November 23, 2023
If there was nothing left in Bengal, would 40 countries have attended the business summit?: Mamata Banerjee
Trinamool Congress Chairperson and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today addressed her party’s workers at a programme at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.
Excerpts from her speech:
“Despite the Union government withholding dues, development and employment in the state has not been stopped. Rather, the amount of employment that has been created in Bengal in the last few years has not happened elsewhere.”
“This is for those who say nothing happens at business conclaves. Projects worth Rs 15 lakh crore have come from the six previous Bengal Global Business Meets. Of these, Rs 10 lakh crore has already been utilised. The seventh BGBS got over yesterday. It was an incredible success. More than Rs 3.76 lakh crore worth investment proposals have come.”
“If there was nothing left in Bengal, would 40 countries have attended the business summit?”
“Many people go abroad from here to work. I say there is no need to go any more.”
She gave a call for ‘Dilli Chalo’ during mid-December to protest against the Union government’s blocking of funds for Bengal. She also instructed the party workers to launch full-scale protests on this issue at the block from the beginning of next month.
She urged Trinamool workers to engage in political retaliation against the BJP and the CPI(M), encouraging them to defeat opponents at the grassroots level and not solely rely on the police, emphasizing the importance of local connections.
Further, while taking a dig at BJP she said the Indian cricket team won all their matches in the World Cup except the final, which she claimed was attended by “the papistha [sinners]”.
“I still feel India would have won the finals had the match taken place in Kolkata or Wankhede. Our players are so good in the game. They have changed the practice jerseys to ‘gerua’ [saffron] colour. They had even said that the match cannot be played in blue jerseys. It was because the players objected that they refrained from changing the uniform altogether.”
“When you (BJP) lose, these same ED and CBI officers will come after you.”
“You have ordered planes from foreign countries. Questions will arise over the deal. How much money did you make?”
“Coal India Limited (CIL) is run by the Centre. Coal mines are guarded by CISF, which is a Central force. The border is also guarded by the BSF. … Cows for smuggling to Bangladesh are brought from different states, including UP. Who takes the cut there?”
