Page 37 - Mamata Banerjee

It's people's victory: Mamata on West Bengal's Dhupguri bypoll result

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee described her party's win in the Dhupguri bypolls on Friday as a "victory of the people". The ruling TMC wrested the Dhupguri seat from the BJP. She congratulated candidates for defeating the BJP in the bypolls in four seats in various states saying it was a big win for the INDIA coalition. The BJP lost in Dumri (Jharkhand), Puthuppally (Kerala), Ghosi (Uttar Pradesh) and Dhupguri, the ECI said. "Dhupguri is a big win. The seat was with the BJP. It's a historic win and I congratulate all the people of Dhupguri. This is a win of the people," Banerjee told reporters at the city airport before leaving for New Delhi. At the national capital, Banerjee will attend President Droupadi Murmu's G20 dinner invitation on Saturday. "I would like to congratulate all those who beat the BJP to win the bypolls. The BJP has lost four bypolls out of the seven held on September 5. This is a big win for INDIA. I want people to ta

CM Banerjee raises pay of West Bengal MLAs by Rs 40,000 per month

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced a hike of Rs 40,000 per month in salaries of MLAs of West Bengal. Banerjee, who made the announcement in the House, said there will be no revision in the chief minister's salary as she has not been drawing any pay for a long time. "The salary of MLAs of the West Bengal Assembly is much less than that of other states. So, it has been decided that their monthly salaries will be hiked by Rs 40,000. The MLAs used to get 10,000, ministers of state used to get 10,900 and ministers in-charge Rs 11,000. Now, they will get 50,000, 50,900 and 51,000 per month," she said. Banerjee, however, didn't give a breakup of the actual salaries of lawmakers after the hike, including allowances and extra pay as members of the various standing committees. Banerjee said although the MLAs' allowances are being increased, "no proposal is being made to increase the salary of the chief minister." "After the salary increase, the salary of the West Bengal Ch

Mamata Banerjee to attend President's G20 dinner, BJP hails decision

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be travelling to New Delhi on Saturday for the President's G20 dinner, officials said on Wednesday. She will be flying to the national capital at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu, they said. Asserting that it's well known that India is Bharat, the Trinamool Congress supremo had on Tuesday questioned the need to "suddenly use only Bharat" while referring to India in an official communique. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently shared on X a G20 dinner invitation from President Murmu, which described her position as the "President of Bharat". Hailing Banerjee's decision, the opposition BJP asserted that it is an endorsement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the country in the right way." The CPI(M) claimed she might have some "additional work" in New Delhi as was seen in the past. "It is good she has accepted the invite as the prestige of the state is at stake and she is going there representing West Bengal,"

Businessmen in India being harassed by central agencies: Mamata Banerjee

Businessmen of the country are being harassed by central agencies, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged on Friday. Speaking at real estate meet STATECON 2023 here, Banerjee said her family was also being harassed by these investigative agencies even when she did not accept "a single cup of tea from anybody". "Sometimes, some persons may disturb you but you are not alone. Don't be weak. All businessmen are being harassed by the agencies. My family is also being harassed, even when I did not take a single paisa or accept a single cup of tea from anybody in my life. This is a political vendetta. If anything happens, you should take legal steps," she told the gathering. The chief minister claimed that certain sections were trying to create a bad image of the state by portraying that only communal riots happen in West Bengal, and no developmental works are undertaken. "This is absolutely wrong. If you look closely, you will find that West Bengal is at the top in many ...

Bring Bengal's workers back: CM Mamata Banerjee to builders, investors

The proposed Bengal Silicon Valley Tech Hub in New Town, Kolkata, is also expected to attract investment of Rs 30,000 crore

CM Mamata Banerjee inaugrates Rs 550 cr grinding unit of Shree Cement

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday inaugurated a Rs 550 crore maiden grinding unit of Shree Cement in West Bengal's Purulia district. The state-of-the-art facility has a production capacity of three million metric tonne per annum (MTPA) and is strategically positioned to meet the surging demand for cement in West Bengal and neighbouring Jharkhand and to bolster the company's market share in eastern India, which is among the country's fastest growing markets, a company official said. It is entirely funded through the group's internal accruals and has already commenced commerical production on schedule, the official said. "I congratulate Shree Cement Limited on this achievement and the commencement of production at the new facility. This substantial investment strengthens our state's industrial prowess and underscores the growth potential of West Bengal's cement sector. We look forward to witnessing the positive impact it will have on our region's economy and employmen

Will explore acquisition possibilities at the right price: Shree Cement V-C

The cement sector is seeing heightened activity with top players such as UltraTech, Ambuja-ACC, Dalmia, and JSW looking to increase their share

'INDIA' bloc meet: Logo unveiling, charting out roadmap for polls on table

Unveiling of the INDIA bloc's logo, charting out a roadmap and evolving a structure for cooperation among the alliance partners to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be on the agenda of the third meeting of the opposition parties to be held in Mumbai on Friday. The third meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) alliance is scheduled to start at 10.30 am at Grand Hyatt Hotel here. As many as 63 representatives from 28 political parties are taking part in the meeting. During the conclave, discussion on formulating a common minimum programme and forming a coordination committee of the principal opposition parties is also likely. Ahead of the meeting, the opposition bloc's logo is expected to be unveiled, while after the deliberations get over, a press conference will be held in the afternoon to give information about what decisions were taken during the conclave. Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said talks will be held on the ...

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Mamata to visit Spain, Dubai in September to attract investments: Official

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit Dubai and Spain in September to attract investments, a senior official said on Thursday. The central government has given its nod to Banerjee's trip, which is expected in the second week of September, he said. Banerjee will most likely fly to Dubai on September 13, and visit Spain thereafter, the official said. Her trip could continue till September 23. The chief minister is expected to meet industrialists and business tycoons in the two foreign countries," he said. In 2021, the Centre had not granted Banerjee permission to visit Rome, where she was scheduled to attend a world peace conference.

'Waiting for it...' Suvendu Adhikari on Mamata's claims to arrest Abhishek

Earlier on Monday, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee claimed that someone texted her that Abhishek Banerjee would be arrested before the ensuing Lok Sabha elections

BJP may go for Lok Sabha polls in December 2023, says Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the BJP might conduct the Lok Sabha polls in December itself, claiming that all choppers have been booked by the saffron party for campaigning. Banerjee, who was speaking at a TMC youth wing rally, cautioned that a third term for the BJP would ensure the nation faces an autocratic rule. The chief minister also blamed some people engaged in unlawful activities for the illegal firecracker factory blasts that have occurred in the state. She alleged that this was being done with support from a few police personnel. "If BJP returns to power for the third consecutive term, the nation would face an autocratic rule. I am apprehensive that they (BJP) could hold the Lok Sabha elections in December 2023 itself... The saffron party has already turned our country into a nation in the throes of animosity among communities. If they return to power, it will make our country a nation of hatred," she said. The BJP has already booked all

Mamata condoles deaths in Tamil Nadu fire mishap, asks for more vigilance

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday condoled the deaths due to a blaze in a stationary train in Tamil Nadu's Madurai and asked the Railways to be more vigilant regarding safety. At least 10 people were "reported dead" in a fire that broke out inside a stationary train compartment in Madurai railway station early on Saturday, the Southern Railway said, adding a gas cylinder "illegally" taken in led to the blaze. The 'private party coach' with 65 passengers had arrived from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. "Another devastating incident in railways, this time at Madurai (Tamil Nadu) today, involving a massive fire in a train, and leading to at least 9 shocking and tragic deaths and minimally 20 critical injury cases," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "While I convey my condolences to the families of the deceased & pray for the injured, expect that inquires would fix responsibilities soon. May I also urge the railway authorities to be more vigilant and less callous about .

Bengal governor to meet family members of workers killed in bridge collapse

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose left for Malda on Friday morning where he would be meeting family members of the workers from the district killed in the railway bridge collapse in Mizoram. Bose boarded the Yuva Express after the Vande Bharat Express, in which he was scheduled to travel to Malda this morning, was cancelled due to some technical glitches. The governor after reaching Malda will visit the houses of the workers killed in the Mizoram bridge collapse, sources in the Governor's office said. Bose, who travelled in the second class of Yuva Express, took telephone calls on the moving train and addressed public grievances and issued instructions. "He also talked to Jadavpur University officiating Vice Chancellor and students over the phone in connection with the current fiasco there," the source said. The under-construction railway bridge in the Bairabi-Sairang new line project near Aizawl collapsed on Wednesday killing 22 workers and injuring three. Bodies of four missi

India's moon mission cost half of Bengal scam amount: Sukanta Majumdar

West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sukanta Majumdar said that India's moon mission was successful at just half the cost of the West Bengal teachers' recruitment scam amount

Chandrayaan-3: Mamata Banerjee's Rakesh Roshan gaffe goes viral, BJP reacts

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Indira Gandhi asked 'Rakesh Roshan' how India looked from space

Parl panel examines three bills seeking to replace existing criminal laws

A parliamentary panel on Thursday began examining the three bills which seek to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Evidence Act, with Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla making a detailed presentation on various aspects of the proposed legislation. Home Minister Amit Shah had introduced the three bills- the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill- in Lok Sabha during Parliament's Monsoon session, and the House had referred them to the standing committee. Sources said DMK member Dayanidhi Maran voiced his disapproval of the Hindi names given to the bill during the meeting and suggested that the committee should hold consultations with members of the bar at different states, noting that criminal trials are held in district-level courts. The committee should be visiting states to hear views of stake-holders, he said, drawing support from other opposition members like Derek O' Brien of the TMC, sources ..

Mamata announces hike in allowances of Imams, Hindu priests in Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced a hike in the monthly allowance of Muslim clerics and Hindu priests by Rs 500. The opposition BJP and the CPI(M) dubbed it a "cheap poll gimmick" to woo minority votes. While addressing a conference of imams and muezzins in Kolkata's Netaji Indoor stadium, Banerjee announced a hike of Rs 500 in the monthly allowance of Muslims Imams and Hindu priests. "People have maligned me for my beliefs. When I attend Iftar during Ramzan, my photographs are ridiculed. BJP had even attempted to change my name. However, I don't care about it because it is my duty to see that people of different religions don't fight with one another," she said. Accusing the BJP of making it an issue every time she participates in the programmes of minorities, Banerjee said she would continue to work for all communities throughout her life. "Whenever I attend any programme of the minorities, I am accused of appeasing the minorities. I believe in love

Thorough investigation needed in JU death case: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has termed the Jadavpur University incident "unfortunate" wherein an undergraduate student died last week and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter

Strict law needed at universities, says Sourav Ganguly on JU violence case

Jadavpur University (JU) authorities has rolled out various measures, including making identity cards mandatory for visitors to enter the campus at night and installing CCTVs at strategic points