Political vendetta and agencies should not destroy the future of the country: Mamata Banerjee

Following the incident relating to the death of V G Siddhartha, founder of the Cafe Coffee Day chain, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a post on social media, termed the incident as sad and unfortunate.

Below is the text of her full post:

 “I am deeply shocked by the incident relating to V G Siddhartha, Cafe Coffee Day founder. It is indeed very sad and very unfortunate.

From what he has expressed, it appears that he was greatly depressed due to harassment and pressure from different agencies for which he could not run his business in a peaceful manner. This he could not resist.

I hear from different sources that captains of industry in the country are under pressure; some of them have left the country and some are contemplating to move out.

All the opposition political parties are afraid of horse trading and harassment with political vendetta.

On one hand, the economic growth of the country has nosedived to as low as 5.8% in the fourth quarter of 2018/19, the lowest in the last 5 years, and unemployment has increased to the highest level in the last 45 years.

On the other hand, central government is actively pursuing disinvestment of government assets, from Ordnance Factory Board to BSNL, from Air India to Railways, from Chittaranjan Locomotive Works to Alloy Steel Plant, Durgapur and about 45 more public sector undertakings.

The overall economy is in bad shape with the common people suffering the most.

Industry and agriculture and creation of employment is the future of our country. If industry is demoralised, then there will be no economic and employment growth. As a result, more and more people will become jobless.

My appeal to the government is that when you have been elected, you have to work in a peaceful manner so that people are confident and that political vendetta and agencies do not destroy the future of the country.

I express my deep condolence to the family members of Siddhartha. I feel really sad to hear the news.

I thought of sharing my feelings and thoughts with all of you.”

 

Opposition engaging in political pollution: Mamata Banerjee

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that a political vendetta campaign had been taken up against the Trinamool Congress by the BJP government at the Centre. “What they (the Centre) are doing is political pollution. It is political vendetta. They are scaring people with the CBI,” the Chief Minister added.

She advised business leaders to form groups and protest against any political vendetta by the Centre. “Do not be scared of the CBI so much. You pay your taxes. So why are you scared so much? You should make groups and protest against such threats,” she said.

She assured that she would be always with the businessmen. “I am always with you. But you should work for the betterment of society. Companies need to do welfare work under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme,” the Chief Minister said.

Speaking on development, she referred to the Metro rail construction works in the city. “I can remember that I received criticism while allocating money for those Metro rail projects. Now the work is underway.  After completion of the project, these tracks will solve the transport problems in the city,” she observed.

The Chief Minister invited the industrialists to invest in manufacturing sector. She also informed that Bengal has achieved 6 per cent growth in infrastructure development. “We have Rs 40,000 crore debt on us. But the state government has been able to provide rice for Rs 2 per kg, we treat people free of cost in government-run hospitals, we have set up 307 paediatrics units in hospitals, you can find ICCU, mother and child care hub. You can find a milk bank at SSKM hospital,” the Chief Minister noted.

“Recently, we introduced laws on clinical establishments as well as a law against ransacking of property. Everybody should remember that there are two laws. Both the parties have to be cautious about their approach,” she concluded.

 

বিরোধীরা কুৎসা করছে, যা ‘সলিউশন’ নয়, ‘পলিটিক্যাল পলিউশন’: মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়

ভয় না পেয়ে একজোট হোন। শিল্পপতিদের এই আহ্বান জানালেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। তিনি বলেন, কিছু বললেই সিবিআই, আয়কর চলে আসবে। আমার সঙ্গে কথা বললেও আপনাদের বিপদ হতে পারে। প্রয়োজনে রাস্তায় নামুন। শিল্পোদ্যোগীদের বিভিন্ন সংগঠন রয়েছে। একজন আক্রান্ত হলে অন্যরা পাশে দাঁড়াবেন না কেন? একজন আঘাত পেলে ৫০ জন পাশে দাঁড়ান। প্রয়োজনে রাস্তায় নামুন। মহিলাদের উদ্দেশ্যে তিনি বলেন, শুধু লেডিজ স্টাডি গ্রুপ করলে হবে না। পথে নামতে হবে। বাড়ির মহিলাদের আন্দোলনের পথে নামান। আপনাদের চিন্তা কীসের? আপনারা তো নিয়ম মেনে কাজ করেন। রাজ্য সরকার যা সাহায্য করার তা তো করবেই।

শুক্রবার বেহালা চৌরাস্তার কাছে এস এল ধানুকা গার্লস হস্টেলের উদ্বোধন করেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা ব্যা নার্জি। তিনি বলেন, নির্বাচিত সরকারকে ১০টা বাধা পেরিয়ে কাজ করতে হচ্ছে। কখনও সবুজ, কখনও হলুদ বেঞ্চ, কখনও রায়, আবার কখনও সংস্থা, এটা, সেটার বাধা আসছে। এদিন নাম না করে কেন্ত্রীয় সরকারকে আক্রমণ করেন। তিনি শিল্পপতিদের বলেন, নোটবন্দীর ফলে ৩ মাস দুঃসময় গেছে। মানুষকে ঘা, গুঁতো খেতে হয়েছে। শিল্পের ক্ষতি হয়েছে। আপনারাও তা জানেন। তবে কিছু বললেই সিবিআই, আয়কর বিভাগ চলে আসবে। প্রতিবাদ করায় তৃণমূলের বিরুদ্ধে সিবিআই, আয়কর বিভাগ নেমে পড়েছে। দলের একাংশকে জেলে পাঠালে আর এক অংশ তৈরি বলে জানান তিনি। বলেন, ভয় পাই না। কেউ একটা কিছু ভাঙলে এক লক্ষ গড়ি। যে কাজ ভাল না, তা সকলের বর্জন করা উচিত। সরকার কোনও নীতি গ্রহণ করতেই পারে। তবে সবার সঙ্গে কথা বলে, বুঝিয়ে।

রাজ্যের স্বাস্থ্য পরিষেবা আরও ভাল করতে আইন আনার কাজ করেছি। তাদের কাজে নাক গলাতে চাইনি। মঞ্চ থেকে ঘোষণা করা হয় ধানুকা ধানসেরি গোষ্ঠী মহিলাদের জন্য নিউ টাউনে তাদের তৃতীয় হস্টেল তৈরি করবে। উদ্বোধনী অনুষ্ঠানে উপস্থিত ছিলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, পরিবেশমন্ত্রী, কলকাতার মহানাগরিক শোভন চ্যাটার্জি, শিল্পোদ্যোগী সি কে ধানুকা, ভারতী ধানুকা।

বিজেপির তোলা বিভাজনের রাজনীতির অভিযোগের বিরুদ্ধে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, ৪০ লক্ষ ছাত্রী ‘কন্যাশ্রী’ প্রকল্পের আওতায়। ৩৫ লক্ষ ছাত্রছাত্রী সাইকেল পেয়েছে । রাজ্যের ৮ কোটি মানুষ ২ টাকা কেজি চাল পান। কোনও তারতম্য নেই। রাজ্য সরকারের প্রকল্পের সুবিধা সবাই পায়। অনেকে মিথ্যে বলেন, কুৎসা করেন। এটা কোনও ‘সলিউশন’ নয়, ‘পলিটিক্যাল পলিউশন’।

তিনি বলেন, সরকারের কাজে দল হস্তক্ষেপ করে না। এ জন্য গর্বিত । তিনি জানান, রাজ্যে বিনিয়োগের জন্য পোল্যান্ড, জার্মানি , চীন, রাশিয়া আগ্রহ দেখিয়েছে। উৎপাদন শিল্প যাতে আরও বাড়ে দেখতে হবে। আস্তে আস্তে আরও শিল্প হোক। শুধু কংক্রিটের শিল্পই শিল্প নয়। একটার জায়গায় ২০টি শিল্প হোক। তিনি জানান, রেলমন্ত্রী থাকার সময় যে প্রকল্প ঘোষণা করে ছিলেন তা শেষ হবেই। বছর দুয়েকের মধ্যে মেট্রো প্রকল্পের কাজ শেষ হয়ে যাবে।

 

Kalyan Banerjee speaks on the issue of threat to Trinamool leaders by BJP functionaries

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Madam, yesterday in a public meeting the BJP leaders, including the observer of BJP in West Bengal, had said all leaders of Trinamool Congress will be arrested by CBI and will land up in Bhubaneshwar jail. He also said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be arrested. How can BJP and Narendra Modi misuse the CBI for political vendetta? We are protesting strongly. We protest against the misuse of CBI for political vendetta. Jo humse takrayega, chur chur ho jayega.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Trinamool MPs protest inside Parliament complex against political vendetta by Centre

Trinamool MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha today protested against the political vendetta by Central government inside Parliament complex.

Carrying placards the MPs marched inside the complex shouting slogans against the Centre’s misuse of agencies like CBI. They also protested against the arrest of a party MP and Trinamool Lok Sabha leader.

The protests ended with the MPs assembled near the Gandhi statue inside Parliament complex where they continued their sloganeering.

In Rajya Sabha, leader of AITC Parliamentary Party, Derek O’Brien registered protest against the arrest of party’s leader in Lok Sabha. He also demanded that the House maintain one minute silence on the hundreds of deaths caused due to demonetisation. Later, Trinamool walked out of the Rajya Sabha protesting against the political vendetta by Centre.

In Lok sabha Saugata Roy registered his protest on this issue.

He said, “Madam, with your permission, I want to raise the issue of misuse of CBI for political purposes by the Central government. CBI is a caged parrot”.

His speech was disrupted by BJP MPs leading to the adjournment of the House for the day.

 

 

কেন্দ্রের রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসার বিরুদ্ধে সংসদ চত্বরে বিক্ষোভ প্রদর্শন করলেন তৃণমূল সাংসদরা

কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের প্রতিহিংসাপরায়ণ রাজনীতির বিরুদ্ধে সংসদ চত্বরে আজ বিক্ষোভ প্রদর্শন করেন রাজ্যসভা ও লোকসভার তৃণমূল সাংসদরা।

প্রতিহিংসাপরায়ণ রাজনীতির লক্ষ্যে সিবিআই-এর মত কেন্দ্রীয় সংস্থাগুলোকে অপব্যবহার করা এবং তৃণমূলের লোকসভার দলনেতা ও অন্য এক সাংসদের গ্রেপ্তারের বিরুদ্ধে হাতে প্ল্যাকার্ড ধরে স্লোগান দিতে দিতে সংসদ চত্বরে আজ মিছিল করে বিক্ষোভ প্রদর্শন করেন তৃণমূল সাংসদরা।

গান্ধী মূর্তির কাছে তাদের মিছিল শেষ হয়।

রাজ্যসভায় তৃণমূলের পরিষদীয় দলনেতা ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন দলের সাংসদদের গ্রেপ্তারের প্রতিবাদ করেন। যারা নোটবাতিলের ফলে প্রাণ হারিয়েছেন তাদের স্মৃতির উদ্দেশে রাজ্যসভায় এক মিনিট নিরবতা পালনের দাবী জানান ডেরেক।

কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের প্রতিহিংসাপরায়ণ রাজনীতির প্রতিবাদে সভাকক্ষ থেকে ‘ওয়াক আউট’ করেন তৃণমূল সাংসদরা।

 

Trinamool’s Derek O’Brien speaks on his Notice under Rule 267 regarding political vendetta by the Centre

Sir, when the debate on demonetisation was happening between November 16 and December 16, 2016, 15-16 Opposition parties were meeting every day. There was a joint effort to highlight the pain of the people. There were deaths caused; as of now 135 people have died. There were issues for the economy, and people were suffering.

If you check the records of the Rajya Sabha, on November 24, at 2.40 PM, it was mentioned in the speech that we can oppose demonetisation in our democratic ways because we had different views – the Opposition had one view and the Government had another view. But because we are opposing demonetisation that cannot be an excuse to send your agencies after us and to scare us.

And Sir, exactly what we feared has happened. Lok Sabha leader of Trinamool Congress – with 34 and 12, that is, 46 MPs – was called and arrested January 3, 2017. Sir, within one month of speaking this happened. Today it has happened to Trinamool Congress. Tomorrow it can happen to any member of any of the 15 Opposition parties.

Sir, this is a very serious issue. We can have political differences. Mamata Banerjee was the first person to flag demonetisation, one and a half hours after the Hon’ble Prime Minister made his announcement on November 8, 2016; not just Trinamool Congress, all opposition parties opposed it.

Why is this political vendetta happening? What are we coming to, Sir? 135 people died, but not even a word from this Government.

When we spoke, the Hon’ble Prime Minister was sitting there, the Leader of the House was sitting there; and we made it very clear – do not do political vendetta. The more you do political vendetta, the more we will firm our resolve to fight you on demonetisation.

 

Political vendetta will strengthen our resolve: Trinamool in Rajya Sabha

Trinamool today slammed the Centre for indulging in politics of vendetta and stifling the voice of the Opposition. The party said said that political vendetta will only firm the resolve the Centre on demonetisation.

Trinamool had submitted a Notice under Rule 267 in Rajya Sabha today to suspend the business of the House at 11 AM and 12 noon in order to discuss the issue. You can read the full Notice here.

Speaking on behalf of the party, Leader of the Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien said: “On 24 November, 2016, we mentioned that political vendetta cannot be used against the Opposition for protesting against demonetisation. Exactly what we feared has happened. Lok Sabha leader of Trinamool Congress was called and arrested January 3.”

He added that what has happened to Trinamool today can happen to any other party in the future. He maintained that in a democracy one can have political differences and political vendetta should not be done.

Chief Whip of the party in Rajya Sabha, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy slammed the Centre for the ‘witch hunt’ against Trinamool. All Trinamool MPs in the Upper House walked out in protest against political vendetta and witch hunt by the Centre.

 

Click here for the full transcript of the speech 

 

কেন্দ্রের রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসা নোট বাতিলের বিরুদ্ধে আমাদের লড়াইকে আরও শক্ত করবেঃ রাজ্যসভায় তৃনমূল

আজ তৃণমূল কংগ্রেস সংসদে কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের প্রতিহিংসাপরায়ন রাজনীতিতে মদত দেওয়া ও বিরোধীদের কণ্ঠস্বর রোধ করার প্রচেষ্টার কড়া সমালোচনা করে।
রাজ্যসভায় আজ তৃনমূল ২৬৭ নম্বর নিয়মে নোটিশ দেয় যাতে বেলা ১১টা ও ১২টায় সংসদের সব কাজ মুলতুবি করে রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসার বিষয়ে আলোচনা করা হয়।
তৃণমূল কংগ্রেসের তরফ থেকে রাজ্যসভার পরিষদীয় দলনেতা ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন বলেন, “আমরা গত ২৪সে নভেম্বর উল্লেখ করেছিলাম নোটবাতিলের বিরুদ্ধে যারা প্রতিবাদ করছে তাদের বিরুদ্ধে রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসা পরায়ণ আচরণ যেন করা না হয়। আমরা যা আশঙ্কা করেছিলাম, ঠিক তাই হল। গত ৩রা জানুয়ারি তৃনমূল কংগ্রেসের লোকসভার দলনেতাকে তলব করে গ্রেফতার করা হয়।”
তিনি আরও বলেন, আজ তৃনমূলের বিরুদ্ধে বিরুদ্ধে প্রতিহিংসা পরায়ণ রাজনীতি করা হচ্ছে, কাল অন্য যে কোনও রাজনৈতিক দলের সঙ্গেও  করা হতে পারে। গণতন্ত্রে রাজনৈতিক মতভেদ থাকতেই পারে কিন্তু তার জন্য রাজনৈতিক প্রতিহিংসা প্রদর্শন করা উচিত নয়।”
রাজ্যসভায় দলের মুখ্যসচেতক সুখেন্দু শেখর রায় কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের এই প্রতিহিংসাপরায়ন রাজনীতির তীব্র নিন্দা করেন। রাজ্যসভার সকল তৃনমূল সাংসদ কেন্দ্রীয় সরকারের বিরোধিতায় ‘ওয়াক আউট’ করেন।

BJP using CBI for political vendetta: Mamata Banerjee

Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee addressed the press in Parliament today. She is in New Delhi to visit the President.

In her speech she said Trinamool Congress has no connection with any chit fund scam.

 

Here are the highlights of her speech:

Trinamool won 34 seats in the Lok Sabha election. But I could not come to visit them in Parliament earlier. So I have come here today.

  • Trinamool has no connection with any chit fund scam.
  • People who are cheating people in the name of chit funds are illegal.
  • Chit funds come under Centre’s jurisdiction. It comes under RBI and SEBI. States are not empowered to act.
  • We passed a Bill in State Assembly to regulate chit funds. But Centre has not responded on it till now.
  • What were RBI and SEBI doing when chit funds were set up?
  • Not just Saradha, why have they not acted against any other chit funds?
  • There is a chit fund called PACL which looted Rs 47000 crore. Why no action has been taken against them?
  • We arrested the Saradha chit fund owner. We set up a commission and gave money back to 5 lakh people.
  • Why have they not returned a penny after CBI took over investigation?
  • We are the only Government who returned money back to poor investors.
  • Mother of thieves shouts the loudest. They are politicizing the issue.
  • CBI was given the case of Tagore’s Nobel theft. They failed to crack the case. CBI has failed in Singur, Nandigram, Netai.
    CBI is being used for political vendetta.
  • People who are working transparently are being branded thieves and the real thieves are running the country.
  • Democracy cannot be bulldozed. We are fighting battle against BJP which is why they are jealous.
  • Why they said Bhaag, bhaag bhaag? Koi nahin bhaagega… janta aap logon ko bhagayega.