আটকানোর কারও সাধ্য নেই৷”

পাশাপাশি তিনি এও জানান প্রতিবাদ কর্মসূচি চলবেই৷ মানুষের জন্য মানুষকে সঙ্গে নিয়ে পথে নামবে৷ আন্দোলন হবে জেলায় জেলায়, ব্লকে ব্লকে৷

Whenever I start a movement, there is criticism, I am used to it : Mamata Banerjee Interview

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Leading the charge against the Centre’s move to demonetise high-value currency notes, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spoke about the reasons for her protest and the Army’s presence in her state.

There is a lot of criticism from the BJP and others who are saying that you are seeing conspiracies where there are none. What is your reaction to this?

Whenever I start a movement, there is criticism. I am used to that. When I began the movement against the Left, with Jyoti Basu as Chief Minister, I was criticised. I was attacked by the Left. Later, when I began the movement in Singur, I was similarly attacked and criticised. This is the same thing.

But whatever the common people feel, that is the truth that matters. People know that this move of demonetisation is a black move by a black government. People will respond to note-bandi with vote-bandi.

What is the next step in your protest against demonetisation?

We are going to continue our opposition against the Modi government and demonetisation. I believe in constructive criticism and the opposition needs to be united. But already, the BJP has no one speaking in favour of them. All these economists, it is not like they know me. But they are all speaking out against demonetisation, warning people that this move will ultimately harm the economy. Who is speaking in favour of the government, except some people who don’t have a choice but to — some film stars and some businessmen, who need to speak in favour of the government because they are scared to do otherwise. This is a scheme to ensure loot of common people’s money. The government has started a scheme where they will take money, in old notes, and then say that this is their revenue. They will claim that their revenue has increased. It’s a complete eyewash and dacoity.

Why do say that demonetisation is linked to elections?

The government isn’t releasing Rs 500 notes equally. We have asked the RBI to release the details of how many Rs 500 notes have been sent to which state. They haven’t done that yet. In West Bengal, the demand is far higher than other states. But here we have had almost no Rs 500 notes. Most of the ATM machines haven’t been recalibrated. But in BJP states, there is no such problem. In UP, they are not releasing Rs 500 notes because the BJP wants anger to build against the Samajwadi Party.

The Army has claimed that they had followed protocol regarding deployment in the state, what is your stand?

The Army is being used as a political tool. Whatever they are saying is misinformation and lies. It’s a concocted story. The Army never took permission from the state government. The home secretary has written to the Centre to withdraw the Army from the district. If the Army isn’t withdrawn, we will take legal action. We are being targeted because we have raised the issue of demonetisation.

So what do you think the Centre is attempting to do?

Curb protest. There is no money anywhere and the BJP can’t tolerate anyone’s protest. This has never happened before. The central government is an elected government but with limited mandate, we don’t interfere in their jurisdiction there. The state government has limited jurisdiction. But in this situation, the economy has no money, it’s impossible to give people wages. No one is getting money in hand. What will people do? Now the government is trying to scare you, so that you can’t go to the bank and take out money. This is yet another surgical strike.

The BJP is constantly attempting to weaken the federal structure of the state. They continue to speak directly to our secretaries, bypassing the chief minister. The Prime Minister holds video-conference meetings with the chief secretaries of the state. Why should he do that? There is a system in place and there is a reason for that. The Centre has no right to do so.

 

Written by Aniruddha Ghosal, The Indian Express, December 5, 2016

 

 

 

Bengal observes Singur Utsav

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Singur Utsav was observed in every block of the State today to commemorate the Supreme Court decision quashing land acquisition in Singur (carried out by Left Front government in 2006).

Rallies were taken out by Trinamool activists and supporters in various parts of the State. Cultural programmes were held too. ‘Singur Vijay Diwas’ was observed at Vidhan Sabha, too.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had hailed the Supreme Court’s decision and announced that an administrative review meeting for Hooghly district would be held at Singur on September 14, 2016, at 2 PM. On the same day a ‘Vijay Utsav’ would be held in Singur at 4 PM.

“I would expect everyone to celebrate this Singur Utsav, it’s like an invocation of the celebration to Durga Puja,” the Chief Minister had said.

 

রাজ্যজুড়ে পালিত হল সিঙ্গুর উ९সব

আজ সারা বাংলাজুড়ে ব্লকে ব্লকে পালিত হল সিঙ্গুর উৎসব। মিছিল, সাংস্কৃতিক অনুষ্ঠানের মধ্যে দিয়ে সাধারণ মানুষ সিঙ্গুরে কৃষক আন্দোলনের বিরাট জয়কে পালন করলেন।

২০০৬ সালে টাটা মোটরের ন্যানো গাড়ির কারখানা স্থাপনের জন্য বুদ্ধদেব ভট্টাচার্যের নেতৃত্বাধীন সিপিএম সরকারের সিঙ্গুরে জমি অধিগ্রহণ অবৈধ – সুপ্রিম কোর্টের এই রায়ের প্রেক্ষিতেই এই উৎসব।

বিধানসভাতেও পালিত হো সিঙ্গুর বিজয় দিবস।

সুপ্রিম কোর্টের এই রায়ের পর মুখ্যমন্ত্রী ঘোষণা করেন, আগামী ১৪ সেপ্টেম্বর হুগলী জেলার প্রশাসনিক পর্যালোচনা সভা সিঙ্গুরে অনুষ্ঠিত হবে, সময় দুপুর ২ টো। ওই দিনই বিকেল ৪ টেয় সিঙ্গুরে ‘বিজয় উ९সব’  অনুষ্ঠিত হবে।

Singur movement: A look back in time

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On Wednesday, when the Apex Court of the country ordered the return of acquired land taken by the erstwhile Left Front government within 12 weeks, the chronicle of Singur beacons as the bright reminder of series of incidents. The Singur incident brought a socio-political change in Bengal.

2006

Tata Motors announced the small car factory in Singur on May 18, 2006.

Just after two months, on July 18, the Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee started protesting the issue. The ground of the protest was forceful land acquisition by an elected state government. Mamata Banerjee’s rally at Singur, as a sign of protest – started the historical movement.

The LF government acquired 997 acres of multi-crop farmland to allocate the Tata’s to construct their factory. The rule is meant for public improvement projects, and the LF government wanted Tata to build factory under this rule.

However, amidst the huge protest Tata started to set up their plant in Singur in January 21. By then, they had already promised to produce ‘Nano’ – the affordable car which would cost just above a lakh only.

Intellectuals

The protest had also turned turbulent as many of the internationally famed social activists, and Bengali luminaries had stood beside the movement led by Mamata Banerjee. The protesters – Anuradha Talwar, Medha Patkar, Arundhuti Roy, Mahasweta Devi and others were started to protest saying the location of Tata Motors site is the most fertile one in the whole of the Singur block. The local population depended on agriculture. Almost 20,000 farmers are making their livelihood from the multi-crop land.

Hunger strike

On December 3, 2006, Mamata Banerjee started her indefinite hunger strike for 26 days.

In the meantime, the rape case of Tapasi Malik had stunned the entire country. The fenced off area of the Nano-factory, which has been continuously guarded by the policemen, where allegedly guarded by cadres of the CPI (M) party as well. The girl, Tapasi malik, who was one of the protesters, was allegedly gang-raped and burnt to death by those CPI(M) cadres. Later, a CPI (M) leader, a zonal committee leader, Suhrid Dutta was arrested by CBI.

2008

On August 2008, Mamata Banerjee started indefinite dharna at Singur. Tata Motors suspended development work on Nano factory on September 2, 2008.

On September 3, 2008, then governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi agreed to play a mediator to resolve the issue between government and the Trinamool Congress but in vain.

Tata Motors decided to move out from Singur and conveyed the decision on October 3, 2008.

Maa Mati Manush government

In May 20, 2011, Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of Bengal and announced in her first Cabinet meeting that they will return the 400 acres land to the unwilling farmers for the Singur. An ordinance to that effect was promulgated but it was challenged in court.

Land in Singur will be returned within time frame set by court: Mamata Banerjee

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Land in Singur will be returned within the time frame set by court, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today.

The Supreme Court Wednesday set aside the land acquired the West Bengal Government in 2006 to facilitate Tata Motors to set up its plant for the Nano car. Calling it a landmark victory, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said she stands vindicated.

 

A strategy meeting was held in Nabanna today to discuss the process of return of land. It was attended by various ministers, departmental secretaries, MLAs and advisors to the government.

The survey of the land in Singur will begin tomorrow and will be completed within two weeks, the Chief Minister said. She added that those who did not take the money for compensation will be given their dues, as per court verdict.

The land will be made suitable for agriculture, the Chief Minister said. “We have also decided to give possession to bargadars as per land records before acquisition,” she added.

 

Click here to read the 10 things Mamata Banerjee said on the Singur Verdict

 

সময়সীমার মধ্যেই আমরা জমি ফেরত দিয়ে দেব: মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

সুপ্রিম কোর্টের বেঁধে দেওয়া সময়সীমার মধ্যেই আমরা জমি ফেরত দিয়ে দেওয়া হবে সিঙ্গুরে, জানালেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

বুধবার এক ঐতিহাসিক রায়ের মাধ্যমে সুপ্রিম কোর্ট জানায়, ২০০৬ সালে টাটা মোটরের ন্যানো কারখানার জন্য সিঙ্গুরে জমি অধিগ্রহণ বৈধ নয়। রাজ্য সরকারকে দ্রুত জমির দখল নিতে নির্দেশ দেয় শীর্ষ আদালত।

সুপ্রিম কোর্টের এই রায়কে যুগান্তকারী ও ঐতিহাসিক জয় বলেছেন মাননীয়া মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। আজ নবান্নে একটি বৈঠক হয় সুপ্রিম কোর্টের নির্দেশ মেনে সিঙ্গুরের জমি কীভাবে কৃষকদের ফেরত দেওয়া যায়, তা স্থির করতে।

বৈঠকে স্থির হয় যে কাল থেকে সিঙ্গুরে জমি জরিপের কাজ শুরু হবে যা আগামী ২ সপ্তাহের মধ্যেই শেষ করা হবে। যারা জমির কম্পেন্সেশন নেননি, তাদের আমরা কোর্টের রায় অনুযায়ী ক্ষতিপূরণের টাকা দেব, জানালেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

তিনি আরও বলেন যে সিঙ্গুরের জমি চাষযোগ্য করেই ফেরত দেওয়া হবে। বৈঠকে ও ঠিক হয় যে জমি অধিগ্রহণের আগে বর্গাদারদের যেমন পসেশন ছিল, সেরম ভাবেই জমি দেওয়া হবে।

Landmark verdict, we have been vindicated: Mamata Banerjee on Singur verdict

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“I feel a lot of joy today on this historic verdict. Mingled with the joy there are also tears of joy,” this was the reaction of Mamata Banerjee after the Supreme Court of India set aside the land acquisition by West Bengal Government in 2006 to facilitate Tata Motors to set up its Nano plant.

We have been saying all along the land acquisition in Singur was illegal. We have been vindicated, she added.

 

Here are 10 things Mamata Banerjee said:

The farmers of Singur did not part with their land against all odds. We salute them.

I feel a lot of joy today on this historic verdict. Mingled with the joy there are also tears of joy. Now I can die in peace.

We will organise a Vijay Utsav in Singur. On September 2, we will observe Singur Utsav in every block of Bengal.

We do not believe in forceful acquisition of land. We believe in negotiation.

CPI(M) committed historic suicide not ‘historic blunder’ in Singur.

People are the biggest pillars of democracy. They had given their verdict in 2011. Supreme Court has given verdict today.

We are missing Mahasweta Di today. She was a pillar of strength during Singur andolan. She would have been happy today.

Nandigram carnage happened right after Singur. Then there was Netai massacre. We salute all martyrs.

This (Singur verdict) is the first gift we got after renaming of our State. Bangla Ma is happy today.

Bengal is the final destination for industry.

 

 

ঐতিহাসিক রায়: সিঙ্গুর প্রসঙ্গে বললেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

“আজ খুব আনন্দের দিন। খুশির সাথেই চোখে জল চলে আসছে,” এই ছিল মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের প্রতিক্রিয়া সুপ্রিম কোর্টের সিঙ্গুর রায় সম্বন্ধে।

আমরা বরাবর বলে এসেছি সিঙ্গুরের জমি অধিগ্রহণ ছিল বেআইনি। আজ সত্যের জয় হল, তিনি বলেন।

আজই সুপ্রিম কোর্ট ২০০৬ সালে টাটাদের ন্যানো কারখানার জন্য সিঙ্গুরে জমি অধিগ্রহণকে অবৈধ ঘোষণা করে।

 

সিঙ্গুর রায় নিয়ে মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের প্রতিক্রিয়ার অংশবিশেষ:

এটা গণদেবতার জয়, অনশনের জয়, মা-মাটি-মানুষের জয়।

আগামী ২ সেপ্টেম্বর সব ব্লকে ব্লকে আমরা সিঙ্গুর উ९সব পালন করব। সিঙ্গুরে আমরা বিজয় উতসব করব।

সবুজ ফসল যার অধিকার, যারা আমাদের ধান ফলায় তাদের জমি জোর করে আমরা অধিগ্রহণ করব না।

সিঙ্গুর সিপিএমের ‘ঐতিহাসিক ভুল’ নয় ‘ঐতিহাসিক আত্মহত্যা’।

গণতন্ত্রে মানুষই সব। ২০১১ সালে মানুষ তাদের রায় দিয়ে দিয়েছে, সুপ্রিম কোর্ট আজ তাদের রায় দিলেন।

আজ আমরা মহাশ্বেতা দেবীকে মিস করছি। সিঙ্গুর আন্দোলনের সময় উনি ছিলেন আমাদের প্রেরণা।

সিঙ্গুর, নেতাই, নন্দীগ্রামের সমস্ত শহিদদের আমাদের শ্রদ্ধা জানাই।

রাজ্যের নাম বদলের পর এটি আমাদের প্রথম উপহার। বাংলা মা আজ খুশি।

বাংলাই এখন বিনিয়োগকারীদের গন্তব্য।

আমি এখন শান্তিতে মরতে পারবো।