‘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”।

 

Mamata Banerjee dares the Prime Minister to arrest her

Intensifying her attack against the Narendra Modi government, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the Centre’s demonetisation decision was the biggest scam and it must be thoroughly investigated.

“I want to know how big a deal was stuck over this decision. How many crores worth is the deal. Demonetisation is a big big scam,” she said while addressing a public meeting at Kolaghat in East Midnapore.

“The government at the Centre has turned everyone into a thief, while the Narendra Modi government and Amit Shah’s party are the biggest thieves,” she claimed. Throwing a “challenge” at Mr Modi, Ms Banerjee said if he had the power, he should arrest her. “I will say this not once but a thousand times that you have stolen money. You do not have to touch anybody. If you have the courage then send us to jail,” she said.

Mamata Banerjee said that the Modi-Shah duo has destroyed the country. “In this country either Modi or the people can live,” said the state chief minister. Claiming that the Modi government was functioning in an unconstitutional manner and trying to impose undeclared Emergency in the country, she said: “ They are trying to weaken a state government by targeting its bureaucrats. The BJP has amassed the maximum amount of money. Why no action has been taken against the party?”

At the Kolaghat rally, directly addressing Mr Modi she said she wanted an investigation against the prime minister, his government and his party. “The cat is out of the bag. We want to know what was the cause behind demonetisation?” she asked. Launching an all-out attack, Ms Banerjee warned Mr Modi that the people of India will not forgive them.

 

প্রধানমন্ত্রীর দুর্নীতির তদন্ত চাই: মুখ্যমন্ত্রী

নোট বাতিলকে একটি বড় কেলেঙ্কারি এর বিরুদ্ধে পূর্নাঙ্গ তদন্ত হওয়া দরকার বলে এদিন  আবারও প্রধানমন্ত্রীকে তীব্র ভাষায় আক্রমণ করলেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়।

এদিন পূর্ব মেদিনীপুরে কোলাঘাটের জনসভা থেকে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন, “আমি জানতে চাই এই সিদ্ধান্তের আগে কি ডিল হয়েছিল? কত কোটি টাকার লেনদেন হয়েছিল? নোট বাতিল একটা বড় কেলেঙ্কারি”।

তাঁর সরাসরি আক্রমণ, “‌অমিত শাহ আর বি জে পি চোর!‌ সব থেকে বড় চোর নরেন্দ্র মোদির সরকার!‌ একটা গুন্ডা আর একটা পান্ডা দেশকে জ্বালিয়ে–পুড়িয়ে তছনছ করে দিচ্ছে!‌ কেন্দ্রীয় সরকার সবাইকে চোর বানিয়ে নিজেরা সাধু সাজছে!‌”

মুখ্যমন্ত্রী বলেন মোদি-শাহ মিলে ধ্বংস করে দিচ্ছে দেশটাকে। তিবি বলেন, হয় মোদি থাকবে, নয় ভারত থাকবে।’‌ দুর্নীতি প্রসঙ্গে তিনি বলেন, “অজানা উৎস থেকে বিজেপি–‌র তহবিলে টাকা এসেছে সবচেয়ে বেশি। তাদের বিরুদ্ধে কেন ব্যবস্থা নেওয়া হচ্ছে না?‌” অসাংবিধানিক কাজকর্ম করে দেশে জরুরি অবস্থা জারি করেছে মোদী সরকার। এখন রাজ্য সরকারের অফিসারদের টার্গেট করছে।

এদিন কোলাঘাটের সভা থেকে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী প্রধানমন্ত্রীর উদ্দেশ্যে বলেন, যে তিনি প্রধানমন্ত্রী, তাঁর দল ও তাঁর সরকারের বিরুদ্ধে তদন্ত চান। তিনি বলেন,“ঝুলি থেকে বেড়াল বেরিয়ে পড়েছে, আমরা জানতে চাই নোট বাতিলের পেছনে আসন কারণ কি ছিল?” মোদি সরকারকে সতর্ক করে এদিন তিনি বলেন ভারতবর্ষের মানুষ তাঁকে কোনদিন ক্ষমা করবে না।

 

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.

PM can arrest me if he wishes, I don’t care: Didi in Asansol

Mamata Banerjee today slammed the BJP while addressing an election campaign rally at Asansol. She dared the Prime Minister to arrest her and slammed him for indulging in personal attacks and bringing disrespect to the chair he holds.

Here are the highlights of her speech:

  • You voted for BJP two years ago. But what work have they done?
  • Making big speeches is easy but working for people is difficult.
  • What the PM said in Asansol yesterday undermines the chair he holds.
  • The Prime Minister spoke like a Swayam Sevak Shakha worker.
  • I do not make personal attacks even if I am politically opposed to someone.
  • Just because the PM made personal attacks against me, I will not do the same.
  • Whenever Modi ji comes to Bengal he makes personal attacks which are in extremely bad taste.
  • The Prime Minister can arrest me if he so wishes, I don’t care.
  • I fight with my head held high. I never bow my head before anyone.

 

প্রধানমন্ত্রী চাইলে উনি আমায় গ্রেফতার করতে পারেন, আমি তাতে ভয় পাই না: দিদি

আজ আসানসোলের সভা থেকে বিজেপিকে কড়া ভাষায় আক্রমণ তৃণমূল নেত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। তিনি বলেন, প্রধানমন্ত্রী যদি তাকে গ্রেফতারও করেন তাতে তিনি ভীত নন।

এখানে তার বক্তব্যের কিছু বিষয়ঃ

  • আপনারা ২ বছর আগে বিজেপিকে ভোট দিয়েছিলেন। কি কাজ করেছে তারা আপনাদের জন্য?
  • বড় বড় কথা বলা অনেক সোজা, কিন্তু মানুষের জন্য কাজ করা কঠিন
  • গতকাল আসানসোলে প্রধানমন্ত্রী যা বলেছেন, তা ওনার মুখে শোভা পায় না
  • স্বয়ংসেবক শাখা কর্মীর ভাষায় কথা বলেছেন প্রধানমন্ত্রী
  • রাজনৈতিক মত বিরোধ থাকা সত্ত্বেও আমি কাউকে ব্যক্তিগতভাবে আক্রমণ করি না
  • যখনই মোদিজি বাংলায় আসেন তিনি কুরুচিপূর্ণ ব্যক্তিগত আক্রমণ করেন
  • প্রধানমন্ত্রী আমায় ব্যক্তিগত ভাবে আক্রমণ করেছেন বলে আমিও একই কাজ করব না
  • প্রধানমন্ত্রী চাইলে উনি আমায় গ্রেফতার করতে পারেন, আমি তাতে ভয় পাই না
  • আমি মাথা উঁচু করে লড়াই করি, কখনোও কারও কাছে মাথা নত করি না

What PM said was unbecoming of his high office: Derek

Statement by Derek O’Brien:

We heard the comments the Prime Minister made about our party. Making up a clever-by-half abbreviation, based on wild allegations and using the initials letters of the name of our political party, was in poor taste to say the least.

These are not words befitting of the Prime Minister of India. They bring his high office to disrepute. Mr Prime Minister, maybe we need to remind you that you are the Prime Minister of this great nation and of all Indians, irrespective of community and region. Do not reduce yourself to a Shakha Pramukh. Please grow with your job.

The Trinamool Congress is far from being a corrupt party. We don’t run advertising campaigns for elections running into billions of unaccounted and unaccountable dollars. Neither do we play cheap politics over a tragedy. As for terror, we are all for combating it but not by raising paranoia, targeting innocent fellow citizens and raising communal temperatures. But then you, Mr Shakha Pramukh, would know about terror, given your record in 2002.

 

প্রধানমন্ত্রীর মুখে এরকম বক্তব্য শোভা পায় না: ডেরেক

আমাদের দল সম্পর্কে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর বক্তব্য আমরা শুনলাম। কিছু অমূলক অভিযোগের ওপর ভিত্তি করে আপনি আমাদের দলের আদ্যাক্ষরগুলি দিয়ে যে কুরুচিপূর্ণ মন্তব্য করেছেন তা কোনও প্রধানমন্ত্রীর মুখে শোভা পায় না।

আপনি যে পদে আসীন, সেই পদমর্যাদার অবমাননা করেছেন আপনি। আপনাকে হয়তো মনে করানো দরকার যে আপনি সারা দেশের প্রধানমন্ত্রী, কোনও শাখা প্রমুখ নন। আপনি নিজের কাজে মননিবেশ করুন।

তৃনমূল আদপেই দুর্নীতিপরায়ণ দল নয়। আমাদের দল হিসেব বহির্ভূত কোটি কোটি টাকা ব্যয় করে নির্বাচনী প্রচার চালায় না। আমরা কোনও মর্মান্তিক দুর্ঘটনা নিয়ে সস্তার রাজনীতি করি না।

সন্ত্রাসের মোকাবিলা আমরাও করছি। কিন্তু তার নামে নির্দোষ দেশবাসীদের বিরুদ্ধে ভীতি সৃষ্টি করি না। আমরা সাম্প্রদায়িক সম্প্রীতিতে বিশ্বাস করি।

শাখা প্রমূখ মহাশয়, ২০০২ সালের অভিজ্ঞতা থেকে সন্ত্রাস সম্বন্ধে আপনার জ্ঞান নিশ্চই প্রচুর।

Do not neglect Bengal: WB CM tells Prime Minister

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee  with the Prime Minister to India today and will reiterate the demands of the State.

“Bengal should not be deprived and neglected. I raised this issue with the PM,” she said after her meeting. “No state should be neglected. We want every state to prosper. People of Bengal also should not be neglected,” she added.

The Chief Minister said, “Bengal suffered a lot due to Left rule. They incurred heavy debt. We increased our revenues but it is taken away to pay installment.”

“Earlier CMs could raise issues of their State and plan sizes were made at Planning Commission. There should be a full-fledged meet of Niti Ayog where CMs can raise issues of their States,” the CM added.

WB CM also highlighted how Bengal has been ignored in the list of heritage tourism sites by Centre. “Centre has drawn up a list of heritage tourism sites but places like Belur, Dakkhineshwar, Tarapith etc do not feature in it. Bengal is the land of Netaji. Bengal is where Tagore was born, where Ramakrishna spread spirituality. Bengal should not be neglected,” she said.

Bengal deprived of funds

West Bengal is being denied and deprived by the Centre in every sector and has not yet received the financial assistance for flood and drought relief.

The Centre has slashed funds for 37 projects and 50 schemes in the last one year. Earlier, under the ICDS scheme, the State contributed 10 per cent and the Centre 90 per cent. Now it has become the reverse.

The West Bengal Chief minister has been repeatedly asking for funds from the Centre for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims in 12 districts, but no money was received from the Centre.

The State Government had arranged for Rs 1500 crore for flood relief and Rs 3000 crore for developmental work at Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts which were under BRGF.

The Centre has also been slashing funds for other projects such as police modernisation and Sarva Sikhsha Abhiyan. Bengal has 18,000 SSKs and 2,000 MSKs that are run by the panchayat department. For these, the Centre used to provide 65 per cent of the salary bills of 75,000 teachers engaged in the units. The Centre has now put more burdens on the State by changing the Centre-State share.

In August, the Chief Minister met the Prime Minister and demanded Rs 6,000 crore to tackle the post-flood situation in Bengal.

Flight to Delhi starts from Andal, WB CM among the first passengers

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today left for for Delhi by taking the first ever flight from Andal to the national capital.

The Chief Minister reached Durgapur today at around 2 PM and held a meeting with the business delegation from the Asansol-Durgapur region and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce.

“My best wishes to everyone. Flights for Delhi will commence from Andal today. This move will help people in south Bengal as well as neighbouring areas in Jharkhand. Travelling to Delhi will be hassle-free now,” she said.

The Chief Minister is expected to meet the Prime Minister on Tuesday and will reiterate the demands of the State before him. The State has still been denied of its previously allotted funds as well as the promised aid for the flood situation, from the Centre.

The Andal Airport is one of the greatest achievements of the Trinamool Government as it connects the industrial zone with the rest of the country.

The West Bengal Chief Minister is expected to visit the Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party Office and may pay a visit to the Parliament Central Hall as well.

WB CM writes to PM for financial aid for the flood-hit districts of Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister about the Union Government not complying with the request for financial aid for the flood-hit districts of the state.

The West Bengal Chief Minister has been protesting time and again regarding the non-cooperation of the Union Government, said that the State Government has not received any intimation about any financial assistance despite a central team having surveyed the flood-affected areas two months ago. In fact, soon after the floods, the West Bengal Chief Minister had met the Prime Minister in Delhi and apprised him of the flood situation in the state along with the extent of damage.

The State Government considers this to be an insult since it has neither received any intimation from Delhi on the financial assistance nor has it been informed about the outcome of the survey conducted by the central team. Moreover, the state government is going through an acute financial crisis and is in a dire need of central assistance.

The West Bengal Chief Minister had placed a demand for financial assistance amounting to Rs.23,000 crore out of which Rs.1,100 crore was earmarked for agriculture sector alone. The assistance was meant to be used for compensating farmers whose crops were damaged in the floods. A major portion of the assistance was also earmarked for repairing roads that were damaged in the floods.

The floods damaged crops in over 10 lakh hectares, which in turn had affected around 72 lakh farmers.

The West Bengal Chief Minister had declared 12 districts flood hit on 5 August. A month later, a central team visited the state to survey the extent of damage in the areas affected by flood.

Despite the financial crunch, the state government has sanctioned Rs.1000 crore for compensating farmers, of which Rs.600 crore has already been disbursed, with distribution of the remaining amount slated to start soon. However, the amount is much less compared to the total extent of damage and there is an urgent need for the Central aid.

WB CM leaves for her 2-day Delhi visit

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee left for New Delhi this evening. She will raise the demand of compensation for flood-affected farmers with the Centre.

The West Bengal Chief Minister’s visit comes in the wake of Centre clearing the phase-II of the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project in which a Rs 2361.35 crore World Bank assistance will be shared among 6 states, including Bengal. The project envisages cyclone forecasting, warning systems, cyclone risk mitigation and capacity building in multi-hazard risk management.

The West Bengal Chief Minister will also ask the Centre for interim assistance under the National Calamity Relief Fund. Bengal hasn’t received any assistance.

The West Bengal Chief Minister will ask for a relief package of rs 30,000 crore for the devastation due flood from the centre. She will ask for the waiving of the loans made my farmers and request for more loans for them to the Centre.

The West Bengal Chief Minister may also raise the demand for Rs 4,500 crore, which the Centre has held back in the Backward Region Grant Funds. Of the Rs 7,500 crore allocated, the state has got Rs 3,000 crore.

Hinduja praises WB CM’s industry initiatives

Gopichand Hinduja has heaped praise on West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee for her determination to attract industry in Bengal.

In an interview to a popular daily, he said WB CM “is trying hard to attract industry and investment to her state.”

“She is a good leader and has a clean image. I am certain she will become Chief Minister again after this term ends. Her intentions are clear – she wants to attract industry into Bengal,” he added.

Hinduja, who has a strong foothold in Bengal with the presence of Ashok Leyland, Hinduja Leyland finance and IndusInd Bank, had encouraging words for finance minister Dr Amit Mitra as well. “The finance minister knows how reforms can benefit the state,” he said.

“Mamata Banerjee is one of India’s prominent political leaders. Prime Minister David Cameron must meet her,” he added.

In fact, WB CM could become the first high level politician from India to meet David Cameron after his recent reelection as Britain’s PM.

WB CM will be in UK from July 26-30. This will be her second foreign visit as the chief minister of Bengal.