Page 45 - Mamata Banerjee

Suvendu writes to Ashwini Vaishnaw accusing Mamata of misusing railways

Adhikari has alleged that the Chief Minister, while travelling on May 3 in Saraighat Express from Howrah, forced extended stoppages of the train at three stations to serve her own political agenda

ED, CBI won't help BJP get votes in 2024 Lok Sabha elections: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday took potshots at the BJP, saying that central agencies such as CBI and ED will not help the saffron party get votes in next year's general elections. The Trinamool Congress supremo called upon all opposition parties in the country to unite and fight the BJP together in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "I urge all opposition parties to unitedly fight the BJP in the 2024 elections. The BJP is using the ED and the CBI to harass opposition leaders, but agencies will not help it get votes," Banerjee said while speaking at a government programme where she handed over land deeds to those who have lost their lands to river erosion at Samsherganj in Murshidabad district. She alleged that despite several requests to the BJP-led Union government, the state administration has not received any help in arresting Ganga erosion, which is a major issue in Murshidabad and Malda districts. Banerjee claimed that the state did not get its share of Rs 70

Urge PM Modi and Amit Shah to restore peace in Manipur: Bengal CM Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed concern over the situation in violence-torn Manipur, and urged the prime minister and home minister to take steps to restore peace in the northeastern state. The Trinamool Congress supremo also urged the people of Manipur to stay calm and uphold peace. "I am deeply concerned about the situation in Manipur. Politics and elections can wait but our beautiful state of Manipur has to be protected first. I urge PM (Narendra) Modi and Amit Shah (home minister) to take steps to restore peace there. If we burn humanity today, we will cease to be a human tomorrow," Banerjee tweeted. The Manipur government on Thursday issued 'shoot at sight' orders in "extreme cases" to contain spiralling violence between tribals and the majority Meitei community, which has displaced over 9,000 people from their villages. Fifty-five columns of the Army and Assam Rifles had to be deployed to contain the widespread rioting that broke out across ..

Would be happy if BJP's downfall starts with Karnataka polls: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she would be happy if BJP's downfall starts with the Karnataka Assembly polls, which is scheduled to be held on May 10. Banerjee, during an address at TMC's mass outreach campaign, also accused the saffron party of maligning the Hindu religion for its own interests. "The earlier BJP is voted out of power, the better it is for the nation... Don't vote for BJP in the Karnataka Assembly polls; vote for any other party you like. I would be happy if BJP's downfall starts with Karnataka," she said. "The BJP has destroyed the spirituality in Hinduism," the chief minister added. Hitting out at the Centre over the scuffle between Delhi Police and protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar, Banerjee wondered how many central teams were sent there. "The agitating wrestlers were assaulted by police in New Delhi last night. How many central teams were sent there? The BJP should clarify its stand," she said.

Bengal CM Mamata likely to address TMC mass outreach programme tomorrow

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is likely to join party leader Abhishek Banerjee at the TMC's ongoing mass outreach programme in Malda district on Thursday, a senior leader said. Banerjee may leave for Malda later on Wednesday. "The chief minister is likely to join the party's general secretary Abhishek Banerjee at the Trinamool-ey Nabajowar (new wave in Trinamool) programme at Malda's Englishbazar tomorrow. She may also address party leaders there," the leader told PTI. Abhishek Banerjee on April 25 commenced the party's two-month-long outreach programme ahead of the panchayat polls.

Mamata asks ministers to sit-in outside Sen's house over eviction notice

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked state ministers to begin a sit-in outside Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's residence in Santiniketan in Birbhum district to protest against the Visva-Bharati's eviction notice, an official said. During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Banerjee asked MSME Minister Chandranath Sinha, the local MLA, to lead the protest, which will be joined by Education Minister Bratya Basu and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim. She asked them not to move from the spot even if the central university authorities send bulldozers to take possession of the land. Bauls and other folk artistes from the district must be involved in the demonstration, and various cultural programmes should be organised there, she told the ministers, according to the official. Singer Kabir Suman and painter Subhaprasanna will also join the programme on May 6 and 7, the official said, quoting her. "The CM advised them not to move an inch even if Visva-Bharati sends bulldozers

BJP questions use of public funds to deploy forces at TMC outreach campaign

The BJP on Monday questioned whether the Trinamool Congress had deposited the requisite amount of money in the state coffers to avail police forces deployed at its ongoing mass outreach campaign. The saffron camp also accused the state's ruling party of misusing state apparatus for its political programme. The allegation drew sharp reactions from the TMC, which dubbed it baseless and wondered who bears the cost of the service of central forces availed by the BJP leaders in the state. The TMC last week started its much-touted mass outreach campaign 'Trinamool ey Nabajowar' (new wave in Trinamool) from Cooch Behar district ahead of the panchayat polls in the state, with party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee leading it from the front. Banerjee had said he will be travelling more than 3500 km across the state from the Cooch Behar district in the northern part of the state to Kakdwip in the south. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said the police personnel are being ...

Noted historian Ranajit Guha dies at 100 due to old age-related ailments

Noted historian Ranajit Guha has died due to old age-related ailments, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday. Guha, who was 100 years old, died at his residence in Austria on Friday. He left behind his wife Mechthild. Condoling his demise, Banerjee said Guha was instrumental in motivating young historians in pursuing studies on the subaltern society. The CM said Guha had taught in many places across the world and has many disciples and admirers. She offered her deepest condolences to his near and dear ones. Born on May 23, 1923 at Barisal in present-day Bangladesh, Guha's family later shifted to Kolkata. He had studied in a school in the city and completed his post-graduation in History from Calcutta University. Guha retired from the Australian National University in 1988 after being previously associated with other renowned institutions. One of his well-known books is 'Elementary Aspects of Peasant Insurgency in Colonial India'. "The world of knowledge su

Nitish-Mamata meeting: 'Opposition parties need to strategise together'

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Monday as they sought to cobble up a coalition of opposition parties, with the two regional satraps stressing on the need to "prepare together" for the next Lok Sabha polls in 2024. The meeting between the two leaders, which was also attended by Bihar's deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, was described as "positive". "It was a very positive discussion... Opposition parties need to sit together and strategise," said Kumar after the meeting in state secretariat Nabanna. Banerjee came out of the meeting, stating, "We have to give the message that we are all together." While details of the discussion were scanty with the leaders preferring to speak on the broader consensus, sources said the two sides used the meeting to figure out how they would proceed in sewing together a coalition that would be workable ahead of the elections. "Nothing is being done for India's development, those ruling are only ..

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Am victim of 'conspiracy' hatched by my own party: TMC MLA on CBI raid

"I am a victim of conspiracy hatched by my own party leader from the district Tina Bhowmik Saha and her associates. They have joined hands with BJP in conspiring against me." Saha said

Some are pursuing politics of hate to try divide the country : Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed some people are trying to divide the nation by pursuing politics of hate and said that she is ready to give her life but "will not allow a division of the country". Banerjee, speaking at a congregation for Eid namaz at the city's Red Road, also urged people to unite and ensure that the right-wing BJP party is defeated in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "Some people are trying to divide the country and practise politics of hate ... I am ready to give my life but will not allow any division of the country," she said. Accusing the saffron camp of trying to change the constitution of the country, Banerjee said "she will not allow implementation of NRC in West Bengal." It has been the TMC's stand tht the National Register of Citizens and the citizen's amendment act which confers citizenship rights on minorities from neighbouring countries was needed and existing citixenship records and acts were sufficient. "I am ready to fight

Suvendu dares Bengal CM to sue him over claims of her seeking Shah's help

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari dared Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to file a legal suit against him for claiming that she had sought Union Home Minister Amit Shah's intervention

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari hits out at TMC, demands probe against Mamata

West Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government and demanded that the central agencies probe the Chief Minister

Mamata demands SC-monitored probe into Malik's comments on Pulwama attack

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik's statement regarding the 2019 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. Speaking to reporters at the state secretariat, Banerjee alleged that it was the Centre's fault that India lost so many jawans. "What Satyapal Malik-ji said is scary. He claimed that the central government, for mere polarisation of voters and to create a sense of fake nationalism, ignored the security of CRPF jawans. According to him, the Pulwama attack was an intelligence failure," she said. "We had raised this issue back in 2019 too, but since at that time, it was a matter of nation first, we didn't want to say anything against the government. However, the truth has come out today. The BJP government was in power in 2019, and it was the Centre's fault that we have lost the lives of our jawans," she added. Banerjee demanded a Supreme Court-monito

Amit Shah has no right to say TMC govt won't survive beyond 2025: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed Home Minister Amit Shah for his "undemocratic" and "unconstitutional" remarks that the TMC government won't survive beyond 2025 if the BJP wins 35 seats in the next year's Lok Sabha polls. She also called for his resignation over the comments he had made during a rally on April 14. "On Friday, Amit Shah addressed a rally. That is fine. But how can the Union home minister of the country talk about toppling a democratically elected government of a state? Is the constitution of the country being changed? "He can never make such a comment that if BJP wins 35 Lok Sabha seats, the state government won't complete the full term," Banerjee told reporters here. The Mamata Banerjee government is scheduled to complete its third term in 2026. While addressing a public rally at Suri in Birbhum district, Shah set a target for the BJP to win 35 Lok Sabha seats from West Bengal and said the incumbent Mamata Banerjee government in the sta

Mamata demands Shah's resignation over comments in Birbhum rally last week

Last week, at a rally, Shah had said that if BJP wins in 35 out of 42 seats in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, then the Trinamool Congress government will collapse even before 2025

All educational institutions in Bengal to remain closed next week: CM

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said all educational institutions in the state will remain closed next week in view of the severe heatwave conditions. Banerjee said children have been complaining of headaches and other health issues after coming back from school in the last few days. "All educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities will remain closed from Monday till Saturday next week, keeping in mind the severe heatwave conditions. I urge the private educational institutions to do the same during this period, Banerjee told a Bengali news channel. The CM said an official notification in this regard will be issued soon. "I will also request people to avoid coming out in the sun from 12 pm to 4 pm," she said. The West Bengal government had earlier announced preponing the summer vacation in state-run and aided schools by three weeks to May 2, except in the hill areas, due to the sweltering heat. Most places in the state have been record

Shah targets winning 35 seats in Bengal, says TMC won't survive beyond 2025

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday set a target for the BJP to win 35 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in next year's election and claimed that the Mamata Banerjee government in the state won't survive beyond 2025 if the goal is achieved. Asserting that Narendra Modi would again be the country's prime minister in 2024, Shah said that leaders like Mamata Banerjee can never give a befitting reply to Pakistan or fight militancy in Kashmir. Shah's comments drew sharp reactions from the TMC, which asked how a union minister could "openly threaten to topple an elected government". While the party's virtual number two Abhishek Banerjee, whom Shah had targeted in his speech, chipped in to say in a tweet that he would quit politics if the home minister released the Rs 1.15 lakh crore rightfully due to my state. "Let me make it very clear that in 2024, Narendra Modi will again be the country's Prime Minister. The people of Bengal have given us great responsibility by giving us

Will not beg in front of Centre for clearance of Bengal's dues: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that the Centre's huge dues to the state will not be released till 2024, but asserted she would not beg in front of the Union government for clearance of the amount. "We have a lot of dues, which are yet to be released by Delhi. I have heard that funds will not be released till 2024. But, despite that I will not beg in front of them. I will try to move forward with the blessings of people," she said. The CM was speaking at the inauguration of the Dhanadhanyo' auditorium, a modern Rs 440-crore indoor facility in the southern part of the city's Alipore area. Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress have been pressing for the immediate release of dues to the state under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and other centrally sponsored projects. She had recently taken part in a two-day demonstration here, demanding the central government release the dues. TMC national general secretary Abhishek