Latest news with #AnandabazarPatrika
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
‘Don't panic about Covid,' says Mamata after review meeting with West Bengal health officials
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday held a review meeting with health and administrative officials on the current Covid-19 situation. After the meeting, she said, 'There is no need for panic or to get scared about Covid.' West Bengal reported 54 new active Covid-19 cases on Monday since Sunday, taking the total number of active cases to 747, which is currently the third highest in the country after Kerala (1,957) and Gujarat (980), according to the state's Covid dashboard. 'The pandemic has now become endemic. We get scared whenever we hear the word Covid, but the situation in Bengal is under control. I can't speak for private hospitals, as they don't fall under my jurisdiction,' Banerjee said. She added, 'Based on government data, we held a meeting with all concerned departments, from panchayat to KMC. Preparations are complete. WHO has already said it's an endemic, not a pandemic – I've heard this, but please cross-check.' Urging calm, Banerjee said, 'We should be cautious, not fearful. If something happens, we are prepared. Those with comorbidities or the elderly should be more careful.' On general health concerns, she said, 'Sometimes we get scared when we have a cough or cold due to breathing issues. Use a nebuliser, and see a doctor. The government is here to support you. I encourage treatment at government hospitals to avoid high private costs. Everything necessary is available.' She also noted that many people have already received the anti-Covid vaccine. 'We held this meeting out of concern. If needed, we'll take steps to ensure people don't face difficulties. But right now, the situation doesn't call for any new decisions. With a population of around 130 crore, 4,000-5,000 cases nationwide is not alarming. This is more like influenza, it's an Omicron variant. People should not be afraid.' 'We often see cough and cold during winter or monsoon, but even that has reduced now. There is normalcy, but precautions should continue at a personal level,' she said. Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bengal: ‘How can PM take credit for Operation Sindoor' — Hakim's remarks spark row, BJP says ‘insult'
KOLKATA MAYOR and State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Firhad Hakim sparked a controversy on Saturday after his remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with Operation Sindoor. The BJP reacted sharply, alleging that the TMC leader 'insulted' the PM and tried to 'downplay' Operation Sindoor. The TMC did not immediately respond to Hakim's remarks. While speaking to mediapersons, Hakim claimed, 'The Indian armed forces gave a befitting answer to Pakistan. How can the PM claim that he has done anything big? How can he take credit for Operation Sindoor?' In a post on X later on Saturday, the BJP wrote, 'Firhad Hakim — Mamata's loudest mouthpiece and the same man who once called parts of Kolkata 'mini Pakistan' — has now crossed every line. He downplayed Operation Sindoor, insulted PM Modi…this isn't political opposition — this is verbal treason. And Mamata Banerjee? Silent…' The BJP's state president Sukanta Majumdar said, 'Basically, Hakim has never taken a stance against Pakistan. During the erstwhile UPA government's tenure, no such steps were taken against Pakistan. That is why Hakim and some others are now finding it tough to accept that it was done.' Attaching a video of Hakim's purported remarks, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya accused the senior TMC leader of making a 'disgraceful attack' on the PM. Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
West Bengal: Jagannath Dham Temple ‘prasad bought from local sweet shops', alleges BJP
Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Friday alleged the Trinamool Congress government is distributing 'sweets from local shops' as 'prasad' of the Digha Jagannath temple, and has accused the administration of playing with the sentiments of Hindu devotees. 'All District Magistrate were ordered to distribute prasad through Duare Ration. The box of sweets will be bought from the local sweet shop. An amount of Rs 20 has been allocated. I have no problem with the budget, but they are not giving the prasad, which is basically demeaning the Hindu dharma,' Adhikari said. The Jagannath Temple at Digha in Purba Medinipur district was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in May. After inauguration Banerjee said, the 'prasad' of Jagannath Dham will be distributed to all families of the state along with picture of the temple. In response, the TMC termed Adhikari's comments as a 'pack of lies' and asserted that the prasad of Lord Jagannath will be sourced from the temple and arrangements have been made to send it across every locality in West Bengal. Countering the BJP allegations, state Information and Culture minister Indranil Sen said, 'What he (Suvendu Adhikari) has said is not true.. He is basically demeaning the work of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee… I never seen such a secular person than our CM.' 'What Chief Minister did for Hindu temples like Dakshineswar, Kalighat, Kankalitala and others, no ruling party did earlier. Now, to demean the works of Chief Minister, the BJP is doing diving politics. Every one doe not have the capacity to go to the Jagannath Temple and have prasad of the Temple and that is why it was planned to distribute prasad to every family of the state. BJP is now trying to demean that,' Sen further added. Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ahead of 2026 Assembly polls, CM Mamata going on a 3-day visit to North Bengal; TMC expects more Oppn leaders to join party
To bolster Trinamool Congress's (TMC) influence in North Bengal, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be on a three-day visit to the region from May 19, especially when the 2026 Assembly election is barely a few months away. Days before her visit, the party camp received a shot in the arm as former Union Minister of State and BJP MP John Barla switched over to TMC on May 15. The party workers have an inkling that the CM's visit to North Bengal will influence more Opposition leaders to TMC and thereby strengthen their base in a fairly weaker front in North Bengal. Banerjee has already announced that on Monday, she will attend a 'synergy' business conference and on Tuesday, a government distribution programme at Odlabari. The main programme of the Chief Minister is on Wednesday, where she will participate in an administrative review meeting at Uttar Kanya, where officials of all district administrations will participate. District officials of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Coochbehar will attend the meeting physically, while officials of Maldah, Uttar Dinajpur, and Dakshin Dinajpur will attend the meeting virtually. 'After this year's Durga Puja, the state will enter the election mode. So, we have four to five months to complete all the development work. The Chief Minister wants to review all these works and set a timeline to complete all the projects properly,' a senior officer of state administration said. On the other hand, the party leadership expects Banerjee to give necessary advice to the district leadership ahead of the Assembly election. A senior TMC leader expressed optimism in improving their result in North Bengal. 'Not only John Barla, another BJP MLA, Suman Kanjilal joined our team, which has also strengthened our organisation. We are expecting more BJP MLAs and leaders to join our party, and we will knock down the footings of the BJP in North Bengal. This time the BJP may gain in South Bengal, but they will lose in North Bengal.' Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Govt to allot 2,515 acres for setting up steel factories across the state
The state Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to allot 2,515 acres of land to different industrial parks for setting up steel production units across the state. Announcing the decision, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the move would boost the steel industry in the state by bringing over Rs 25,000 crore investment and generating over 70,000 jobs. The chief minister also announced that the state government would set up an International Information Technologies Entertainment and Culture Park in New Town that will be spread over 35 acres. 'We named it 'IITEC' in English and 'Biswa Angan' in Bengali. It will become an international-level cultural hub in future,' the CM said. She also said that the government would set up two more convention centres — one at Digha and another in Siliguri. 'We will set up a market complex in each district of the state. We have zeroed in on the land for it in 11 districts. Later, we will decide on 12 more market complexes,' the CM said a press briefing at Nabanna, the state secretariat. 'We will set up a big market complex at Digha, adjacent to the Jagannath temple complex, for the tourists. It will start once the necessary land is identified,' Banerjee added. Claiming that there is a huge demand for land in the state for industry, the CM said that her government has allotted land for 43 MSME company for setting up their industry. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be visiting North Bengal on May 19 to chair administrative review meetings in Siliguri and Jalpaiguri. During the four-day visit, she will hold a distribution rally at Odlabari. ENS Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal. Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
