Month: January 2014

The central government will now allow every family to get 12 cooking gas cylinders at a subsidised rate instead of the stipulated 9. Two years ago West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee started a movement for the same cause. When the Centre threw her opposition in the air, she quit UPA.

The central government also made it mandatory for a person to possess an Aadhaar card to get cooking gas cylinders at a subsidised rate. The government faced flak for its decision and even the Supreme Court of India said that Aadhaar card cannot be linked to subsidies. WB CM had held a press conference at the state secretariat and lashed out at the UPA government over this decision. She had demanded an immediate rollback of the decision. Finally the central government has decided not to make Aadhaar cards mandatory to receive subsidised LPG cylinders, as of now.

The Government of India spent huge money to publicise the decision of linking Aadhaar to LPG subsidy. All the effort and money has gone into waste, thanks to a reckless idea pursued arrogantly by a government that didn`t want to listen to the people.

Many people in our state belong to middle or lower income group. Their family is dependent on the subsidised gas cylinders. If the cost of cooking gas goes out of reach, they will not be able to maintain their family. Cost of living is going up. Only Mamata Banerjee understood this. Truly speaking, Mamata Banerjee had thought of everybody. The big question is, did the Congress leadership in UPA II not understand the implications at that time? They did not pay any importance to the matter.

It is strange that the central government is increasing the number of subsidised LPG cylinders per annum just because their party vice president said so. What kind of rule is this? Is it because the election is near? When Mamata Banerjee demanded the same thing, why did the government not pay heed?

In a sense the rollback of Aadhaar decision, as well as the hiking of LPG cap, is a moral victory for Mamata Banerjee. Once again it has been proved the Trinamool Chairperson knows the pulse of the people and truly cares for them.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee will be chairing the first ever cabinet meeting at Uttar Kanya, the mini secretariat in North Bengal, on 11 February.  The Chief Minister will be on a 3-day visit to North Bengal starting from 11 February. The ministers from all the 18 departments that have offices in the mini secretariat will also be present at the meeting.

Uttar Kanya was inaugurated by the Chief Minister on 20 January. The Government had decided to set up the mini secretariat of the State Government in North Bengal, as people from these far-flung places had to come to Kolkata for many important works. A very senior officer of the rank of Additional Chief Secretary will function from Uttar Kanya. 18 Departments of the State Government will provide full-fledged services to the people of North Bengal.

The Chief Minister will be leaving for Murti on 11 February, after the Cabinet meeting. On 12 February, she will be attending a programme of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad at Nagrakata and will return to Kolkata on 13 February.

Trinamool proves once again that it is a responsible party, with concerns for the environment. Party Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee always lays stress on going green; as CM she has implemented much of it at the state secretariat. On Thursday, Trinamool held a historic rally at Brigade parade grounds, with a turnout ranging into 20 lakh, if not more.

Naturally with such great footfall, concerns for the Maidan were expected. Much to the chagrin of the party`s detractors, volunteers from the party engaged in the task of cleaning up the venue right from the evening. While a section of the workers were engaged in cleaning up the Maidan, another part of the volunteers were busy dismantling the stage and temporary structures.

Until noon on Friday, a large part of the ground was cleaned up, thanks to the support of Kolkata Municipal Corporation. By 31 January evening, the entire venue will be restored to its original glory. Trinamool has once again demonstrated that when it comes to the concern for environment, actions speak louder than words.

Proving that Trinamool is in no way behind any other national political party when it comes to adopting technology, Trinamool Congress took a unique step to reach out to the tech-savvy generation during the Martyrs` Day rally at Brigade parade ground. Perhaps for the first time in the country, the live video feeds of the party`s Martyrs` Day rally was aired through the social network Facebook.

People also saw instant updates with pictures from across the rally ground through the party`s Twitter handle @AITCofficial. People across the world had a `live` experience of this historic rally. The live streaming of the rally started from 11 AM and ended after Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee`s speech.

Trinamool spokesperson Mr Derek O`Brien said that there was a 360 degree coverage of this historic event. This is the first time a political rally has been streamed live in West Bengal and the response was overwhelming, he said. The Trinamool Congress technical team, had its members spread all over the rally ground, taking pictures and tweeting those real-time. Trinamool YUVA National President Mr. Abhishek Banerjee was also tweeting from the stage.

Veteran writer and social activist Mahashweta Devi today said that she wanted to see Mamata Banerjee as the next Prime Minister of India. Praising the Bengal CM, the writer said, she has seen the extent of development ushered in by the new government in tribal areas of Jangalmahal.

Describing WB CM as true leader of the masses, great fighter and humanist, the veteran activist said in three years, the popularity of Mamata Banerjee is on the upswing. She added that she had full faith in Mamata Banerjee`s governance.

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মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়কে দিল্লির মসনদে দেখতে চাই৷ মমতাই দেশের যোগ্য সম্ভাব্য একমাত্র প্রধানমন্ত্রী৷ ব্রিগেডে তৃণমূলের সমাবেশ মঞ্চ থেকে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর প্রশংসা করে বলেছেন মহাশ্বেতা দেবী৷

বাংলার মুখ্যমন্ত্রীকে মানবদরদী, জনহৈতিষী, লড়াকু নেত্রী বলে সম্মান জানিয়েছেন লেখিকা। মহাশ্বেতা দেবীর বক্তব্য, “তিন বছরে বাম আমলের থেকে দ্বিগুণ কাজ করেছে মমতা`, দিনে দিনে জনপ্রিয়তা বাড়ছে মমতার।” তাঁর দাবি, নিঃস্বার্থভাবে কাজ করছেন মমতা।পদদলিত, লাঞ্ছিত মানুষের কথা শোনেন বর্তমান মুখ্যমন্ত্রী।

মহাশ্বেতা দেবীর কথায়, পাহাড়ে,  জঙ্গলমহলে মমতার কাজের কোনও তুলনা নেই।তাঁর মমতার ওপর সম্পূর্ণ আস্থা, ভরসা আছে।

The historic Martyrs` Day rally at Brigade parade ground broke all records. Bengal has never seen such a turnout in its political history. 25 lakhs? 30 lakhs? Perhaps more. Every inch of the vast brigade parade ground was full, bursting at the seams. All one could see, was a sea of black heads. And even as the party Chiarperson rose to speak, a large number of people waited outside the rally ground, watching her address the gathering, on giant screens.

Every leader of the Trinamool Congress were present on the occasion, along with representatives from Assam, Sikkim, Manipur, Tripura, Punjab, UP, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The crowd included people from every walk of life, from every district – from Canning to Coochbehar, Siliguri to Sunderbans.

The rally started with a musical performance by Bauls from Birbhum, which was followed by musical performances by artistes like Indranil Sen, Nachiketa and Shantanu, who enthralled the audience with some popular, yet inspiring songs. Party MP Shatabdi Roy and put up a dance performance, along with her troupe.

Present on the podium were various dignitaries, which included members of the Bengali film industry, artists, singers, painters, and social activists. The families of the martyrs, who gave their lives because of Left terror, were felicitated on the occasion. Despite her frail health, Mahashweta Devi also attended the rally.

Trinamool Chairperson began her speech with the recital of Tagore`s song Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol.

In her speech the party chairperson said, “BJP is not an alternative to the Congress. Trinamool Congress is the real alternative for the country. Our fight is against Congress, BJP, CPM and corruption. Our fight is for the people.”

“We don`t want corruption, we don`t want riots. We want good governance and united India,” the Trinamool Congress Chairperson said. Read the full transcript of Trinamool Chief`s speech here.

The rally ended with singing of the National Anthem.

I pay my respect and thanks to this land. This is the place where we were born. This land is our religion. This is the land of our pitribhoomi, matribhoomi and karmabhoomi.

We are grateful to the people who have come here. We are grateful to Mahashweta Devi. We seek her blessings. We are grateful to Dwijen Mukhopadhyay. We are grateful to all the religious leaders. We are grateful to all the dignitaries from the field of art and culture.

I pay my respect to the mother of the martyr Nurul Islam of Khadyo Andolan, the activists of the Singur movement, the families of martyrs of 21st July police firing,  Nadigram, Netai and Sainbari massacre. They laid down their lives for us. We should never forget them.

This rally proves once again that democracy is for the common people not for dynasties. Today Trinamool Congress is urging you to uphold democracy. Democracy is by the people, for the people and of the people. Democracy is for peace and progress. Trinamool Congress is committed to the cause of progress, development, solidarity and peace.

We believe states should have a stronger voice at the centre. We need to win most of the Lok Sabha seats in the state in order to work for the common people. There is no scope for overconfidence. Our fight is against Congress, BJP and CPI(M). Our fight is against corruption. Our fight is against oppression and impudence. Our fight is for the people. It is a hard fight but has to be fought. Bengal does not have much relevance in Delhi now. The more Lok Sabha seats we win, the more our importance will increase in Delhi.

We started from Bengal. The Maa Mati Manush of Bengal had given us the responsibility to work for the people. In spite of the central government taking away all the money, the West Bengal Government has moved forward. In just two and half years, we are first in Micro & Small Scale industries. We have brought back peace in Jangalmahal and the Darjeeling. We were the first to implement fair price medicine shops. In agriculture, the state Krishi Ratna for food procurement.

The Lok Sabha elections are very close. Bengal will lead the way. There is a need to have a friendly government in the Centre for the sake of the development of the state. Previously, we said that we wanted Poribartan in Bengal. Now we need Poribartan in Delhi. What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow.  So, we have raised our voice from Bengal. Let our slogan be, `Durniti Hatao, Desh Bachao` – remove corruption, save the country.

We do not want revenge, we want remedy. We do not want a government that endorses riots, we want a government which promotes solidarity and harmony because this country belongs to all of us and we want to move forward unitedly. We want good governance. We want united India. We want a pro-people government. To make this possible we need to form a federal front with the powerful states. Trinamool Congress will play an important role to make the state and the country stronger.

This time we will be fighting Lok Sabha polls outside West Bengal as well.  We have delegations from Manipur, Tripura, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala, UP. We will fight in these states. I do not want power. I want to work for the people. I will campaign for the sake of people outside Bengal. It is the need of the day for the sake of the people.

People of Bengal have been oppressed for 35 years. Thousands of people were murdered during Left rule.  Rape, violence, murder, loot and arson was the order of the day. People were forbidden to study English for 35 years. We have no money in our treasury because of the debt we inherited from the Left. All the money we are earning is going away to pay the debt installments. In spite of that , around 3.2 crore poor people get rice at Rs 2/kg from us. We have made arrangements to provide free medicine at all the health centres and primary hospitals at block level. 35 multi super-specialty hospitals are being set up. 1.10 lakh people got patta in 2.5 years, within next couple of months another 1 lakh people will be given pattas. Our duty is to serve the poor people.

The parties like CPI(M), Congress and BJP are telling that they are the alternatives of each other. Congress is not an alternative to BJP, BJP is no alternative to Congress. Trinamool Congress is the real alternative for the country. Keep this in mind. We need to reach out to our friends. We will have to work together.  If need arises, we will support them from behind and let them be in power.

We want to see that the black money is returned to the country. We want to see our farmers get the right price for their crops. We want to see our mothers and sisters live with honour. We do not spare any criminals if they commit crimes against women. Has the Opposition forgotten about the molestation of women in Muzaffarpur, the burning of Anandamargis, rape of Anita Dewan, Bantala, Dhantala, Goghat, Bhangar? There is a long list. We have taken proper actions against all the complaints made.

In Panchayat polls the people`s mandate was against the Opposition. People will prove it again in the Lok Sabha elections. CPI(M) never bothered to design an emblem for the state. They let chit fund companies set up shop in the state and expand business. We arrested the criminals and we will return the money to the people.

They set up only 2 universities in 35 years and we formed 6 universities in just two and a half years. We set a target of creating 50000 ponds in 5 years. In 2.5 years, we have already created 1.05 lakh ponds.  We have given 20 lakh Kisan Credit cards, we have launched Kanyashree and Yuvashree for the common people. We could have provided 10 lakh jobs every year if the centre would not have taken away a major part of our earned money as debt interest. 

The Opposition only plays divisive communal politics. We say that we are all one. We are human beings. Tyag ka naam hai Hindu, Iman ka naan hai Musalman, Pyar ka naam hai Isai, aur Sikh ka naam hai Balidaan, yeh hai hamara pyara Hindustan.  We will work for UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab, Assam, Tripura. Our motto is to work for the people. We are driven by the ideals of Tagore, Nazrul, Ambedkar.

We need empowerment of women. We had reserved 50% of the seats at the Panchayat level for women. Je randhe, se chul o bandhe. We have created reservation in higher education for backward classes, but not at the cost of General category.

We need determined, dedicated, devoted people for building a new Bengal, a new India. Can you work selflessly for the nation? The young generation is an asset for the country. Be bold. Be strong. Be dedicated, devoted, disciplined and determined. I know you can. I need you to work for the people, bring a change in the dynastic rule in Delhi. We need Poribartan in Delhi.

They have hiked price of everything except the price of a human life. I give you the slogan – Delhi Chalo, Bharat Garo. We need to target all the 42 seats in the state. We need to convince the people to support us.

To the opposition, I have a message. I will go ahead with development, catch me if you can. We do not want a Congress Bureau of Investigation and CPM Bureau of Investigation to teach us human rights. There will be conspiracies, but do not fall in their trap. We will not let riots happen in Bengal.

We had a rally at Brigade after Poriborton in 2011. We will have another rally at Brigade after we usher in Poriborton in Delhi.

Hum honge Kamyaab. Jai Hind.

Bengal is gearing up for Trinamool`s Martyrs` Day rally. Held every year on 21 July, the rally could not be held in 2013 because of model code of conduct during Panchayat elections in the state. The Chairperson decided to organise the rally on 30 January, which is the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, and observed as Martyrs` Day in India.

Trinamool Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee inspected the rally grounds on Tuesday evening to take stock of the security measures. Crowds are expected to spill over to all the roads hemming the Brigade Parade Grounds – Queensway, Hospital Road, Outram Road and J L Nehru Road (from Park Street crossing to Birla Planetarium).

Police will be deployed from 9 AM, around the time the first lot of supporters step into the Brigade Parade Grounds. “People have already started arriving in the city,” said Trinamool State President Subrata Bakshi.

The three-tier dais being constructed this year is the biggest ever, measuring 75 ft X 64 ft. Seven cameras will cover the rally. Around 5,000 volunteers will be at the ground itself and 11 medical camps will be set up across the city.

 

The 38th Kolkata International Book Fair was inaugurated by Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee at the Milan Mela Prangan. The fair will be thrown open to the public on 29th February and will continue till 9th February. Peru has been selected as the `theme` of this year`s book fair.

Ms. Francesca Denegri, celebrated poet of Peru along with Mr. Javier Paulinich, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Peru, made the event special. Also among the invitees were two Peruvian dancers, who will be performing during the closing ceremony. Singer Ms. Usha Uthup, has composed and sung the new theme song for the 38th International Kolkata Book Fair.

The labour department of the West Bengal Government is going to organise a labour fair for the first time. The fair is scheduled from February 1 to 4 at Gandhi More Maidan, Durgapur. The fair will focus upon the initiatives taken up by the state government for the working class. Durgapur was chosen as the venue of the fair because it is an industrial town.

There will be around 30 stalls from various government departments as well as other organisations. From topics like boilers to employment opportunities, visitors will have free access to information on varied topics. Free health camps will be organised for workers and their families.

The fair will be inaugurated on by the WB Labour Minister Mr. Purnendu Bose in presence of other ministers and distinguished guests. Seminars will be an integral part of the fair and will cover topics like safety of workers and other labour-centric issues. The workers will also be informed about all the benefits they are entitled to from the state and the central government.