Month: March 2019

After Mantra Challenge, Mamata Banerjee challenges Modi to an open debate

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Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today kicked-off her campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, by addressing a public meeting organised by N. Chandrababu Naidu at Visakhapatnam.

In her speech, she challenged the Prime Minister to an open debate. Slamming Narendra Modi for not addressing a single press conference in the last five years, she said, in the open debate they will pose questions to each other and there would be no teleprompters.

Highlights of her speech:

  • This election is significant. You must vote wisely. We have to fight for the country
  • It is unfortunate that Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister. He and his party president are targeting and intimidating all Opposition leaders
  • In the previous election, they won people’s trust on the plank of ‘chaiwallah’. Now they have become ‘chowkidar’
  • They are not people’s chowkidar. They are chowkidar of demonetisation, chowkidar of loot and chowkidar of lies
  • So many jawans have lost their lives. Terrorism has increased in his tenure. Farmers are committing suicide. Unemployment is at 45 year high
  • The PM has not addressed a single press conference in the last five years. They are afraid to face the media
  • Even while giving speeches, the PM needs teleprompters. And he always tells lies
  • The leader of the country must be like Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Azad, Ambedkar, Netaji, Rajendra Prasad and other stalwarts
  • He cannot even become block leader and he aspires to become the leader of the nation
  • BJP party headquarter resembles a shopping mall
  • After the Pulwama attack, why did the PM not address any all-party meeting?
  • The country is burning. They are killing people in the name of gau-raksha
  • We do not want Modi because we do not want unemployment.
  • We do not want Modi because we do not want riots.
  • We do not want Modi because we want communal harmony
  • Who will become the Prime Minister, will be decided after the elections.
  • We serve the people 365 days a year
  • I challenge Modi to an open debate. I am ready to fight against him politically. Let him pose question for me, I will reply. I will ask him questions and he has to reply. There will be no teleprompters
  • Modi cannot come back to power with the help of select-few media channels
  • If we have to save the country, Modi must be defeated
  • They are not allowing State Governments to function.
  • They are destroying the Constitution. The independence of the institutions is under attack
  • If Modi and Amit Shah come back to power, the country will not remain the same anymore. We will lose all our freedom
  • We will work together to form a people’s government at Centre

 

Trinamool launches new campaign – #PradhanMantriHisabDo

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All India Trinamool Congress today started a new video series titled ‘Pradhan Mantri Hisab Do’ in the run up to Lok Sabha elections. The campaign began with a short film comparing two schemes – Bangla Government’s Sabooj Sathi and the Central Government’s Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.

The comparison video shows two stark pictures: There’s Priya Singh from Rewri, Haryana and Jhumur Mukherjee from Hooghly district. The former is exasperated at the utter ineffectiveness of the much-touted Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. She says that she loves to study but the nearest school is 14-15 km from her rural home. Hence she was forced to forego her studies. She says that on the one hand, the prime minister talks about educating girls and on the other hand, there’s not even one school in her village. There’s no count as to how many girls there are suffering her fate. She ends by asking the prime minister, “Have you kept any ‘hisab’ of this?”

Contrast this with the picture in Bangla. A housewife from rural Hooghly, Jhumur Mukherjee beams with joy as she explains how the bicycle her daughter got from Bangla Government as a result of the Sabooj Sathi Scheme, conceived by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is enabling her to attend school regularly, even though it’s quite a distance away.

The scheme has had significant success in enabling especially girls to attend school – by reducing travel time and ensuring safety. It is considered a landmark scheme in the country, having won numerous awards, the latest being declared a ‘Champion Project’ after becoming a finalist earlier this year at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes, given by ITU, a United Nations organisation.

 

BJP playing divisive politics in the name of religion: Abhishek Banerjee

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Trinamool Youth Congress President Abhishek Banerjee today held a workshop for the booth-level workers at Purulia, where he countered the BJP on several issues:

Here are the excerpts of his speech:

We do whatever we promise. There has been a radical change in Purulia between 2011 and 2019.

When Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister for the first time, she came to Purulia with a bouquet of developmental projects.

In 2014, they said that “Acchey Din” will come. People have been duped for five years. The expiry date of this Govt at centre has passed. Their departure is just a matter of time.

A peaceful, progressive and secular India will be formed under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. A secular Government will be formed in Delhi with the support of the people.

In the last five years, the Government under Narendra Modi have not even sent 5 paise for Purulia, whereas the Bangla Government have spent more than Rs 8000 crore for the district.

The Yogi Adityanath Government did not pay proper respect to the Belur Math of Swami Vivekananda.

They say one thing in the morning and contradict it in the afternoon. This is what the Bharatiya Janata Party is.

Those to publicise themselves as the first and last words of Hinduism have never done anything for the Hindus.

Chief Ministers of all the 28 other states account for less than 5% than what Mamata Banerjee has done for the Hindus.

The Centre has asked the Income Tax department to investigate the Durga Puja committees in Bangla. Has anything been done to scare the organisers of the Kumbha Mela, the Ganesh Pujas in Maharashtra, the Mahaveer Jayantis in Uttar Pradesh or the Hanuman Jayantis? Why is this step-motherly attitude being taken?

After Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister, the Dakshineswar Skywalk was constructed, Tarapith and Tarakeswar were developed and the house of Sister Nivedita renovated.

BJP has been playing divisive politics with the promise of Ram Mandir. The country is being destroyed.

In 2016 they did demonetization. In 2017, there was the fiasco with GST. In 2018, they changed the name of railway stations. In 2019, the people of Bengal will throw them away.

In 2018, when the price of LPG was reduced, they lost in five states. Whenever they lose, price of commodities, LPG are reduced.

They (BJP leaders visiting state) cannot speak in Bangla. Cannot read or write Bangla. They are not aware of the culture of Bangla. They have not even announced candidates in all the seats till now.

It is the duty of the youth and the young generation to maintain discipline and peace in the locality. It is you who will decide whether to vote for Bangla or against it.

The outsiders who are coming to Bangla to dupe people are getting it wrong. The 2019 Election is all about strengthening the force behind Mamata Banerjee. This is the election to protect Bangla’s heritage and culture.

The CBI or ED can never scare us and make us hide behind doors.

When I am elected, then I follow just one religion, the religion of humanity. It is our duty to work for the people.

The Narendra Modi Government seeks information like who is cooking what, but they miss the information like 350 kilos of RDX being smuggled into the country.

Narendra Modi is dishonouring chaiwalas by using them for his own publicity.

Bangla committed to labour welfare

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The Bangla Government, led by Mamata Banerjee, is committed to the welfare of labourers and workers in the State. Several schemes, such as Samajik Suraksha Yojana, have been launched.

Highlights of the Labour Welfare Department’s achievements

Samajik Suraksha Yojana

  • 5 social security schemes for unorganised labour merged into one scheme – Samajik Suraksha Yojana – for effective implementation (effective from April 1, 2017)
  • As of October 2018, 1.01 crore workers covered under the Samajik Mukti Card Scheme
  • Rs 1,274.29 crore disbursed as benefit to workersSpecial benefit for female students

The Labour Welfare Department introduced a first-of-its-kind benefit in India for female students for pursuing undergraduate course or equivalent skill development course, with the granting of benefit based on the condition of the girl remaining unmarried. This serves the twin goals of enabling higher education for girls and preventing their early marriage.

Medical benefits for unorganised sector workers

  • Medical benefits enhanced from Rs 10,000 to Rs. 20,000 per year
  • Medical benefits for surgery made uniform for all workers, at the rate of Rs 60,000 per year

Yuvashree Scheme & other payments

  • Govt has disbursed financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month per person to 1 lakh jobseekers enrolled in the Employment Bank
  • Durga Puja and Eid ex-gratia payment made by the State Govt at the rate of Rs 1,000 per person per year
  • In financial year 2018-19, from April to October, 13,271 beneficiaries received a total of Rs 18.35 crore

 

Will never allow the country to be divided: Mamata Banerjee

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Trinamool Chairperson and Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today attended ‘Holi Milan’ celebration at Gitanjali Stadium, Kolkata. In her speech, she stressed on communal harmony harmony and vowed never to allow country to be divided.

Highlights of her speech:

People from all regions participate in all festivals in Bangla

Like the Holi Milan today, I also participate in Dandiya celebrations during Navratri, and also attend the festivals organised by the Jain and Buddhist community

In Bangla, we give holidays on the occasion of all religious festivals. This is because we respect all religions. We believe that all festivals are for everyone to celebrate

Never in my life have I treated people differently on the basis of religion

People from other States who live here are better off here than there native States because of the atmosphere of tolerance

We have never disallowed any festival in Bangla, be it Chhat Puja, Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Ganapati Puja, Mahavir Jayanti, Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrations or any other festival

People from the BJP come from outside come here and spread falsehoods

Hinduism is a great religion, whose tenets were defined by people like Swami Vivekananda, Sri Ramakrishna and others

At the Gangasagar Mela we make the best arrangements – in fact, people now say, “Har sagar ek bar, Gangasagar bar bar”

We have developed Gangasagar. Several amenities are available there now

Go visit places like Tarapith, Tarakeswar or Furfura Sharif or holy places of Christianity – peace reigns everywhere

The BJP just chants the name of Ram but don’t believe in him

We have respect for everybody – be it Ram or Rahim or Christianity

The BJP alleges that Mamata Banerjee does not allow pujas in Bangla. I challenge them to ask the people who live here. Every festival is celebrated in Bangla

People of different religious communities live together in Bangla like one big family

We will never let the country to be fragmented

We must have love and respect for everybody. We must live together

We never supported demonetisation – I had called it a disaster on the very first day

Industry, labourers, farmers, youth – everyone suffered due to demonetisation

People lost their hard-earned savings because of demonetisation. It was a huge tragedy

More than 2 crore people became unemployed due to demonetisation in one year – 2017-18. Whereas in Bangla, employment increased by 40%

We never make false promises. We always keep our word.

The prime minister believes in jumla. When he recently announced that he will address the nation, everyone was tense; what new disaster awaited us? Ultimately, it was a case of ‘empty vessel sounds much’.

The A-SAT missile is the result of the hard work of our scientists

Look at the BJP, every leader is becoming a chowkidar. We respect the real chowkidars

Religions stands for humanity. As long as I am alive, I will not allow Bangla to be divided. And the same goes for the country

Khaki uniform must not be misused: Mamata Banerjee

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Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee took exception to appointment of former BSF director general KK Sharma as special police observer for Bangla and Jharkhand during the Lok Sabha elections.

“How can a retired police officer look after the deployment of serving police personnel? During his tenure as the DG, he has attended an RSS program and that too in uniform,” she said.

“Is he an impartial observer? Is this a way to ensure we will get justice? Is this democracy? I respect the Khakhi uniform. It must not be misused. It must only be used for the nation’s interest,” she added.

She also said, “I have evidence that my mobile is being tapped. My calls and messages are being monitored. All Opposition leaders are under scanner, including people at high positions in various institutions.”

 

Highlights of the Trinamool Manifesto 2019

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Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today released the party’s manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Highlights of the Trinamool Manifesto 2019

Why was demonetisation carried out? To serve whose interests? We want a judicial probe monitored by a former supreme court judge

Our aim is to generate employment for youths and students. We are proud to say we have reduced unemployment by 40% in Bangla

Every vacant seat for SC/ST/OBCs must be filled

Economic security of farmers and ensuring their livelihood must be ensured. We will see to it that farmers do not have to sell their products at low price.

Social security of the workers in the unorganised sector must be taken care of.

We will lay special emphasis on the empowerment of women

The basic idea behind the GST was initially completely different. But the way the Central Government implemented the GST, it did not benefit anybody from the small business to the general consumer. So, the GST will be reviewed so that the public, buyers and small and medium enterprises benefit from it.

We want 100 Days’ Work to be increased to 200 days, and their daily wages to be doubled. This will ensure their livelihood and improve their quality of life. We will try to ensure employment and double the labourer’s wage.

To further strengthen the federal structure, a new model of Planning Commission will be established. Continuous communication with the States will be maintained. The Planning Commission will become the focal point of development.

To create better social infrastructure, we will increase investment in education and health sectors.

We will lay stress on science, research, economic progress, agriculture, industry and service so that there are new investments and holistic development of the country

We will encourage sports and all cultural thoughts for the betterment of the people of the nation.

 

Mamata Banerjee releases Trinamool’s manifesto for 2019 Lok Sabha elections

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Trinamool Chairperson Mamata Banerjee today released the party’s manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

While the manifesto is a statement of intent of the party, Mamata Banerjee maintained that all parties which will come together for the creation of United India, will draft a common minimum programme in the days to come.

This year’s manifesto has been published in Bangla, English, Hindi, Nepali, and Ol Chiki languages. It lays stress on every subject – from Darjeeling to Jangalmahal, farmers, labourers, women, backward classes, communal harmony among others.

From the demand for a judicial probe into demonetisation, to an expert review of GST, the demand for increasing 100 Days’ Work to 200 and a package for the farmers, or the demand for bringing back the Planning Commission – the manifesto covers a wide range of issues facing the nation.

Click here to read the English version of the manifesto.

Click here to read the Bengali version of the manifesto.

 

Modi desperately trying to reap political benefits: Mamata Banerjee

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The prime minister’s penchant for mindless self-promotion through “limitless drama and publicity-mongering” came to the fore once again today when he announced India’s successful launch of an anti-satellite missile (ASAT).

Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee strongly criticised this announcement through Twitter, saying that this launch was the culmination of a long-term project involving Indian space scientists, and so the prime minister had no moral authority to take credit for it.

Rather, credit should be reserved solely for the scientists and researchers who have been involved in this project.

Also, through this announcement, she said, the prime minister was “desperately trying to reap political benefits at the time of election,” and therefore this announcement was a “gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct” now under operation.

Hence, the Trinamool Congress has decided to lodge a complaint with the Central Election Commission against this announcement.

Bangla shows the way in land reforms

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There has been a sea change in the land reforms department in Bangla. From land maps to land bank, and new schemes like Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, many initiatives have been taken.

Highlights of the Land Reforms Department’s achievements

Digital upgrading of record rooms: Under the Land Records Modernisation Programme, 123 record rooms have been modernised in financial year (FY) 2018-19. Tehsil Data Centres have been made functional in all the 346 blocks.

Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi: About 1,281 Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi (NGNB) pattas have been distributed in FY 2018-19, up to December 2018.

Updating of map records: Up to FY 2018-19, more than 99 per cent of the land maps, that is, 67,915 out of 68,348, have been digitised and 82 per cent of the maps, that is, 56,112, have been integrated with land records.

Record of rights certificates: The delivery of digitally-signed certified copies of record of rights (ROR) has started in 344 block land and land records offices (BL&LRO offices) through the e-District Portal of the State Government. (https://edistrict.wb.gov.in/workFlow/appUserLogin.html)

Refugee rehabilitation: The Bonhooghly Housing Project, called ‘Bonrini’, in Baranagar, North 24 Parganas district, taken up under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, has rehabilitated 647 refugee families – 540 of whom were living in an old dilapidated structure on the site and another 107 families who were residing in Kamarhati.