Trinamool’s garbage is now BJP’s pride: Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee today addressed two public meetings at Sitalkuchi and Tufanganj, both in Cooch Behar district.

Highlights of his speeches:

I begin by paying my respects to candidate Paresh Chandra Adhikari, blessed by our leader Mamata Banerjee, and all the leaders present here, and to all of you who have come he to attend the meeting.

Vote for Paresh Adhikari, but remember that you are actually voting for Mamata Banerjee and her positive politics.

This meeting was arranged at short notice and hence, want to thank you the more for filling this venue up to the brim.

I am very happy to see the cheerful faces all around, and this proves that only Trinamool Congress has organisational capacity in Cooch Behar; others don’t even have a fraction that capacity.

People who were once small-time bike-borne intruders now go around with the BJP’s CISF force threatening people.

The rejects of the Trinamool are now the jewels of the BJP.

And the less said about the CPI(M) and the Congress, the better.

I am requesting all of you to vote for the ‘Jora Phool’ symbol on April 11.

Across the country I’ve heard the refrain, ‘Deshi ka netri kaisi ho/Mamata Banerjee jaisi ho’.

We have fought the BJP for five years, both inside and outside the Parliament.

The source of our power is you, the people – without you there would have been no ‘poriborton’, and without you, she would not have been able to make the call for throwing the BJP out of power

Narendra Modi is coming to Siliguri today. He comes here only before elections, never otherwise, same with Surya Mishra, Somen Mitra and Dilip Ghosh.

We in the Trinamool Congress know that we have the support of the mothers and daughters here, and any party which has woman power in its support is sure to win.

We promise to bring development in Cooch Behar three times that what was done in the last five years.

Mamata Banerjee’s workers stay by your side all year round while the prime minister and his party people come here once a year, like ‘shyama poka’ before Kali Puja and Diwali.

We have to take the vow here to ensure that the candidates who nothing but fakes in saffron garb, lose so badly in the general elections that they lose even their deposits.

We help you in every way possible – be it for helping solve any major family problem or calling the fire brigade or ensuring you get your due widow pension or retirement pension or Kanyashree or Yuvashree stipend or Rupashree grant or Gatidhara or Samabyathi or Baitarani grant or Gitanjali or Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griha.

Mamata Banerjee helps people by doing developmental work irrespective of colour, caste, creed or religion.

The 2019 election is an extremely crucial election because in 2014 the prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi had shown us a grand dream, had said that two crore people would get jobs every year, that every person will get Rs 15 lakh in their account.

But the reality is that nobody has received even 15 paise, on the other hand, we have seen the BJP building a seven-start party office in Delhi by spending Rs 1,200 crore.

Our chief minister though has kept her words – university in the name of Panchanan Barma, medical and engineering colleges, roads, piped drinking water, ITSs, polytechnics, schools, madrasahs.

The prime minister of the country had earlier said that he was a tea-seller, but our chief minister still lives in a small, tile-roofed house and governs the 10 crore people of the State from there, and ensures that the wave of development reaches every one of them.

Now he’s calling himself a chowkidar. I say, the country does not need a chowkidar like him – a chowkidar under whose watch Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya and Mehul Choksi escaped from the country after looting thousands of crores of people’s money.

They haven’t been able to scare us to submission.

Netaji had said, give me your bloods and I’ll give you freedom; now Mamata Banerjee is saying, ensure for me 42 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats, and I’ll ensure a secular, forward-looking, peace-loving government at the Centre.

Eighty years ago, a Bengali leader (Netaji) had said ‘Dilli Chalo’, now 80 years later another Bengali leader (Mamata Banerjee) is saying ‘Dilli Chalo’. We must all heed her call.

Our prime minister has not done anything for the people here – why is he so callously uncaring for the people of the Chhitmahals? Why hasn’t the Centre taken any decision on the airport in Cooch Behar?

Mamata Banerjee has come here again and again, she has visited your houses even more than the local panchayat members.

No other chief minister has held administrative meetings the way Mamata Banerjee has done.

The BJP is picking up our garbage and putting them on pedestals; given ticket to a criminal here.

The people of Cooch Behar has realised that ‘chowkidar is a chor’, letting people like Nirav Modi escape while sucking his thumb.

We have to drive Modi out of the country.

Drive the BJP away – Modi is the ‘shani’’, Amit Shah the ‘rahu’’ and leaders like Dilip Ghosh and others, the ‘ketus’.

Cooking gas, kerosene, petrol all have gone up. GST has caused much loss to businesses.

The more the BJP has lost the more the prices have come down, GST has come down.

Now they have GST on biscuits we eat everyday at the rate of 18% and on gold biscuits which only the super-rich buy, at 3%.

They had thought about dividing the people of Bangla. Now they’ve realised that chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ has become useless.

Mamata Banerjee has never played with religion like the BJP has. Don’t teach us about religion.

What Mamata Banerjee has done for the Hindus, nobody else has; she has also done much for Muslims, for Sikhs, for Christians, for Jews. We have never played the politics of division.

Members of the BJP are indulging in corruption, so much so that only for them has ‘Achhe Din’ come. The wealth of Jay Shah, son of Amit Shah, has increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 80 crore in a short span of time.

Narendra Modi had said that he would fight against corruption. But what do we see? He has made the candidate for Cooch Behar such a person who has 11 criminal cases against him. There can be nothing worse than this.

Mamata Banerjee is our ideal, our guiding light, and we have always walked the path shown by her. We had vowed to fight against the BJP, Congress and CPI(M), and we have kept our word.

On May 23 the BJP will realise that all the support for ‘Padma Phool’ has been converted into support for ‘Jora Phool’.

After May 23, the BJP would be wiped out of power.

CPI(M) had ‘Harmads’ and BJP has ‘Jallads’: Mamata Banerjee

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today accused him of “removing crucial files” related to the notes ban. She also alleged that demonetisation was a “ploy to transform white money into black and black money into white”.

“They (Modi government) have turned the CBI into the Conspiracy Bureau of India and are using it for pursuing vendetta politics. The CBI has created a back office to come up with false evidence against our leaders to implicate them in chit fund cases,” she alleged.

Mamata Banerjee alleged that the CPI(M) had entered into a “political match-fixing” with the BJP as it was “under the Left rule that the chit funds had mushroomed in the state”.

“It was during the CPI(M) regime that Rose Valley and Saradha chit funds came into being. What were the SEBI and RBI doing then? Several top CPI(M) leaders were involved in the chit fund business but none of them was summoned. It only shows that the CPI(M) and the BJP have teamed up in Bengal,” she said.

 

 

সিপিএমের ছিল ‘হার্মাদ’, বিজেপির আছে ‘জল্লাদ’: মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

নোট বাতিল সংক্রান্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ সব ফাইল সরিয়ে ফেলা হয়েছে বলে এদিন অভিযোগ করেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। তাঁর অভিযোগ নোট বাতিল সাদা টাকাকে কালো টাকায় রুপান্তরিত করার এক কৌশল।

তিনি বলেন, “ওরা সিবিআই কে কন্সপিরেসি ব্যুরো অফ ইন্ডিয়ায় পরিণত করে তা রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসা চরিতার্থ করার কাজে লাগাচ্ছে।  একটা ব্যাক অফিস তৈরি করেছে সেখানে আমাদের নেতাদের বিরুদ্ধে মিথ্যে অভিযোগের প্রমাণ তৈরি করছে”।

সিপিএমএর সঙ্গে বিজেপির ম্যাচ ফিক্সিং হয়েছে। বাম আমলে রাজ্যে যখন চিট ফান্দ তৈরি হয়েছিল তখন ওরা কি করছিল?কেন পদক্ষেপ নেয়নি এই প্রশ্নও তুলেছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

তিনি আরও বলেন, “রোজ ভ্যালি, সারদা তৈরি হয়েছে সিপিএমের আমলে। সেই সময় আরবিআই, সেবি কেন চিট ফাণ্ড ব্যবসা করতে দিয়েছিল? অনেক সিপিএম নেতা এই চিট ফান্ডের সঙ্গে জড়িত। তাদের কেন তলব করা হচ্ছে না? এর থেকেই স্পষ্ট সিপিএম-বিজেপি বাংলায় একজোট হয়েছে”।

 

A destructive party is selling off the country: Mamata Banerjee

Coming down heavily on the Centre on the issue of demonetisation and political vendetta, Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today said everyone is suffering due to ‘Super Emergency’.

“Modi Babu bulldozed his decision. Institutions were not allowed to do their job. Whoever is speaking up is being silenced with fear-mongering. Agencies are hounding them,” she said.

“Within hours of announcement of demonetisation I raised my voice. Why did they introduce Rs 2000 notes after banning Rs 1000? People will ban Modi Sarkar soon,” the CM added.

She thundered, “They promised situation will normalise within 50 days. Nothing has improved. Are 50 days not over? Why are restrictions on withdrawal limit still in place?”

She said Trinamool cannot be scared by fear-mongering tactics. “They thought TMC is made of soft mud so even rats can dig it. We fight with tigers, we won’t get rattled by a push from rats,” the Chief Minister said.

She reiterated that CBI has become ‘Conspiracy Bureau of India’.

Highlighting the sufferings of people across all strata of society, she said the protests will continue and the next course of action will be decided after Gangasagar Mela.

Day 3 of Trinamool’s nationwide protests against demonetisation & political vendetta

Today was the third day of Trinamool’s nationwide protests against demonetisation and political vendetta by the Centre. A delegation of Trinamool MPs met the Honourable President today in Delhi.

From November 8, 2016, the day demonetisation was announced, Mamata Banerjee has been vocally protesting against the policy which has led to immense suffering of the people. She has been actively tweeting against the Narendra Modi government and has also addressed rallies in Delhi, Lucknow, Patna and Kolkata.

Trinamool MPs had been sitting on dharna for the last three days in Delhi. Similar dharnas were held in front of RBI office and CGO complex in Kolkata. Dharnas were held in Punjab, Manipur, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha also.

Mamata Banerjee has given the slogan ‘Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao’ and demanded that a ‘National Government’ be formed to save the country from this mess.

 

নোট বাতিল ও রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসার বিরুদ্ধে তৃণমূলের প্রতিবাদের আজ তৃতীয় দিন

কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের হঠকারী নোটবাতিলের সিদ্ধান্ত ও কেন্দ্রের প্রতিহিংসামূলক রাজনীতির বিরুদ্ধে তৃণমূলের দেশব্যাপী প্রতিবাদী আন্দোলনের আজ ছিল তৃতীয় দিন।

আজ দিল্লিতে দুপুর ২ টোয় তৃণমূল সাংসদদের এক প্রতিনিধি দল রাষ্ট্রপতির সঙ্গে দেখা করে স্মারকলিপি জমা দেন।

২০১৬-র ৮ নভেম্বর নোট বাতিলের সিদ্ধান্ত ঘোষণা হওয়ার পর থেকেই এর বিরুদ্ধে সরব হয়েছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। নোট বাতিলের ফলে সাধারণ মানুষ চরম ভোগান্তির শিকার। টুইটারেও তিনি মোদীর সিদ্ধান্তের বিরুদ্ধে প্রতিবাদ জানান। একইসঙ্গে দিল্লি, লখনউ, কলকাতা ও পাটনার জনসভাতেও তিনি এর বিরুদ্ধে প্রতিবাদ জানান।

গত ৩ দিন ধরে তৃণমূল সাংসদরা নোটবাতিলের সিদ্ধান্ত ও প্রতিহিংসামূলক রাজনীতির বিরুদ্ধে দিল্লীর সাউথ অ্যাভিনিউতে ধর্ণায় বসছেন। ধর্ণা হয় কলকাতার সিজিও কমপ্লেক্স ও রিজার্ভ ব্যাংকের সামনেও। পাঞ্জাব, বিহারের কিষাণগঞ্জ, মনিপুর, ত্রিপুরা, আসাম ও ঝাড়খণ্ডেও চলেছে প্রতিবাদ।

দেশকে রক্ষার স্বার্থে ইতিমধ্যেই জাতীয় সরকার গঠনের দাবি করেছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। ‘মোদী হাঠাও, দেশ বাঁচাও’ স্লোগানও দিয়েছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

 

Mamata Banerjee slams Modi Govt for dissolving BIFR

Opposing the Narendra Modi government’s decision to dissolve the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR), Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the central government is “breaking the spine” of the country’s economy.

“BIFR was constituted for reconstruction of industries and protection of workers. Sick industries registered in the Board could reconstruct their assets and run the company accordingly. Suddenly, the centre dissolved it,” she said.

“They are breaking the spine of the country,” said Mamata Banerjee adding that centre sent a letter to her government.

The letter sent to West Bengal Chief Secretary said that BIFR and its appellate body, the Appellate Authority for Industrial Finance and Reconstruction (AAIFR), which were entrusted with the revival and rehabilitation of sick industrial companies under the Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act 1985, has been dissolved.

Mamata Banerjee said, “We have a lot of companies registered in the Board. We have asked what would happen to old cases. They said fresh application are needed.”

The CM called for a national government led by Advani ji or Rajnath ji or Jaitley ji to rid the country of the current situation. She said the current Prime Minister has to go.

 

বিআইএফআর তুলে দেওয়ায় মোদী সরকারের সমালোচনা মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর

বোর্ড ফর ইন্ডাস্ট্রিয়াল অ্যান্ড ফিনান্সিয়াল রিকনস্ট্রাকশন বা বিআইএফআর তুলে দেওয়ায় মোদী সরকারের সমালোচনা করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

তিনি বলেন, চিঠি দিয়ে কেন্দ্র বলছে বিআইএফআর তুলে দেওয়া হল। তাঁর প্রশ্ন, এখন পুরনো কেসের কী হবে? মমতা যোগ করেন, কেন্দ্র বলছে, নতুন করে চালু করতে হবে। কিন্তু, বিআইএফআর ভেঙে দেওয়ায় শ্রমিক-মজদুরদের চরম সমস্যা হবে।

বিআইএফআরের অধীনে রাজ্যে চারশোর কাছাকাছি কারখানা রয়েছে। রাজ্য সরকারের মতে, বিআইএফআর তুলে দেওয়ায় এই সব কারখানা এবং কয়েক লক্ষ শ্রমিকের ভবিষ্যত এখন অথৈ জলে। কারণ, বিকল্প ব্যবস্থা কী তার কোনও দিশা দেখায়নি কেন্দ্র। শুক্রবার, টাউন হলের বৈঠকে এ নিয়ে ক্ষোভপ্রকাশ করেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

প্রসঙ্গত, রুগ্ন শিল্প সংস্থাকে পুনরুজ্জীবিত করার লক্ষ্যে এই বোর্ড গঠন করা হয়। ১৯৮৫ সালে তৈরি হওয়া ‘দ্য সিক ইন্ডাস্ট্রিয়াল কম্পানিজ অ্যাক্ট’ অনুযায়ী ১৯৮৭ সালে গঠিত হয় বিআইএফআর। যা কেন্দ্রীয় অর্থ মন্ত্রকের অধীনস্থ। অরবিন্দ মিলস, ভারত হেভি ইলেকট্রিক্যাল লিমিটেড, নর্থ ইস্টার্ন রিজিওনাল এগ্রিকালচারাল মার্কেটিং কর্পোরেশন, স্কুটার ইন্ডিয়া-র মতো বিভিন্ন সংস্থা, বিআইএফআর -এর হাত ধরে নতুন জীবন পায়।

‘Modi hatao, Desh bachao’ is our slogan: Mamata Banerjee

Trinamool Chairperson today came down heavily on the Narendra Modi government at Centre over the issue of demonetisation and said that a man who does not even trust his own countrymen, is not fit to lead the nation. She announced that Trinamool will launch statewide protests across 1 January and 8 January, 2017 with the slogan ‘Modi hatao, Desh bachao’.

Addressing the media after a meeting of the party’s core committee at Trinamool Bhavan, Mamata Banerjee said the Nadrendra Modi government has lost credibility and had no moral right to remain in office. “A person who started his career with riots, cannot govern the country,” she added.

Calling demonetisation the biggest scam since independence, Mamata Banerjee said it was a matter of concern that people were losing their trust on the banks. India is on the brink of an economic disaster, she added.

Upping the ante against the Centre, the Chairperson said, “They have modified their decision from dawn to dusk. Who is running the country? Alibaba and his four associates are bulldozing their opinion on the country.”

“We understood the dangerous effects of demonetisation and reacted in 40 minutes. Good others have joined. More will. Better late than never,” Mamata Banerjee said.

 

মোদি হাটাও দেশ বাঁচাও আমাদের স্লোগানঃ মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

আজ আবারও নোট বাতিল ইস্যুতে কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের প্রতি তীব্র ক্ষোভ প্রকাশ করেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। তিনি বলেন, এমন একজন মানুষ সরকার চালাচ্ছেন যে নিজের দেশের মানুষকেই বিশ্বাস করে না। তিনি ঘোষণা করেন যে আগামী ১ জানুয়ারি থেকে ৮ জানুয়ারি তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস রাজ্য জুড়ে নোট বাতিলের বিরুদ্ধে প্রতিবাদ কর্মসূচীর আয়োজন করবে, স্লোগান হবে মোদি হাটাও দেশ বাঁচাও।

তৃণমূল ভবনে সাংবাদিক সম্মেলন করার সময় তিনি বলেন, মোদি সরকার মোদী সরকার ক্ষমতায় থাকার নৈতিক অধিকার হারিয়েছে। তাদের বিশ্বাসযোগ্যতা শেষ হয়ে গেছে। তিনি আরও বলেন, “যিনি দাঙ্গার মাধ্যমে নিজের রাজনৈতিক জীবন শুরু করেছে তিনি দেশ চালাতে পারে না”।

স্বাধীনতার পর থেকে নোট বাতিল সবচেয়ে বড় কেলেঙ্কারি একথা জানিয়ে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন “মানুষ ব্যাঙ্কের প্রতি বিশ্বাস হারাচ্ছে। এটা খুব চিন্তার বিষয়। অর্থনৈতিক বিপর্যয়ের মুখে দাঁড়িয়ে দেশ।সূর্যোদয় থেকে সূর্যাস্ত দিনরাত ওরা নিয়ম বদল করছে, দেশটা চালাচ্ছে কে? আলিবাবা ও তাঁর চার সাঙ্গপাঙ্গ জোর করে নিজেদের মতামত দেশের ওপর চাপিয়ে দিচ্ছে”।

মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় বলেন, “নোট বাতিলের বিপজ্জনক প্রভাবের কথা বুঝতে পেরে আমরা শুরু থেকেই এর বিরোধিতা করছি।এখন আরও অনেকে বিরোধিতা শুরু করেছেন। বেটার লেট দ্যান নেভার”।

 

Any attempt to destroy communal harmony by Centre will be thwarted: Trinamool

Trinamool Congress secretary general, Partha Chatterjee on Tuesday urged people not to get carried away by the communal card that is being played by the Centre.

He was speaking at the Sanhati Divas (Communal Harmony Day) programme organised by the party near the Gandhi statue on Mayo Road.

“There are people in the Centre who are playing communal cards by spreading fake rumours. People should put up a united resistance against them,” he said.

He maintained that communal harmony should be preserved. “Bengal is a land of communal harmony and peace and all effort to disturb this harmony will be thwarted,” he said.

Firhad Hakim, state Urban development minister said “Narendra Modi belongs to India just as Firhad Hakim. From time immemorial India is a seat of communal harmony and peace and the society does not tolerate hatred.”

He also said any attempt to destroy the social fabric of peace and harmony will be dealt with seriously.

Referring to demonetisation, Hakim said that the Centre was trying to help the multinational
companies in the name of demonetisation. Poor farmers will become poorer and will be forced to give up farming.

In the name of introducing plastic money, the Centre is actually helping the multinationals who will run the shopping malls. It is a dangerous move and will not benefit the country,” he maintained.

 

বাবরি ধ্বংসের দিনে বিজেপিকে আক্রমণে তৃণমূল

গতকাল সংহতি দিবস উপলক্ষে মেয়ো রোডে গান্ধী মূর্তির কাছেএকটি অনুষ্ঠানের আয়োজন করে তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস। এদিন এই মঞ্চ থেকে তৃণমূলের মহাসচিব পার্থ চট্টোপাধ্যায় সাধারণ মানুষকে কেন্দ্রের সাম্প্রদায়িক প্ররোচনায় পা দিতে না করেন।

তিনি বলেন, “গুজব রটিয়ে সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতির ওপর আঘাত হানতে চাইছেন কেন্দ্রের কিছু নেতা।  সাধারণ মানুষের উচিত এর বিরুদ্ধে ঐক্যবদ্ধ ভাবে প্রতিবাদ করা”।

তাঁর দাবি সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতি রক্ষা করা উচিত। বাংলা সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতি ও শান্তির জায়গা, কেউ যদি সেটা খর্ব করার চেষ্টা করে তাঁকে রেয়াত করা হবে না”।

পুর ও নগরোন্নয়ন মন্ত্রী ফিরহাদ হাকিম বলেন, নরেন্দ্র মোদী যেমন ভারতীয়, ফিরহাদ হাকিমও তেমন ভারতীয়। ভারত সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতি ও শান্তির দেশ এখানে সমাজ সবস্তরের মানুষকে ভালবাসতে শেখায়। তিনি আরও বলেন, সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতি কেউ নষ্ট করতে চাইলে তাঁর বিরুদ্ধে যথাযথ ব্যবস্থা নেওয়া হবে।

নোট বাতিলের উল্লেখ করে ফিরহাদ হাকিম বলেন, বিমুদ্রিকরনের নামে মাল্টিন্যাশনাল কোম্পানিগুলিকে সাহায্য করছে কেন্দ্র। গরীব কৃষকরা আরও গরীব হচ্ছেন। তারা চাষবাস ছেড়ে দিতে বাধ্য হচ্ছেন। সাধারণ মানুষ চরম দুর্ভোগের শিকার হচ্ছেন।

তাঁর দাবি প্লাস্টিক টাকা চালু করার নামে তাঁরা বহুজাতিক সংস্থাগুলো যারা শপিং মল চালায় তাদের সাহায্য করছে। এর ফলে দেশের সর্বনাশ হচ্ছে।

 

 

Mamata Banerjee tears into Central Govt. Here are 10 things she said

Mamata Banerjee tears into the Central Government. Here are 10 things she said:

  • The situation in the country is worse than Emergency now.
  • In the name of cooperative federalism, opinions of States are being bulldozed. This is dictatorship. This is against spirit of Constitution. The Centre is not taking States on board. We have never faced such discrimination before. Is the Centre following Presidential form of government? Where is federalism?
  • The Centre’s Kashmir policy failed. Their diplomacy is a disaster. Pakistan issue has become worse because of the Centre’s failure. I believe apart from Finance, Rail, Defence and External Affairs, Centre should not have any other subject in its jurisdiction. In the name of external affairs, the Centre goes on foreign trips. Rail Budget is also being done away with.
  • If States pay most of the funds, why should the schemes be named after leaders of the ruling party in the Centre. I have never seen a more arrogant Central Government. Do they want to do away with State governments? The Centre wants to control how States spend their Budget money? They want to appoint a person to State treasury. Why? They want to control the functioning of the States even at BDO level. Why will we allow that?
  • Few days ago, the Union Finance Minister paid tributes to Netaji on his “death anniversary”. Are these mistakes or planned actions? Bhashan on social media can get you votes. But what about nation-building? BJP is a hi-tech publicity oriented party. Under Narendra Modi’s government, the entire country has lost freedom again.
  • We are protesting against the Centre’s interference. We are being victimised. We will approach the President of India about the Centre’s undue interference in the business of States.
  • Federal structure is being bulldozed by the unilateral, arbitrary action of the Centre. This is a dangerous ‘red’ signal to stop democratic system. If the Centre does not correct its course, we will be forced to hit the streets.
  • Inflation is up. Development projects for weaker sections are stagnant. There is controversy over GDP numbers. Narendra Modi suddenly went to Pakistan on their PM’s birthday. Surprise visit. Many things happened after that. Total mishandling. In the name of gau-raksha there is violence across the country.
  • The Centre will be strengthened if the States are empowered.
  • Tamil Nadu has also expressed strong opinion on various issues. We will discuss with other Opposition-ruled States. Every party must come together to fight unitedly against the attempts by Modi Govt to thwart the federal structure.

WB CM slams Centre for not releasing funds for the poor

The Union Government’s decision to bring down the budget of several social sector schemes will be disastrous, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday at Nabanna.

She said that the Union Government has cut the budget of around 36 important social sector schemes including Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), ICDS project, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, JnNURM projects, development project for Left Wing Extremist (LWE) areas, backward region grant fund (BRGF) scheme during last budget.

“Even no fund for midday meal schemes has been allotted by current government. The Union Government claimed that it has increased fund by 10 percent for each state government but all developmental projects have been affected for cutting the budget of the social sectors,” she said adding that has also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding this matter.

While she praised the ‘Digital India’ campaign, she also said the initiative to launch railway broadband optical fibre network was taken by her in 2001. “I had taken the initiative for this as Railway Minister in 2001. After that it did not progress. It is good that this initiative is being taken now. I welcome the Digital India initiative. Nobody is opposing the concept. But the initiative should begin from the grassroots level,” she said.

“We want a stronger federal structure. The Planning Commission and some other such bodies were abolished by the Union Government,” the CM said and added that real upliftment of the country should be the upliftment of poor people.

“Social economic upliftment must be prioritised. Poor people should not be deprived,” the Chief Minister said.

Trinamool demands setting up of Democratic Electoral Fund

Trinamool today demanded that the government should bring back whatever black money they can and use it as a corpus to set up a Democratic Electoral Fund to start the process of electoral reforms. Speaking on behalf of the party, Derek O’Brien, the leader of the party in Rajya Sabha, said that this step could go a long way in stopping the use of black money in elections.

Slamming the BJP as Bahut Jumla Promises, he pointed out the ruling party had gone back on its promise of bringing back black money. He took on the Parliamentary Affairs Minister who had sought a time-bound assurance from the previous UPA government to bring back black money. He also said that the Home Minister had promised to bring back black money within 150 days coming to power during his election campaign.

The Prime Minister, who was the Chief Campaign Officer of BJP in 2014, had said he would bring back black money and use them for social welfare, Derek said. He also took a dig at a person who had said during 2014 election campaign that Modi government would bring back Rs 1 lakh crore worth of black money in 150 days.

While Trinamool supported this Bill, Derek asked MPs not to use the term black money as it was racist; he suggested the term dirty money. He made it clear in his speech that even agencies appointed by Standing Committee on Finance have not been able to ascertain the value of black money stashed abroad.