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India Gazette
29-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Mamata Banerjee slams PM Modi over allegations against her government, says
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 29 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his allegations against her government including the teacher recruitment scam and said the state government will respect the verdict of court and find some solution. She accused the BJP of trying to politicise Operation Sindoor and said such remarks are being made when all-party delegations are visiting partner countries. Mamata Banerjee held a press conference hours after PM Modi's rally in Alipurduar and countered the allegations. 'What Modi ji said today, we are not only shocked but also very sad to hear this, when the Opposition is representing the his presence his minister said that they will do Operation Bengal, like Operation Sindoor. I challenge them - if they have guts, go into elections tomorrow, we are ready and Bengal is ready to accept your challenge. But please remember, time is a factor. You must remember the time. Our representative Abhishek Banerjee is also in the team,' she said. 'And he is speaking every day against terrorism, against terror. At that time, Mr Modi, not as the PM but as the BJP president, you are criticising the Government (in Bengal) which is giving you full support, defending the country like anything. You are accusing the Government and you want to blame the Opposition at this time, at this hour to politicise things just like the leader of BJP Jumla are doing garbage of lies. They loot the country and scoot. It doesn't look nice to talk in this manner. Regarding Operation Sindoor, though I don't have any comments but please remember every woman has respect,' she added. The Trinamool Congress chief also hit out at BJP over 'Vyapam scam' in Madhya Pradesh. 'You are talking about the SSC teachers. Who did it? Did we do it or jobs were lost in the court case? Who did the court case, CPM and BJP. What happened in your Vyapam Scam? How many people died because of this in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh? In Tripura, your government removed over 10,000 teachers. In UP 69,000 teachers lost thier jobs. We have humanity. We will find out some solution. We will respect the verdict of Court and we will work according to our schemes and policies. Let the Court work impartially,' she said. She further said that the PM spoke about roads and homes and asked if he gave money to improve infrastructure. 'Did he give the money to built homes? Did he give the money for 100 days of work under MGNREGA? We made over two lakh rural roads. Between last year and this year, we made over 40,000 km long rural roads through state funds. We had to pay for funds under the MGNREGA scheme. We started the 'Banglar Bari (Gramin)' scheme. First, we gave 47 lakh houses when funds were rolled out in 60:40 have you stopped the payment for 'Banglar Bari' since last 4 years? Still we have facilitated 28 lakh housing units in last 1-1.5 years,' she said. 'You just want to damage Bengal's education system, healthcare, and economy. Your friends - central agencies - are here to intimidate people. Is this not big-scale corruption?,' she asked. She also alleged that the BJP is responsible for the incidents in Murshidabad and Malda. Addressing PM Modi in Alipurduar said the youth and poor families suffer the worst consequences of corruption. He alleged that the education system of West Bengal is being ruined. 'We saw how corruption ruins everything in the teacher recruitment scam. The TMC government in their tenure destroyed the future and families of thousands of teachers and left their children helpless. The whole education system of West Bengal is being ruined. The absence of teachers has put the future of lakhs of students at risk. The TMC leaders have committed such a huge sin. The limit is that even today these people are not ready to accept their mistake. Instead, they blame the courts,' he said. 'The youth, poor, and middle-class (of West Bengal) are bearing the brunt of corruption. We've seen how corruption leads to destruction, especially in the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam. The TMC government has ruined the future of thousands of teachers and their families. This is not just the problem of few thousand teachers, but the entire education system is deteriorating. Even now, they refuse to admit their mistakes and are instead blaming courts,' he added. Bengal is slated to face assembly polls next year. (ANI)
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ahead of 2026 Bengal Assembly elections, TMC to campaign success of Banglar Bari scheme
Following West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's disbursement of the second instalment under the Banglar Bari housing scheme for 12 lakh beneficiaries, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders took to social media to highlight the initiative's scale, financial details, and the state's 'commitment' to housing for all. With the 2026 Assembly elections approaching, TMC plans to take the success of Banglar Bari to the grassroots level. Party leaders will stress that despite the Central government stopping funds under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) over two years ago, the state independently implemented Banglar Bari. In the first phase, homes were provided to 12 lakh families, while the second phase will cover another 16 lakh. Announcing the latest disbursement, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted on X: 'We are proud that our state government, entirely with its own funds, is providing… Rs 1,20,000 per family in two instalments under the 'Banglar Bari (Gramin)' scheme to 12 lakh poor and eligible families… The first instalment (of) Rs 7,200 crore was disbursed last December. Today, the second instalment of Rs 7,200 crore has begun being directly credited to their bank accounts. Thus, I am happy to say our government has spent a total of Rs 14,400 crore from its own funds for the construction of houses under this scheme. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone.' She added that another 16 lakh families will receive housing assistance—first instalments in December this year, and the second in May 2026. Commenting on the state's independent approach, AITC leader Kunal Ghosh said, 'When Delhi creates roadblocks, Bengal finds its own path to become swanirbhar. The Centre withheld MGNREGA funds, yet Mamata Banerjee released Rs 3,700 crore from the state treasury to 59 lakh job card-holders. Similarly, when Awas Yojana funds were blocked, she launched Banglar Bari—a fully state-funded scheme—to provide homes to 12 lakh people. That's why we say: Mamata Banerjee's guarantee means 100% warranty.' Referring to the party's protest in Delhi over withheld Central funds, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said, 'When our leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, went to Delhi to demand Bengal's dues, they were harassed. But Bengal will not bow to the Modi government's anti-Bengal attitude. Despite the Centre withholding Awas Yojana funds, the state is disbursing money under Banglar Bari to 12 lakh families.' The party's official handle posted on X: 'Bengal is self-reliant. We don't need the Centre's charity. With Awas Yojana funds frozen by the Modi government, (CM Banerjee) launched Banglar Bari. Now, the second instalment of Rs 60,000 is being rolled out to 12 lakh families, totaling Rs 14,400 crore.' A senior TMC leader said, 'We believe this campaign will resonate with poorer communities in remote areas. People who've received houses will support TMC, and we expect our vote share to rise.'
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bengal CM Mamata disburses second tranche of Banglar Bari to 12 lakh beneficiaries
Emphasising her track record of fulfilling promises, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (May 20, 2025) announced that 12 lakh beneficiaries have received the second instalment of Banglar Bari — a scheme aimed at providing houses to the rural poor. 'We had given 50% of the funds earlier promising that the remaining will be disbursed in May. Today, we have completed it. If we make promises, we keep them too,' the Chief Minister said. Also read: Howrah subsidence victims to receive new houses, landfill to be shifted elsewhere Ms. Banerjee had announced the Banglar Bari scheme in December 2024 after the disbursement of funds under the PM Awaas Yojana to the State was halted. 'The remaining 16 lakh beneficiaries from the list will get (the instalment) of the first phase in December whereas the second phase will commence in May 2026. In total, 28 lakh beneficiaries will be getting benefits of the scheme,' she said. Support for tea garden workers Speaking at a public event in North Bengal, the Chief Minister said her government stood firmly with tea garden workers. 'A lot of people claim they will give a lot of things but why didn't they do so all these years? They are nowhere to be seen during any leopard attacks yet make tall claims,' she remarked. Ms. Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of reneging on its promise to reopen tea gardens. 'Ahead of elections, I remember a BJP leader saying that they would reopen all tea gardens. But they couldn't even reopen one. I want to thank Moloy Ghatak, Gautam, Prakash Chik Baraik, Ganga Prasad Sharma, and others for reopening eight tea gardens in Alipurduar and seven tea gardens in Jalpaiguri. Before this, 59 tea gardens were reopened by us,' the Trinamool Congress chairperson added. The Chief Minister's remarks carry significance as the opposition BJP is considered politically strong in the region. Ms. Banerjee noted that under her government, the wages of tea garden workers have risen to ₹250. 'Free ration, water, electricity, healthcare facilities, and other necessities were arranged. Tea garden workers are getting pattas. Financial assistance is being given under the Chaa Sundari Extension Scheme. Over 8,000 and 13,000 families in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar respectively are getting benefits under this scheme,' she said. The Trinamool Congress chairperson also lauded her government's Lakshmi Bhandar scheme. 'Not just across the country but across the world, we were the ones who started Lakshmir Bhandar and it will continue for life. It is the dignity of our mothers, sisters, and women,' she added.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Will never support politics of ‘riots & chaos': Mamata
Kolkata/Siliguri: Reiterating that she would never support the "politics of riot and chaos", CM Mamata Banerjee said at Fulbari on Tuesday: "I want peace. Some people try to create division among people. I cannot accept such politics of division." The CM's statement came a month after protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent at Murshidabad's Dhuliyan and Shamsherganj. "Those who indulge in riots do not want people to prosper. Riots destroy lives and houses. Political players find scope for indulging in politics. I don't want riots. I want peace, harmony, devotion and well-being. I want every Bengal household to be filled with prosperity," she said at a public distribution programme near Siliguri. Banerjee also urged people to not believe everything on social media. "On social networks, fake news is rampant. You should be alert and discard such information," she said. Bringing up tea garden workers, the CM said Trinamool govt would continue to stand by them, and asked them not to fall for false claims of development and doles by BJP. "A lot of people claim they will give you a lot of things, but why haven't they done so all these years? They are now claiming they will give benefits of the scheme, but they have not fulfilled the promises made before the polls. They did not do so in Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan. They make certain claims before elections and then they forget about them, whereas we deliver on our promises. We promised four social welfare schemes, and we fulfilled the same. If I give my word, I keep it," Banerjee said. A total of 365 projects across three districts, with a value of Rs 2,505 crore, were announced. Additionally, foundation stones for 134 projects, with an estimated value of Rs 189.4 crore, were laid. The CM announced that state govt had successfully transferred Rs 1.2 lakh each to 12 lakh poor households from its own funds under the Banglar Bari scheme. "As we promised, the first instalment, amounting to Rs 7,200 crore, was disbursed last December. Today, the second instalment of 50% of the money started being directly credited to bank accounts. We will also build houses for another 16 lakh eligible families. They will receive their first instalment in Dec and the second instalment in May 2026," she said. Banerjee also raised questions on money collected by Centre from the state. "The central govt implemented a single tax system across the country for goods and services, known as GST. But then they collect mutation fees from industrialists, and taxes are levied even when vehicles are on the road. These cannot be collected any more. We will not tolerate this. There has to be only one tax; there cannot be two taxes simultaneously. How much more money do they need?" she said.
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Murshidabad violence: High Court-appointed panel says local police were inactive, absent
The three-member committee formed by the Calcutta High Court to look into last month's violence in Murshidabad has said in its report that police were 'completely inactive'. The report also mentioned local Trinamool Congress leader Mehboob Alam. 'The attacks were directed by the local councillor Mehboob Alam. The local police were completely inactive and absent,' the report said of the violence that took place on April 11. The Calcutta High Court had last month directed the formation of a three-member committee to oversee the rehabilitation of those affected by the violence that broke out in Murshidabad between April 8 and 12 following protests against the Waqf Amendment Bill. The committee comprises Joginder Singh, Registrar, National Human Rights Commission; Satya Arnab Ghosal, member secretary, West Bengal Legal Services Authority; and Saugata Chakraborty, Registrar, WBJS. The committee's report said that miscreants destroyed a waterbottle shop and looted the cash box containing Rs 12,000-13,000. A shopping mall located in ward no 12 was also completely looted and closed, and 29 shops were affected in Ghoshpara, the report said. 'Residents of Samserganj, Hizaltala, Shiulitala, (and) Digri came masking their faces. Local councillor, namely Mehoob Alam, came with the miscreants on April 11. The MLA was also present on Friday (April 11). He saw the vandalism and went away, but the violence continued on April 12, Saturday,' the report said. TMC spokesperson Joy Prakash Majumdar told The Indian Express, 'We do not know anything about such a report. So, I would not like to make any comment.' The Calcutta High Court had on Friday directed the TMC government in the state to 'remunerate and restore' all parties whose lives and properties were affected during the clashes in Murshidabad. The court was hearing a PIL in connection with the violence that broke out between April 8 and 12 in the Jangipur subdivision of Murshidabad, leading to the deaths of three persons, including a father-son duo. A Division Bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury said, 'Compensating the victims by giving each of them Rs 1.20 lakh under the scheme 'Banglar Bari' may not do justice to all as the damaged and destroyed houses, differing in size and constructional features…' The Bench, in its order, also urged the state to consider appeals by local residents for a permanent Border Security Force (BSF) camp in the area and asked the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to 'continue investigating the issue to bring the perpetrators to justice'.
