Page 43 - Mamata Banerjee

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BJP destroyed railways by discontinuing separate budget: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday attacked the BJP-led central government by claiming that Indian Railways was destroyed the day the practice of presenting a separate Railway Budget was stopped. The Narendra Modi government merged Railway Budget with the Union Budget in 2017, ending a practice of about 100 years. "When I was the Railway Minister, we had the option of having six secretaries of Cabinet rank for various railway departments - finance, employee welfare, signalling, engineering and electrical. They helped in coordination among different departments. Today, this coordination has gone. Indian Railways was destroyed the day we stopped presenting the Budget separately. No one seems to care about these things these days," Banerjee told reporters. The TMC supremo's statement came in the aftermath of the June 2 triple train accident in Odisha that left 288 people, including residents of West Bengal, dead. Banerjee slammed the BJP government at the Centre

Oppn meet on June 23 in Patna; Rahul, Kharge, Mamata among those to attend

"The opposition meeting will be held on 23rd June, in Patna. All opposition parties have agreed to this," JDU Prez

Oppn meet in Patna on June 23; Rahul, Mamata, Stalin to attend: Tejashwi

A meeting of opposition parties, organised by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will be held in Patna on June 23, his deputy Tejashwi Yadav said on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference with JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh by his side, Yadav said that top leaders of most opposition parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal have agreed to attend the meeting. The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on June 12, but was put off after some of the parties, including the Congress and the DMK, requested a change in date. Nitish Kumar had recently said he was opposed to parties sending any leader except their respective heads to the meeting where the anti-BJP players will chalk out a strategy for the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Mamata visiting Odisha to meet train crash victims for politics: BJP

The BJP on Tuesday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's visit to Odisha to meet injured people of the Balasore triple train crash was to "get political dividend". The saffron camp also claimed that many train mishaps had taken place during Banerjee's tenure as the railway minister. The ruling TMC slammed the BJP over such allegations, asserting that the saffron camp was trying to "malign the image of its chairperson to divert attention from the Centre's all-round failure". Claiming that over 500 train mishaps had taken place during the stint of Banerjee in railways, BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh told reporters, "Didi's (as Banerjee is called in Bengal) visits to Odisha, two days back and on Tuesday, are to get political dividend only." "We all know that over 800 derailments had taken place and 1,400 people died when she was the railway minister. What prevented her from adopting the anti-collision device? Why didn't she go for the ...

Odisha train accident: Bengal CM Mamata meets injured patients in Cuttack

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday visited injured passengers of the ill-fated Coromandel Express who are currently admitted in different hospitals in Cuttack. She visited the eye and surgery department of SCB Medical College and Hospital and interacted with the patients and assured them of all possible help. We are trying to help the injured passengers in all possible ways and had already dispatched teams of doctors, nurses and officers to take care of the injured passengers on the night of the accident on June 2, she told reporters here. Banerjee said there are 57 injured passengers from West Bengal in SCB Medical College. Some have lost their limbs, some of them have lost their eyes. It's such a tragedy that cannot be described through words, she told reporters. The Bengal Chief Minister said 103 bodies of passengers from West Bengal who died have so far been identified while 30 were still missing. I have already announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the

Mamata Banerjee announces govt jobs for kin of Odisha train accident

: West Bengal Chief Minister on Monday announced state government jobs for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the triple train crash in Odisha's Balasore. The West Bengal CM said that relatives of those who lost their limbs in the horrific crash will also be given government jobs. Banerjee added that her government will also give cash aid to those who were on board the Coromandel Express and are currently going through mental and physical trauma. She will visit Bhubanewsar and Cuttack on Tuesday to meet the injured passengers recuperating in different hospitals. She said currently there are 206 injured passengers from West Bengal admitted in different hospitals of Odisha. There are 33 critical passengers in Cuttack hospitals, she said, adding that a few Bengal ministers and senior officers will accompany her. She will distribute the ex gratia cheques and appointment letters to the next of the kin of the victims on Wednesday. The Bengal chief minister added that she

Odisha accident: Mamata cancels Darjeeling trip to take care of injured

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday cancelled her four-day trip to Darjeeling at the last minute to supervise the treatment and rehabilitation of passengers of the state who were injured in the triple train accident in Odisha's Balasore, sources said. The Trinamool Congress chief was supposed to visit Darjeeling where she was scheduled to meet members of all political parties in the Hills before the panchayat elections slated this year, secretariat sources said. She wants to be in Kolkata and oversee how the rehabilitation and treatment of injured passengers from West Bengal who were on board the Coromandel Express that met with an accident near Bahanaga Bazar in Balasore district. She will visit the Hills later," the source told PTI. The Odisha government on Sunday revised the triple train accident's death toll to 275 from 288, and put the number of injuries at 1,175. Banerjee had on the same day questioned the death figures given by the Railway Ministry, stating

Balasore train accident: Mamata Banerjee questions official death toll

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday questioned the death figures given by the Ministry of Railways in the triple train crash in Odisha's Balasore, stating that 61 people from her state were dead and 182 were still missing. Banerjee asked questions on whether Vande Bharat engines were up to the mark. "If from one state, 182 are missing and 61 are confirmed dead, then where would the figures stand?" she asked, addressing a press conference at the state secretariat, Nabanna. At least 275 people were killed and 1,175 injured in the triple train accident in Balasore, according to officials. Three trains Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah super fast and a goods train were involved in Friday's accident, now being described as one of India's worst train accidents. Stating that Duronto Express trains introduced during her tenure as the railway minister were "pushed out of priority", Banerjee asked whether the Vande Bharat Express trains' engines were up

Mamata Banerjee demands proper probe into cause of Odisha train accident

She also expressed apprehension that improper functioning of the anti-collision system could be a reason for the accident, one of the worst in the last 15 years

Odisha train accident: PM Modi distressed, speaks to railway minister

PM Modi while expressing distress added that the rescue operations are currently underway at the site and those affected are being provided with all the possible assistance

Will fight till protesting wrestlers get justice: Bengal CM Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday came out in support of protesting wrestlers who have been seeking arrest of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh, stating that she will fight till they get justice. Taking to the streets of Kolkata, for a second day, Banerjee described the wrestlers' struggle as "a struggle for life, justice, and independence'. Will fight till protesting wrestlers get justice,the chief minister said. "I will request the wrestlers to continue their movement. This fight is for life, for independence, for humanitarian justice," Banerjee said while participating in a protest supporting the wrestlers who have been demonstrating sexual harassment of women grapplers and demanding the arrest of the WFI chief. She was leading a candle march from the statue of Gostha Pal, the first captain of India national football team at the Kolkata Maidan to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Mayo Road-Dufferin Road crossing.

Mamata takes to streets to protest 'manhandling' of wrestlers in Delhi

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday took to the streets here to protest against the alleged manhandling of wrestlers at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar after they tried to march towards the new Parliament building following its inauguration three days ago. Holding a placard with the message, "We Want Justice", written on it, Banerjee participated in a rally which started at Hazra Road crossing in the southern part of the city and culminated at Rabindra Sadan, the cultural hub of the eastern metropolis. Banerjee joined the 2.8-km rally at Bhabanipur, her own constituency. She was flanked by former women footballers Kuntala Ghosh Dastidar and Shanti Mallick, ex-soccer players Alvito D'Cunha, Rahim Nabi, and Dipendu Biswas and several other sports personalities and common people. State minister Arup Biswas and cricketer-turned-minister Manoj Tiwary spearheaded the rally organised by the sports department to show solidarity towards the protesting wrestlers. The wrestlers

Bengal govt introduces 4-year UG honours course from this academic year

The West Bengal government on Wednesday announced introduction of a four- year honours course at the undergraduate level in all government and state-aided higher educational institutions from this academic year. In a statement, the higher education department said the decision has been taken after holding talks with all stakeholders and based on the recommendation of a state-appointed expert panel which had suggested rolling out a four-year UG course from the 2023-24 academic year. "After consulting various stakeholders and keeping the future of students in mind, it has been decided by the competent authority in the State Government that the four-year UG level programme will be introduced in all Government/ Government aided/ Government sponsored Higher Education Institutions from the academic session 2023-2024..... "They shall be awarded degrees in accordance with the UGC national curriculum and credit framework for UG level programmes," the statement said. This will be in place of

Bengal govt to make 125,000 fresh appointments over next few months: Mamata

With panchayat elections due shortly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced that her administration will make 1.25 lakh fresh appointments across various departments over the next few months. Making the announcement at state secretariat Nabanna, she said that 11,000 primary teachers, 14,500 secondary school teachers, 20,000 policemen, 12,000 Group D staffers, and 3,000 Group C staffers will be recruited. Also, 2,000 professors and doctors each, 7,000 nurses and ASHA workers each, 9,493 Anganwadi workers and 13,926 Anganwadi helpers will be appointed. She urged opposition parties not to "indulge in politics" when it comes to recruitment drives. "The least they can do is not create hurdles in their appointment," she added.

Bengal CM Mamata seeks Central permission to visit violence-hit Manipur

Expressing her wish to stand by the people of the violence-hit state of Manipur, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the Centre seeking permission to visit the northeastern state, a senior official said on Tuesday. "The CM has written to the central government seeking permission to visit Manipur. She wants to stand by the victims of violence there," the official told PTI. According to the official, the Trinamool Congress supremo has been closely monitoring the situation in Manipur. Banerjee, last week had accused the BJP of trying to create "Manipur-like conflicts" in West Bengal. Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in strife-torn Manipur on Monday night to try to restore peace by hammering out a solution between the warring communities. Manipur, afflicted by ethnic conflict for nearly a month witnessed a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces on Sunday, after a relative lull for several weeks.

Chidambaram welcomes Mamata's call for reciprocal support to Congress

Former union finance minister P Chidambaram on Monday said TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee should start a dialogue on the basis of her call to back the Congress in states where it is strong provided there is reciprocal support to regional parties for the 2024 general elections. The veteran Congress leader said he welcomed the statement and was confident that an understanding could be arrived at through talks. "I welcome Ms Mamata Banerjee's statement. She must take it forward in talks with the Congress party. I am confident it is possible to reach an understanding," Chidambaram told PTI in a telephonic interview. Banerjee earlier this month said her party will support the Congress where it is strong in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in return for reciprocal support to regional parties. "Wherever the Congress is strong, let them fight. We will give them support, there is nothing wrong (in that). But they have to support other political parties also," Banerjee had said. Chidambaram ...

Mamata Banerjee likely to attend opposition meet in Patna next month

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee is likely to attend an opposition meeting to be held in Bihar next month, party sources said on Monday. The much-awaited meeting of parties opposed to the BJP may be held in Patna on June 12, according to hints that have emanated from a meeting of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD (U). "Mamata Banerjee is likely to attend the meeting of opposition parties next month in Bihar. She will place her ideas of forming an opposition unity and strengthening it in the fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls," a senior TMC leader told PTI on the condition of anonymity. The idea of hosting a meeting of opposition leaders in Patna was floated by Banerjee, who had invoked the memory of Jayaprakash Narayan upon meeting Kumar in Kolkata last month. After the Congress' massive victory in the Karnataka polls earlier this month, Banerjee had said that the TMC would support the grand old party in states, where it is strong, in t

Mamata apologises for blast in illegal firecracker factory at Bengal's Egra

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday apologised to the people of Egra area in Purba Medinipur district of the state for a blast at an illegal firecracker factory here, in which 12 people were killed and many injured. The Trinamool Congress supremo, who reached Khadikul village in this area, 11 days after the blast, also said the incident could have been averted if the state had received proper intelligence inputs. "I will bow my head down to you and apologise for the incident (blast at the illegal fire factory on May 16)... Had intelligence worked properly then this blast could have been averted," Banerjee said after distributing compensation cheques to relatives of those killed and injured in the blast. She also handed over appointment letters for jobs as home guards to one member each from the family of those killed in the May 16 blast. Stating that two members from the family which owned the illegal factory, have been arrested, Banerjee urged the villagers to k

Bengal min's vehicle vandalised as Kurmi protest targets Abhishek's convoy

West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda's vehicle was vandalised in Paschim Medinipur district on Friday as members of the Kurmi community allegedly hurled stones at senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee's convoy, in which she was travelling, officials said. The incident happened in Salboni where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to attend a party programme on Saturday. Abhishek, a Z-plus protectee, led a roadshow in Jhargram's Binpur and Gopiballavpur as part of his Trinamooley Nabojowar (new wave in Trinamool) campaign. Following the rally, he was travelling through Salboni when members of the Kurmi community, who are protesting demanding ST status, gathered on both sides of the road, a party leader said. As his car moved ahead, they allegedly started throwing stones at the convoy. "The vehicle of Hansda, which was in the convoy, was damaged in the attack," the leader said. A huge police contingent was rushed to the spot to control the situation, officials said. It could not