Tag: mamata banerjee

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Mamata slams Centre for targeting Muslims with Waqf Bill   

Banerjee alleged that the Centre had “bypassed” state governments over the matter and criticised the “lack of dialogue” on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024….reports Asian Lite News

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the BJP-led central government over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, accusing it of targeting Muslims and expressing doubts on its passage in Parliament. 

Touching upon the reduction of the minority Hindu population in Bangladesh and the ongoing unrest in the neighbouring country, she questioned the Centre’s alleged inaction in the matter. 

The chief minister, during a debate in the West Bengal assembly on a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government, accusing it of “fostering divisiveness, neglecting Constitutional norms, and mishandling issues like Bangladesh’s minorities, the NRC, UCC, and CAA”. 

Banerjee alleged that the Centre had “bypassed” state governments over the matter and criticised the “lack of dialogue” on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. The Centre did not consult us on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, she claimed. 

Banerjee also questioned the timing and process of the proposed legislation, stating, “The budget session is in February. Will you not discuss this Bill with the state before that? Is there no time for it? Will you not consult the state? We raised objections after noticing an advertisement.” 

Apparently referring to her letter to the Centre on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, she said, “I don’t know if they even acknowledged it.” She accused the Centre of pushing a “divisive agenda” by singling out Muslims. 

“Why is a single religion being targeted in the name of this Waqf (Amendment) Bill? Why are Muslims being targeted? Would you dare to do the same with the properties of various Hindu temple trusts or churches? The answer is no. But, targeting a specific community suits your divisive agenda, Banerjee claimed. 

Banerjee made the remarks during the first day of a two-day discussion on a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, moved under Rule 169 by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay. Banerjee criticised what she termed “misleading narratives around Waqf properties”, calling these baseless allegations. 

“Religion is personal, but festivals are for everyone. Those who are suddenly changing their stance now used to say one thing yesterday, and today they say something completely different. It’s all misleading and distorting. They’re saying that wherever you touch, it becomes Waqf. They claimed that even our MPs have said this. Such are baseless remarks, she claimed. 

The Trinamool Congress chief criticised the BJP for “making opposition members silent” during the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) deliberations on the Bill. In the JPC, opposition members are not allowed to speak. That is why they have boycotted it, Banerjee claimed. 

She claimed that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was formed because of public pressure and alleged that her party’s MPs were excluded from discussions. “Their visits were cancelled. They were supposed to come to Kolkata. Why are they afraid of Kolkata? Surely, there’s something fishy about this,” she claimed. 

Banerjee emphasised that constitutional norms must be respected. “We cannot interfere with others’ independence. The Constitution does not give us that right. Do you (BJP) have a majority? First, it has to be passed in Lok Sabha, then Rajya Sabha. You will need a two-thirds majority to pass this,” she remarked. 

On the situation in Bangladesh, the CM said the Union government should take steps to protect Hindus in the neighbouring country. “If the minority population in Bangladesh has decreased, is that our fault? Why didn’t the central government address this issue? Were they sitting idle? We tried to bring many from there but couldn’t. Many Hindus wanted to come here. We provided food for them, but you don’t know that. Many Muslims also came here,” she claimed. 

Banerjee pointed out the alleged communal undertones in political rhetoric by the BJP leaders, saying, “Are Muslims living only in this country? Don’t they live in other countries? Then why do you target Bengal? Whether fortunate or unfortunate, this country got divided into three parts.” 

She recounted the Beldanga incident, where communal tensions flared a few weeks back. “During the Kartik Puja, abusive remarks were made against me in lighting displays. In another place, there were abusive remarks about a specific community in the lighting. Despite multiple warnings, they didn’t listen, leading to clashes. I stayed awake the entire night, along with the DGP and the chief secretary.” 

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Mamata announces Rs 2,900 cr aid for farmers

Chief Minister announced that West Bengal is releasing ₹293 crore to aid 2.10 lakh farmers impacted by adverse Rabi weather…reports Asian Lite News

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced the release of Rs 2900 crore in financial assistance to 1.05 crore farmers of the state.

She added that the West Bengal government is also releasing Rs 293 crore for 2.10 lakh farmers who suffered crop losses due to adverse weather conditions during the current Rabi season.

“I am happy to announce that (apart from providing Rs. 2,900 cr. assistance to 1 crore 5 lakh farmers and bargadars across the state under the Krishak Bandhu Natun Scheme), we are also releasing today onwards a sum of Rs 293 crore directly to the bank accounts of our 2.10 lakh farmers who suffered crop losses due to adverse weather conditions during current Rabi season. This is done under our unique Bangla Shasya Bima (BSB) which is our unique crop insurance scheme where the State Government pays the entire premium for all crops,” she said in a post on X.

“Since inception in 2019, 3133 crore have reached the bank accounts of the affected one crore farmers! Jai Bangla!,” she said in the post.

“For cultivable land of one acre onwards, a farmer gets Rs 10000, and for lesser quantum of land, proportionate amount with minimum being Rs 4000 per year. Since inception in 2019, a sum of Rs 18,234 crore has thus reached the farmers’ accounts,” she said in another post.

“In addition, for a farmer dying between 18 and 60, his family gets death compensation of Rs 2 lakh. Total 1,12,000 bereaved families in West Bengal have received total Rs 2240 crore in last few years on this account. We are committed to our farmers’ economic betterment and social security,” she added in the post.

Yogyashree scheme

CM Banerjee asserted that the “Yogyashree” scheme, designed to offer free-of-cost training to SC/ST students of the state for admission in engineering and medical courses would now be extended to boys and girls of Minority, OBC and General categories also.

Taking to X, CM Mamata Banerjee shared, “We are proud that our “Yogyashree” scheme, which we started to provide completely free-of-cost training to SC/ST students of the state for admission in engineering and medical courses, has been yielding increasingly greater and greater benefits for our SC/ST boys & girls. Now we shall also include the boys and girls of Minority, OBC and General categories in this scheme.”

She further said that training would be provided from Class onwards for better preparation.

She further shared, “In 2024 alone these “Yogyashree” trainees got 23 ranks (including 13 IIT seats) in JEE (Advanced), 75 ranks in JEE (Main), 432 ranks in WBJEE, and 110 ranks in NEET. These achievements in these tough competitive examinations are better than even the earlier years’ results. In consideration of the value of this critical training support to our disadvantaged boys and girls, we have increased the number of centres in the State now to 50 and number of our supported trainees to 2000 and the training will be given from Class XI onwards for better preparation.”

She emphasised this scheme would bring out engineers and doctors in large numbers from the weaker section of the society.

“Let our boys and girls from the weaker sections be engineers and doctors in larger numbers. We shall now include students of Minority, OBC, and General categories in this scheme. Kudos to them!,” she further posted. (ANI)

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Mamata seeks Modi’s resignation

According to Mamata Banerjee had the BJP got majority without the help of its allies, the country would have ceased to exist…r.eports Asian Lite News

The people of India, especially those in West Bengal, have broken the backbone of the BJP, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed on Tuesday after the trends coming out of the Election Commission data showed that the Trinamool Congress is heading for victory in 29 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Overall, the INDIA bloc sprung a surprise even for the pollsters, as most of them predicted a one-sided outcome in favour of the BJP-led NDA. Till the last reports came, the INDIA bloc was leading on 234 seats, while the NDA was ahead of the majority mark with leads on 292 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha.

According to the Chief Minister, had the BJP got majority without the help of its allies, the country would have ceased to exist.

“The NDA is a lost case now. Some other parties might still be considering supporting the BJP, but I will request them not to do so. I think the Modi magic is finished, and he should resign,” the Chief Minister said.

Speaking to mediapersons here, the Chief Minister said that since the BJP has not secured an absolute majority on its own, the coming days will be tough for the party.

“The Prime Minister has lost credibility, he should resign immediately because he had said that this time they would cross 400 seats. I had said that there is a doubt that the BJP would cross even 200 seats. Now they have to hold the feet of Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP.”

“They have already committed enough excesses on us for which we will never forgive them. I think the other allies of the INDIA bloc will also not forgive them” CM Banerjee said.

Referring to the defeat of state Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Baharampur, the Chief Minister said that under the camouflage of Congress, he was actually operating on behalf of the BJP.

“The people of Baharampur have rejected him, just as the people of the state have rejected the BJP,” she said.

The Chief Minister also ridiculed the Exit Poll projections that forecast a landslide victory for the BJP.

“Those who made such projections intended to break the morale of the countrymen. I know the sources of these Exit Polls, they were all drafted at the BJP office,” the Chief Minister claimed.

She also launched a scathing attack against the Election Commission of India, saying, “They did everything to break the morale of the opposition leaders. Many legislators were offered money, while many others were threatened.”

Factors that led to TMC’s victory

Several factors played a key role in the Trinamool Congress’ victory in West Bengal, that proved all Exit Poll projections wrong.

Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee’s party bagged 29 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats, hence proving all Exit Poll projections of the BJP’s best-ever performance in the state wrong.

The Muslim voters in the state voted en-mass in favour of Trinamool Congress candidates in all those constituencies in the state where the people from the community constitute a substantial chunk of voters.

At the same time from the results it is evident that the Congress-Left Front alliance could not project itself as a viable alternative and make a significant dent in the dedicated minority vote bank of the Trinamool Congress.

The fact that the Muslim community voted en-mass in favour of the Trinamool Congress is amply evident in Muslim-dominated Murshidabad District, where Trinamool Congress candidates got elected from all the three constituencies.

Even five-time Lok Sabha member and state Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was defeated in the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency by Trinamool Congress candidate and former Indian cricket team player Yusuf Pathan.

Plus, the BJP’s expectation of consolidation of Hindu votes in its support also fell flat. The party was unable to retain those Hindu-dominated constituencies especially in South Bengal which they won in 2019.

According to political observers, the constant harping by Opposition parties on corruption and turmoil at Sandeshkhali did not impact majority of the voters.

Rather, feel observers, the Trinamool Congress’ campaign accusing the BJP and the Union government of depriving the state government of its legitimate dues under centrally-sponsored schemes had been taken seriously by the voters.

The fourth factor is that the Direct Transfer of Benefits under different social welfare schemes of the state government has helped Trinamool Congress reap the benefits throughout the state.

Observers feel that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s decision to increase the payment under Lakshmir Bhandar, the monthly dole scheme for women in the state, has encouraged women voters to increasingly vote for her party.

ALSO READ: World media covers India’s election results

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Lengthy poll schedule to serve PM’s self-propaganda: Mamata

Banerjee accused the CPI-M of helping the BJP spread its base in West Bengal….reports Asian Lite News

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of deliberately preparing such a long schedule for the Lok Sabha elections to facilitate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s self-propaganda.

“The current caretaker Prime Minister will become the former prime Prime Minister after the polls. But I am sorry to say, such a long election schedule was prepared to facilitate PM Modi’s self-propaganda over this extended period of time,” the Chief Minister said while addressing an election meeting in the North Kolkata Lok Sabha constituency in support of Trinamool Congress candidate and sitting MP, Sudip Bandopadhyay.

Banerjee also accused the CPI-M of helping the BJP spread its base in West Bengal.

“The CPI-M is helping the BJP to gain strength in West Bengal. This is the only reason why the CPI-M should not be shown any mercy. They are responsible for destroying the state,” the Chief Minister said.

Banerjee also said that although she is not afraid of the ‘slanderous’ campaigns launched against her by the opposition, she is worried about being misunderstood by the people.

“Throughout my life, I have faced abuse. But I am not bothered about those abuses anymore. I will be sad if I am misunderstood by the people. If such a day comes and the people ask me to leave, I will humbly obey and quit silently,” the Chief Minister said.

Campaigning ends

Campaigning for the eight Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal that will go to the polls in the sixth phase on May 25 concluded on Thursday amid reports of pre-poll violence in Nandigram under the Tamluk parliamentary constituency.

The violence erupted there after a woman BJP worker, Rotibala Ari, was killed and seven other party workers were injured following an attack by unknown assailants allegedly having links with the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The incident triggered widespread protests in Nandigram by the local people, who blocked roads and burnt tyres. Several shops were also set on fire in the area, prompting the police to resort to lathi charge to bring the situation under control.

The eight Lok Sabha seats where polling will be held on Saturday include Bankura, Bishnipur, Purulia, Kanti, Tamluk, Medinipur, Ghatal, and Jhargram.

On the last day of campaigning on Thursday, the leader of opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, called Trinamool’s sitting MP who has been renominated from Ghatal, actor-politician Deepak Adhikari a.k.a. Dev, a beneficiary of the alleged cattle smuggling scam in the state.

Dev later countered the charge and warned Adhikari not to take his courtesy towards the opposition as his weakness.

Barring a roadshow and an election meeting by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, there were no high-profile campaign events scheduled in Bengal on Thursday.

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India News Politics West Bengal

Mamata Suffers Injury After Fall

Mamata Banerjee was hospitalised on Thursday evening after she reportedly slipped at her home in South Kolkata and injured her forehead….reports Asian Lite News

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was admitted to a hospital in Kolkatta on Thursday evening after she reportedly slipped at her home in South Kolkata and injured her forehead, has been released from the hospital after her condition turned stable.

The Chief Minister was taken back to her home in Kalighat by her nephew and Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee from the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College & Hospital on Sunday night.

Before leaving the hospital, Abhishek Banerjee told mediapersons that the condition of the Chief Minister is stable now, adding that the doctors put four stitches on her forehead.

Party insiders claimed that despite her condition being stable, the doctors had advised her to stay at the hospital for the night. However, the Chief Minister was keen to get discharged and return to her home, the sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, issued a message on X wishing the Chief Minister a speedy recovery.

“I pray for a quick recovery and the best health for Mamata Didi,” the message read.

As per the information shared by the Trinamool, the Chief Minister had tripped while taking a walk at her residence on Thursday evening. The social media cell of the Trinamool had also released a photograph in which the Chief Minister could be seen bleeding from her forehead.

‘Push’ from behind?

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee might have been pushed from behind at her residence on Thursday evening, following which she fell and sustained injuries on her forehead, the Director of S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital, Manimoy Bandopadhyay, said on Thursday night.

Almost an hour after the Chief Minister was released from the hospital and taken back to her residence in Kalighat, Manimoy Bandopadhyay made this explosive statement while speaking to mediapersons.

“The Chief Minister was brought to the hospital at around 7.30 p.m. She fell down probably because of a push from behind. She received a deep injury on her forehead. There was profuse bleeding from that wound,” the S.S.K.M. Director said.

He also said that the Chief Minister was treated by specialists from the neurosurgery, general medicine, and cardiology departments.

“A number of medical examinations like electrocardiogram and CT scan were conducted. The hospital authorities advised her to stay back. But she insisted on returning home,” Manimoy Bandopadhyay said

The Chief Minister will be brought to the hospital again on Friday for further medical checkup. She has been kept under medical observation at her residence.

Rahul, Kharge Wish Speedy Recovery

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday wished a speedy recovery to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who sustained a ‘major injury’ after a fall at her residence in Kolkata’s Kalighat on Thursday.

Taking to his official X handle, Rahul Gandhi posted, “Wishing Mamata-ji strength and a very swift recovery.”

Kharge, too, posted from his X handle, “I wish the best of health and complete recovery to West Bengal Chief Minister and Founder Chairperson, AITMC, Mamata Banerjee.”

Another PMC MP Turns Rebel After Denied Ticket

After Arjun Singh, another sitting Trinamool Congress MP has turned rebel after being denied a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections by the party leadership.

Sunil Kumar Mondal, the sitting Trinamool MP from the Bardhaman-East constituency, on Thursday expressed his displeasure over the party not renominating him for the Lok Sabha polls.

Instead, the Trinamool has fielded Sharmila Sarkar, a practising doctor and a fresher in politics, as the party nominee from Bardhaman-East this time.

Mondal claimed that a section of the district leadership of the party misled the top Trinamool leadership against him, which cost him a chance to get renominated.

“The district president, and an influential member of the state Cabinet from the district wanted me to blindly follow their orders, which was not possible for me,” he said.

He also claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee often praises leaders who mislead and at times even backstab her.

On Sharmila Sarka, Mondal said that he is not aware of what kind of experience she has in public service.

“She is a fresher (in politics). I don’t know how she will strike a chord with the district leadership of the party,” Mondal said.

Since the Trinamool announced its candidates for the Lok Sabha elections on Sunday, there has been a wave of infighting in the party.

First, Trinamool state General Secretary and actress-turned-politician Sayantika Banerjee resigned from her party post. After that, the sitting Lok Sabha member from Barrackpore, Arjun Singh, turned rebel after being denied renomination, stating that he would join the BJP in Delhi on Friday.

There are also talks that the sitting MP from Tamluk, Dibyendu Adhikari, might join the BJP on Friday. Adhikari, the younger brother of Suvendu Adhikari, BJP’s leader of opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, was denied a ticket by the Trinamool.

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Mamata and Kejriwal Propose Kharge as PM Face

Mamata Banerjee’s proposal for the bloc’s prime ministerial candidate was also endorsed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal….reports Asian Lite News

Even as the leaders of 28 Opposition parties came together on Tuesday for the fourth meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee proposed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s name for the prime ministerial candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

According to sources, Mamata Banerjee’s proposal for the bloc’s prime ministerial candidate was also endorsed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

However, sources said that Kharge asked the leaders to first focus on winning more seats in the 2024 General Elections and bringing the INDIA bloc to power. He also added that he had already got many posts during his lifetime and everyone should first focus on winning. Everyone agreed to his demands.

The source also said that the seat sharing discussions will begin from Wednesday onwards and are likely to be completed by the end of December.

Even during a press conference that was held after the meeting, Kharge, when asked if his name was proposed for the prime ministerial candidate of the Opposition bloc, said, “Our first priority is to win more seats and bring the alliance into power. Then the talks on the prime ministerial candidate will be discussed.”

This was the fourth meeting of the INDIA bloc, which was attended by Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Farooq Abdullah, Nitish Kumar, Rajiv Ranjan, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, MK Stalin, Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav.

The source also said that eight to ten joint public meetings will be planned from January onwards. During the meeting, every leader got the opportunity to share their views and suggestions.

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West Bengal Governor prorogues State Assembly

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankha

The state government will have to take permission from the governor for the next session and it should begin with his speech, reports Asian Lite News

In an unprecedented move, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar prorogued the state Legislative Assembly from February 12, implying that the state government will have to take permission from the governor for the next session and it should begin with his speech.

“In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by sub-clause (a) of clause (2) of article 174 of the Constitution, I, Jagdeep Dhankhar, Governor of the State of West Bengal, hereby prorogue the West Bengal Legislative Assembly with effect from 12 February, 2022, the Governor in his order wrote.

Prorogation is discontinuing a session of Parliament or a legislative Assembly without dissolving it.

The prorogation order before the important budget session which is likely to commence from the end of February or early March is significant because the ruling party was mulling to bring motion against Governor Dhankhar during the upcoming session, accusing him of interfering in the day-to-today activities of the state government.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

According to constitutional experts, there is no instance in recent history that a Governor proroguing a session of the Assembly without the consent of the Speaker of Assembly or the Chief Minister of the state.

The move came after on Friday, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray had submitted a Substantive Motion under Rule 170 in the Rajya Sabha, urging President Ram Nath Kovind to remove Jagdeep Dhankhar as West Bengal Governor.

“This is an unprecedented move. The Governor has overstepped his constitutional duties because there should be a gap of six months between two sessions of the state Assembly. No Governor of the country has ever done this before. Earlier, he was not giving his consent to several bills and now, he has prorogued the Assembly. This is completely unjust. The state government should move the court against this,” Trinamool Congress MP said.

According to political experts, the order of prorogation is a result of the prolonged conflict between Dhankhar and the state government where the governor has repeatedly alleged that his letters are not replied, his queries are not answered and his constitutional authority is continuously undermined by the Speaker and the state government.

West Bengal Assembly (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/ IANS)

The governor had also alleged that the bureaucracy, including the chief secretary and the DGP, had failed to present themselves despite several reminders.

The rift between the governor and the chief minister reached a flashpoint after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently blocked the Governor on Twitter for purportedly tagging her in all of his posts, criticising her administration. The Governor has been targeting the state government over a host of issues and seeking information and reports regarding appointments to various posts.

Defending the decision, Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said: “He has the power to do this and he has exercised his power. This has been done because of the misrule of the state government and the continuous defiant stance taken by the administration.”

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Rajnath writes to Mamata, Stalin over tableau controversy

Rajnath Singh. (File Photo: IANS)

In his letter to both the leaders, Rajnath Singh stated that of the 29 proposals from states and union territories, 12 were accepted, reports Asian Lite News

Putting an end to politics of tableau ahead of the Republic day parade, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Tamil Nadu counterpart M.K. Stalin explaining the reasons for rejection of their states’ tableaux.

Politics of tableau heated up after the Centre rejected the proposals of Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu tableaux in the Republic Day parade. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Sunday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention after the Centre rejected her state’s Republic Day tableaux on Subhas Chandra Bose.

In his letter to both the leaders, Rajnath Singh stated that of the 29 proposals from states and union territories, 12 were accepted.

Tableaux Delhi state and others State take part in Republic Day full dress parade rehearsal, at Rajpath in New Delhi, India on Saturday, January 23, 2021. (Source: IANS)

Singh said: “I would like to bring to your kind attention that there exists a well established system for selection of tableaux for participation in the Republic Day Parade, as per which Ministry of Defence invites proposals for tableaux from all States/UTs and Central Ministries/Departments.”

The minister said that tableaux proposals received from various States/UTs and Central Ministries/Departments are evaluated in a series of meetings of the Expert Committee comprising eminent persons in the field of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography etc.

“The Expert Committee examines the proposals on the basis of theme, concept, design and its visual impact before making its recommendations. As per the time slot allotted for tableaux in overall duration of the parade, short listing of tableaux is done by the Expert Committee.”

He told Banerjee that West Bengal tableaux were part of 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021 parades.

Nandi, Naga, Ganesha, Lepakshi to feature in AP’s tableaux (Source: IANS)

He also said that the government has celebrated 2018 Republic Day in honour of Subhas Chandra Bose and this year also the Republic Day celebrations will begin from January 23 marking his 125th birth anniversary.

To Stalin, Singh explained, “The tableaux from the State Government of Tamil Nadu was considered in the first three rounds of meetings. After the third round of meeting, the tableaux could not make it to the final list of 12 selected for participation in the RDP-2022.”

Singh told Stalin that Tamil Nadu had representation in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Republic Day parades.

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JEALOUSY: Mamata slams Centre’s ‘No’ to Rome tour

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was preparing to go to Rome at the invitation of Community of Sant’ Egidio but this sudden letter from the central government has changed everything…reports Asian Lite News

Hours after the union ministry of external affairs disallowed Mamata Banerjee to go to Rome to attend a programme organised by a non-governmental organisation, the chief minister came down heavily on the central government saying that she was stopped only out of ‘jealousy’.

The controversy cropped up after the state government received a letter from the ministry of external affairs mentioning that the chief minister has been invited to an event in Rome which, the letter said was, “not conducive of participation for a state chief minister”. The event is scheduled to take place in Rome on October 6 and 7.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was invited to Rome by the Community of Sant’ Egidio – a Catholic association dedicated to social service – to participate in the international event in Rome, the World Meeting for Peace “Peoples as Brothers, Future Earth”, on 6 and 7 October this year where Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are likely to be present.

Mamata accepted the invitation. It was decided that she would visit Rome after the by-election in Bhabanipur. Mamata was also preparing to go to Rome but this sudden letter from the central government has changed everything.

Speaking at a public rally in Bhabanipur, the chief minister didn’t conceal her anger. “The Prime Minister can go abroad. Why I shall be disallowed to attend a function abroad? I was stopped only out of jealousy,” a furious Banerjee said.

Previously the chief minster was also disallowed to go to Chicago where she was supposed to address a gathering at Belur Math, the global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, to mark 125 years of Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the Parliament of Religion, Chicago. At that time also the chief minister had termed it as an ‘unholy conspiracy’.

“No one can go to America or Britain with covaxin. The World Health Organization has not given it recognition yet but the Prime Minister went with special permission. There are many people who cannot go abroad because they have taken covaxin. The Prime Minister went and I don’t have any problem with that but why was I not allowed to represent? I used to go there and represent Hinduism. He speaks much about Hindutva but disallows me. This is nothing but jealousy,” she added.

ALSO READ: If I don’t win, someone else will become CM: Mamata

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Mamata meets Sonia; discusses political situation, Pegasus

The West Bengal Chief Minister also termed the meeting as positive, saying that the results will be seen in the coming days…reports Asian Lite News.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday met interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi here and discussed the current political situation in the country as well as the Pegasus snoogate row.

Former Congress President and Sonia Gandhi’s son, Rahul Gandhi, was also present during the meeting.

The meeting was held at Sonia Gandhi’s residence at 10 Janpath here.

After the meeting, Banerjee said that she was invited for tea by the Congress chief and that Rahul Gandhi was also present there.

“We discussed the current political situation, Pegasus and the Covid condition, besides discussing opposition unity,” Banerjee said.

The West Bengal Chief Minister also termed the meeting as positive, saying that the results will be seen in the coming days.

She said the Pegasus spyware row was also discussed in the meeting, and asked why the government is not responding to the alleged snooping charges.

“If the Pegasus issue is not discussed in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, where will it be discussed? The government should answer,” she said.

Talking about opposition unity, the Trinamool Congress supremo said, “Everyone has to come together to defeat the BJP. Alone, we (Trinamool) are nothing; everyone has to work together.”

Asked if she would be the face of the opposition in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Banerjee said, “I am not a leader, I am a worker. I am a person from the streets. All the opposition parties will sit together and decide who will lead the fight against (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi.

“I want to see ‘sachche din, bahut achche din dekh liya’ (I want to see truthful days, seen enough of good days). Now ‘khela’ (game) will happen in the whole country.”

Later on Wednesday evening, Banerjee is expected to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

On Tuesday, she had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After the meeting, Banerjee had said, “It was a courtesy meeting. I told the Prime Minister about the need for more vaccines and medicines in West Bengal. I also raised the pending issue of change of name of the state, to which the Prime Minister said he will see.”

On Tuesday, she had also met Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Anand Sharma, among others.

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