Page 50 - Mamata Banerjee

Delhi excise policy scam case: CBI produces Manish Sisodia before court

The CBI on Saturday produced former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, arrested in a corruption case related to the excise policy, before a court here. There was heavy security presence in and outside the Rouse Avenue Courts premises. The supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party staged a protest outside the premises and raised slogans. The agency produced Sisodia before special judge M K Nagpal on expiry of his five-day CBI custody granted on Monday and is likely to seek his custodial interrogation. The CBI on Sunday evening arrested Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped liquor policy for 2021-22.

Cong wins 3, BJP and ally 2; TMC suffers shock defeat in West Bengal

The assembly by-election results on Thursday brought some solace for the Congress as it wrested one seat each from the BJP and the TMC in Maharashtra and West Bengal respectively and retained a seat in Tamil Nadu with DMK's support, while the BJP and its ally AJSU bagged one seat each in the western state and Jharkhand. The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal suffered a shock defeat in Sagardighi which was won by Congress' Bayron Biswas by 22,986 votes. It is the only seat held by the Congress in the state assembly. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged the Congress and the CPI(M) had entered into an understanding with the BJP to defeat the Trinamool Congress with their "immoral" alliance. Banerjee also said that her party will go it alone in the 2024 elections, "with the support of common people" and the Congress should refrain from calling itself anti-BJP. "For the Sagardighi loss, I do not blame anyone... But, there is an immoral alliance, which we strongly .

Adequate measures being taken for safety: Mamata on adenovirus scare

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday stated that only two adenovirus deaths have been recorded in the state, and assured people that there was nothing to be scared of, as ample measures are being taken by her administration to keep them safe. She also said that infants who died of late were mostly underweight and had several comorbidities. "Of the 12 (recent) cases, two resulted from adenovirus infections. The rest were due to comorbidities. Some had pulmonary hemorrhages, some suffered from weight loss. There is nothing to be afraid of We have readied 5,000 beds and 600 doctors have been tasked with the responsibility of dealing with such cases," Banerjee told reporters. The CM also noted that people are scared, after having endured the impact of COVID-19. "Any child's death is sad. Common cold and flu cases are registered every year during this time of seasonal transition. There is nothing to panic about. Such deaths are happening in every state, not just in ...

Derek O'Brien applauds SC judgement on the appointments of the CEC and ECs

The "Extremely Compromised EC" can now become "Extremely Competent EC", TMC MP Derek O'Brien said on Thursday, reacting to a Supreme Court ruling on the appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners. The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the appointments of the Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners will be done by the President on the advise of a committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India. "HUGE. So Extremely Comprised (EC) can again strive to become Extremely Competent (EC)," O'Brien said in a tweet. A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice KM Joseph, also made an appeal to the Parliament and the Union of India to constitute a separate and independent secretariat for dealing with the expenditure of the Election Commission of India to cut it from any financial obligation to the government.

Trinamool Congress second richest party after BJP, Congress at third: ADR

Trinamool Congress has emerged as the second richest party after BJP in terms of income in financial year 2021-22, as per a report

5 children die of respiratory infection in Kolkata, Mamata chairs meeting

Five children died due to respiratory infection at different hospitals in Kolkata in the last 24 hours, an official said on Tuesday evening. The deaths were reported amid fears of adenovirus infection, but doctors were not sure whether these fatalities could be linked to it. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held an emergency meeting on the evolving situation, following which the government issued a series of directives and announced a 24x7 emergency helpline -- 1800-313444-222. All paediatric acute respiratory infection (ARI) clinics will operate at the medical college and hospitals (MCHs), district hospitals and sub-divisional hospitals, among others, round the clock, the directive said. To curb the problem of patient referrals, it said that "no paediatric ARI cases shall be referred without the knowledge of the concerned MSVP/Superintendent of the hospital". It also directed the hospitals to ready ventilators and other logistics to deal with the situation. ASHA workers and other

Penalty for littering garbage on roads in Kolkata hiked 100 times

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to increase the penalty for littering garbage on the streets of the city by 100 times in the near future

Mamata likely to chair meeting for speedy disposal of public grievances

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to chair a review meeting on Monday for the speedy disposal of public grievances, an official said. Banerjee is likely to meet officials of departments concerned and district magistrates, he said. "The chief minister is likely to direct officials to speed up the administrative works before the panchayat elections. There may be discussions on complaints received through the 'Didir Doot' programme," the official said on Friday.

Mamata can be a game changer in 2024 Lok Sabha elections: Shatrughan Sinha

Amid opposition unity talks to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Bollywood star Shatrughan Sinha said that party chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee can be a game changer

Don't allow people coming from outside to impose CAA, NRC: Mamata Banerjee

In a veiled attack on the BJP at an election rally in Meghalaya, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said her party will not allow people coming from outside to impose CAA and NRC on residents of the northeastern state. She also accused the Conrad Sangma government in the state of not undertaking development work in the state and being involved in the scandal. Don't allow people coming from outside to impose CAA, NRC on you, Banerjee said at the poll rally in Meghalaya. TMC can develop Meghalaya.change this government...nothing is here. Not a medical college, not a good health system for treatment, no development but the scandal is there, she said. Banerjee also appealed to people to vote for her party. Vote for TMC in Meghalaya, we will oust BJP from Delhi: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at a poll rally, she added.

Mamata launches app for non-resident Bengalis to communicate in emergency

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said while emphasising on the use of Bengali language, the state government gives respect and importance to other languages

Commonly used words should enter lexicon for growth of language: Mamata

Emphasising the state's culture of promoting unity amidst diversity, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that for the evolution and growth of a language it is necessary to include words used by the masses to enter its lexicon. Addressing a programme at Deshapriya Park in south Kolkata on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, the chief minister called for opening up rather than slamming the doors for any language to promote its growth. "We cannot keep our minds shut, we have to embrace other words and phrases which are used and understood by many Bengalis. Ma' is a universally understood word, but many people address their mother as Amma'. Those who have migrated from Bangladesh use certain phrases which were not used by people in this state. Language is like a flowing river. It is my humble submission to linguists and experts what is the harm in incorporating words to enrich our lexicon without tinkering with the basic spirit of the language? the

Mamata govt has turned 'Shiksha' into 'Ashiksha': Dharmendra Pradhan

Talking to reporters here in Kolkata, Pradhan said, "In Mamata Banerjee government, 'Shiksha' (education) has been turned into 'Ashiksha' (lack of education)

Mamata questions lack of central team in UP to probe mother-daughter death

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday sought to know why a central team was not sent to probe the death of a mother-daughter duo in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh during an eviction drive. The duo died allegedly due to self-immolation during an anti-encroachment drive in Kanpur's Dehat district on February 13. Banerjee claimed that the drive in UP was being conducted to evict "poor" people. "But no probe is instituted in such cases; why was no central team sent there?" she asked, while speaking at a programme in Bankura. She asserted that her government gives land rights to the poor to ensure their safety. Banerjee and her party TMC have been vocal about central teams being sent to West Bengal on various issues, with the most recent ones being on mid-day meal distribution and MNREGA implementation in the state. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the death of the mother-daughter duo in Kanpur Dehat during an ...

Freebies won't lead to sustainable growth: Top economist on Bengal budget

The West Bengal Budget for 2023-24 was "full of announcements, which can be misleading", said senior BJP leader and noted economist Ashok Lahiri, underscoring that extending freebies will not lead to sustainable growth. The TMC government is known for spending money on 'revdi' politics, handing out freebies which ultimately does not lead to sustained growth, he noted. Infrastructure holds the key in West Bengal, but the roads here are in shambles, he alleged. "The revenue expenditure in the current fiscal was Rs 8,000 crore more than what they had budgeted. Accordingly, the government had to spend much less on capital account. If not much is spent on capital account, how will roads, bridges and ports be built? Lahiri, also a member of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, underlined. "The road infrastructure in West Bengal is in shambles. The NH-34, which connects Kolkata to Siliguri, does not look like a national highway, but resembles the streets of Bow Bazaar at times. Similarly, th

West Bengal Budget: A rural thrust with focus on social schemes

Among the major departments, the allocation for panchayats and rural development is one of the highest at Rs 26,603.51 crore

Former West Bengal DGP Virendra appointed as state information commissioner

Former West Bengal DGP Virendra was on Wednesday appointed as the State Information Commissioner(SIC), state Parliamentary Affairs minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said. The meeting to select the new SIC was held at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's chamber at the state assembly. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP skipped the meeting citing violation of the "advertising guidelines for inviting applications". Banerjee chaired the meeting. "There were 15 applications for the post of which 10 were found valid. The CM proposed Virendra's name and we supported it. Virendra has been appointed as the new state information commissioner," Chattopadhyay said after the meeting. Later speaking to reporters on the appointment of Virendra as the new State Information Commissioner, Adhikari said, "The meeting is illegal, it has met twice before. The Governor did not sign. I hope the Governor will not sign the appointment of Information Commissioner this time as well. All India level

Bantala leather complex will get Rs 10,000 cr additional investment: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the Bantala leather complex in Kolkata will get an additional investment of Rs 10,000 crore. In the last one year, 92 new tanneries have been given land lease for setting up units in the complex, she said. "At Bantala, Rs 30,000 crore have been invested that generated employment for three lakh people. Another Rs 10,000 crore will be invested," Banerjee said at a programme here in Howrah district. There are 50 units at Bantala and 50 more are coming up, the CM said. Banerjee on Thursday also laid the foundation stone of several projects and extended government services to six lakh people in five districts - Howrah, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Nadia. She said the Duare Sarkar' (government at doorstep) scheme will be held every three months. Nine crore applications for the scheme were received by the state government, of which seven crore have been considered, the chief minister said. Efforts are unde

Central dues to Bengal under MGNREGA still at Rs 7,000 crore: Mamata

Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the total central dues to the state government under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) currently stands at Rs 7,000 crore

Rajnath, Yogi to hold rallies, Mamata to join road show in Tripura today

Senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Yogi Adityanath will address two election rallies each in Tripura on Tuesday. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will also hold a road show in the northeastern state where elections to the 60-member assembly will be held on February 16. During the day, Singh, the country's defence minister, will address two rallies of the ruling BJP at Kailashahar in Unakoti district and at Badarghat in West Tripura. Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, will also hold two rallies at Bagabassa in North Tripura district and at Kalyanpur in Khowai. Banerjee's roadshow is scheduled to begin at noon in the state capital Agartala. Security arrangements have been tightened in the northeastern state in view of the scheduled visit of the political leaders. Notably, Union Home Minister and Senior BJP leader Amit Shah had on Monday held two rallies and a road show in the poll-bound Tripura. Shah had alleged that Tipra Motha has a "sec