Page 55 - Mamata Banerjee

Some BJP leaders, not PM, behind misuse of CBI, ED: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday sought to insulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi from allegations of misuse of central agencies by the BJP-led Centre against political rivals by saying she doesn't believe that the PM is behind the alleged excesses of CBI and ED. The chief minister, who has been a voracious critic of the Narendra Modi government since 2014, blamed a section of the BJP leaders for misusing the central agencies to serve their interests. While speaking on a resolution in the Assembly against the "excesses" of the central probe agencies, Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the functioning of the union government and the interests of his party do not get mixed up. The BJP said such a resolution against the CBI and ED is against the rules and regulations of the Assembly. The resolution was passed through division, with 189 voting in favour of it and 69 against it. Central agencies such as CBI and ED a

Centre stalling three new airports in West Bengal, alleges Mamata

She, at the same time, said that she will not wait for the mercy of the Union government any more. "We will complete our pending projects from the development funds allotted to MPs and MLAs," she said

Bengal will be No. 1 in creation of jobs in 4-5 years, says Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that the state will be number one in creation of jobs in the next four to five years which is the aim of the government now. Banerjee, who was speaking at an event in Kharagpur, said that the government's job is to "match make" job seekers and industry with employment generation as its target. "Employment generation is my target at the moment. My aim is to make Bengal number one in job creation in the next four to five years," she said. Distributing certificates and offer letters to those who have successfully completed the 'Utkarsh Bangla' skill development programme, Banerjee said the state has been adjudged number one in skill development. "The number of polytechnics and ITIs have proliferated in Bengal and the government has created a platform for the match making," she said. Banerjee said that while there has been a 45 per cent decrease in employment in the country, the figure for West Bengal has risen by 40 per .

WB CM accuses BJP workers of violence, says not against democratic protests

Banerjee also claimed that BJP had brought workers from other states for the protests. She also defended the police action against the protestors.

BJP's march to Bengal secretariat: Suvendu arrested much ahead of Nabanna

The arm led by Adhikari and the party Lok Sabha member, Locket Chatterjee was stopped by a huge police contingent at the entry point to Vidyasagar Bridge, popularly known as Second Hooghly Bridge

Suvendu Adhikari detained, says 'Mamata turned Bengal into North Korea'

Before the detention, Adhikari said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost the support of people and turned West Bengal into North Korea

Tata Group to invest Rs 600 cr in Bengal's Jalpaiguri: Mamata Banerjee

Till the time this report was filed, there was neither any confirmation nor any denial from the Tata Group on this count

Latest LIVE: Court rules suit by Hindu side in Gyanvapi case maintainable

From coronavirus to Gyanvapi mosque case, catch the latest developments from across the globe here

Some life in Oppn: For first time, Left parties & Mamata on the same stage?

It doesn't bear thinking about. But Nitish Kumar may have managed the impossible feat of bringing the two together

I was not invited properly for Netaji statue unveiling: Mamata Banerjee

Clearing the air as to why she decided to skip the unveiling of Netaji Bose's statue at the Indian Gate canopy in Delhi, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said the invitation sent to her was not proper

Mamata pans Centre for not inviting her to be part of Bangladesh PM's visit

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday slammed the Centre for not inviting her to be a part of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ongoing visit to India. Banerjee also said she was curious over why the BJP-led central government was worried about her meeting Hasina. "I share an excellent relationship with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, but (the Centre) did not invite me to be a part of her visit," she said while addressing a special session of the Trinamool Congress. "I don't want to talk about external affairs or bilateral ties. But, I have noticed that the Centre tries to stop me whenever I am invited to any foreign country. I want to know why is the Union government so worried about me meeting foreign dignitaries," Banerjee said. Hasina arrived in New Delhi on Monday on a four-day tour to expand overall ties between the two countries.

Opposition will unite to oust BJP from power in 2024, says Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she and her counterparts in neighbouring Bihar and Jharkhand will join hands with several other opposition parties to oust the BJP from power in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. While addressing a party programme here, Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, claimed that the BJP would face a rout because of its arrogance and people's anger. I, Nitish Kumar, Hemant Soren and many others will come together in 2024. All opposition parties will join hands to defeat the BJP. All of us will be on one side and the BJP on the other. The BJP's arrogance of 300 seats will be its nemesis. There will be Khela Hobe' in 2024, she said. 'Khela Hobe' (game is on) had been the battle cry of the TMC during the high-octane Assembly polls last year, in which the party defeated the BJP to storm back to power for the third consecutive term. Banerjee claimed that the arrest of Jharkhand MLAs with hordes of cash by Bengal police recently stopped

Following recruitment scams, Mamata orders overhaul of hiring process

The chief minister said that the complaints of administrative lapses reaching her office will have to be resolved within seven days from the day of the receipt of the complaint

Mamata Banerjee rallies to celebrate UNESCO tag for Kolkata's Durga Puja

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday took part in a colourful rally to thank UNESCO for according the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) tag to Durga Puja. Representatives of more than 1,000 Durga Puja committees took part in the rally that began in the Jorasanko area in north Kolkata. The TMC supremo led the rally, and was accompanied by party colleagues Firhad Hakim, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Aroop Biswas and Shashi Panja which will end on Red Road. "I would like to thank UNESCO for according ICH tag to Durga Puja. From today onwards, our festivities have begun one month in advance. I welcome people from all walks of life to participate in the rally, and thank everyone watching this rally from around the world," she said, while inaugurating the rally. Before the rally, Banerjee described Durga Puja as an emotion of the Bengalis that unites people above the "parochial barriers" "Durga Puja is an emotion that rises above parochial barriers and brings us together. It .

Will fight legally if my family gets notice from central agencies: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that if her family members get a notice from any of the central government probe agencies, she would fight them legally though it has become a tough affair these days. Her comment came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a fresh summons to her nephew and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee to appear before its officers on Friday in connection with its ongoing investigation into the coal smuggling scam. "If my family gets notice (from central agencies), I will fight it legally, though it has become tough these days. I have faith in the judiciary," the chief minister told reporters here. She said, "They (BJP) allege that the coal scam proceeds are going to Kalighat, but they don't name anyone. Is the money going to Maa Kali?" Banerjee lives in Kolkata's Kalighat area, famous for its Kali temple. The chief minister said she did not help anyone get properties illegally. "If it is proved that I have encroached

ED summons TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in coal smuggling scam

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday issued a summons to Trinamool Congress' national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee for questioning in connection with its probe into the coal pilferage scam', an official said. The central agency asked Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to appear at its Kolkata office on Friday morning, he said. "We have summoned Abhishek Banerjee to appear before our sleuths here. Our officers from New Delhi will come to interrogate him," the senior ED officer told PTI. While attacking the BJP during a programme, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had on Monday apprehended that the central agencies might send notices to her nephew, considered the second in command in the party, and other senior leaders.

Mamata says ousting BJP from power in 2024 will be her 'last fight'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday asserted that ousting the BJP from power at the Centre in 2024 will be her "last fight". The 67-year-old feisty TMC boss, however, did not clarify her remark. "The BJP has to be defeated in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The fight for Delhi to oust the saffron party from power at the Centre will be my last. I promise to oust the BJP from power," she said while addressing a rally here. Without giving further clarification, she said, "The BJP has to be defeated at any cost." "Saving West Bengal is our first fight. I promise we will remove the BJP from power at the Centre in 2024. If you try to intimidate us, we will respond," Banerjee said. Banerjee, while referring to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi losing elections in 1989 despite winning more than 400 seats in 1984, said, "Everybody has to taste defeat." "Indira Gandhi was a strong political leader, but she had also tasted defeat. The BJP has around 300 MPs, but Bihar is gone, a

'I dare BJP to arrest me; allegations of rise in assets baseless': Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday dared the BJP to have her arrested, even as she dubbed the allegations of a rise in assets of her and her relatives exponentially in the last few years as "baseless". Claiming that central agencies and "ill-gotten money of the BJP" are being used to dislodge elected state governments run by parties opposed to the saffron camp, the Trinamool Congress supremo vowed to defeat the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls. She slammed the opposition for allegedly unleashing a malicious campaign against her and her party leaders following the arrest of two senior leaders by the ED and CBI in different cases, Banerjee said had she not been in politics, she would have asked her people to tear off the tongues of those liars. Addressing a rally of her party's student wing, Banerjee said a malicious campaign has been unleashed against senior TMC leaders such as Abhishek Banerjee, Firhad Hakim and herself. "Someone told me they have filed a case ...

Oppn parties up the ante as TMC warns leaders against aggressive remarks

As the CBI and ED stretch their nets to haul in people involved in the school teacher appointment scam and cattle-smuggling racket, the ruling Trinamool Congress is attempting to play it safe

West Bengal: Mamata hikes donation for Durga puja clubs by Rs 10k to Rs 60k

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hiked the donation amount for each club organising Durga Puja to Rs 60,000 from last year's Rs 50,000, besides announcing a 60 per cent rebate on electricity bills. She also said that state government employees would be entitled to a 11-day leave on the occasion of Durga pujathe biggest festival in Bengal from September 30. Banerjee said her government would take out a rally on September 1 to thank UNESCO for according the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) tag to the festival. "The Centre is not releasing funds for the state. Despite that, we will increase donations for the clubs from last year's Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000. We will also provide them a rebate of 60 per cent on the electricity bill," Banerjee said. She stressed that the September 1 rally would have no political agenda, and anybody and everybody was free to join it. "I will invite 10,000 students from senior schools to be part of this rally," she said at an ...