Tag: Mamata Banerjee

Ravi shankar on west bengal violence

More Than 12 Killed In Violence In WB On Poll Day: Ravi Shankar Prasad

By LokMarg

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said that more than 12 people have lost their lives so far in the violence that broke out in several areas in West Bengal on panchayat poll day.

“Violence has broken out in full swing in the Bengal gram panchayat elections being held today. More than 12 people have died so far and a large number of them have been injured,” BJP MP Prasad said.
Targeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the BJP MP asked, “Where have you taken Bengal today?” Ravi Shankar Prasad harked back to history to compare the state of Bengal during the nationalist movement with that of the present situation.

“Once Bengal was the mother of democracy, the center of nationalist aspirations. It was the Bengal of Subhash Chandra Bose, it was the Bengal of Rabindranath Tagore, it was the Bengal of Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar. Is it essential that someone needs to die if an election is held?” he asked.

Posing another question to Mamata Banerjee, the BJP MP asked why the proportion of violence is so much when the state conducts local body polls.

“I have a question for you Mamataji. Earlier in Bihar and many other states many people used to die during poll. Now due to the increase in strength of the Election Commission violence has come down. During Lok Sabha elections in Bengal owing to the strength of the Election Commission, violence is less. But what is happening when your state government is conducting the gram panchayat elections?” he asked.

The senior BJP MP alleged that the Central forces are not being allowed to work properly as they are not getting support on the ground. “The central forces are not being allowed to function. They are not getting support on the ground,” he claimed.

Ravi Shankar Prasad also alleged that the West Bengal police works like a political outfit. “Mamata’s police works in the fashion of a political outfit. I don’t know if some responsible policemen are not rewarded enough or not allowed to work,” he said.

The senior BJP MP also questioned the West Bengal Chief Minister whether there is conflict in her party at the booth level.

“Your own party workers are dying. So is there conflict in your party at the booth level? I have heard this,” he said.

There is fierce tussle for control of local administrations between the ruling TMC and the BJP which will be a litmus test for both parties ahead of next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

West Bengal has 3,341 gram panchayats and the number of village panchayat election centres is 58,594. There are 63,239 seats at the Gram Panchayat level, 9730 at Panchayat Samiti and 928 at the Zila Parishad level. The counting of votes will be held on July 11. (ANI)

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Opposition meet For 2024 LS Polls

Patna: Opposition Leaders’ Meet Begins For 2024 LS Polls

By LokMarg

The highly-anticipated Opposition meeting begins in Bihar’s Patna hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with an aim to arrive at a consensus to forge a united Opposition front to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The Opposition picked Patna as a venue for its meeting as it represents the 1974 call of total revolution by Jayaprakash Narayan that toppled Indira Gandhi’s majority government.
Ahead of the meeting, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “There is a war of ideology going on in India. On one side is Congress party’s ‘Bharat Jodo’ ideology and on the other RSS and BJP’s ‘Bharat Todo’ ideology …Congress party’s DNA is in Bihar.”

He said that the opposition parties have come together to defeat the BJP.

“BJP is working to spread hate, violence and break the country. We are working to spread love and unite. Opposition parties have come here today and together we will defeat BJP,” he added.

As leaders of several opposition parties arrived in Patna on Thursday, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Jayant Chaudhary decided to skip the conclave due to a “pre-decided family programme”. Chaudhary, however, hoped the meeting will be an “important milestone in the path of opposition unity”.

This came after the Janata Dal (United), which is hosting the meet, said Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has not been invited to the event.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati took a dig at the meeting with sarcastic remark, “Dil mile ya na mile, haath milate rahiye”.

She also used another Hindi proverb “Muh me Ram, bagal me chhuri” and said the opposition parties should have cleared their intentions before the meeting.

The meeting has been called by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar and will be attended by leaders of parties opposed to the BJP.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti were among the leaders who reached Patna for the meeting.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, MP Sanjay Raut, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah arrived on Friday. (ANI)

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Anurag Thakur

‘Standing Up For Terrorists’: Thakur Taunts Mamata Banerjee

By LokMarg

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday condemned the West Bengal government for banning ‘The Kerala Story’ movie in the state, and accused the opposition parties of doing “appeasement and vote bank politics”.

“Their (opposition) face is getting exposed. They are doing appeasement and vote bank politics. West Bengal has done immense injustice by banning the movie. Recently only, a girl was raped and murdered in Bengal. Everybody saw how her body was dragged by the police,” the Information and Broadcasting Minister told ANI.

“I want to ask what are you (Mamata Banerjee) getting by standing up for such terrorists. What do you get by promoting such an ideology? Such actions provide support to ISIS and other terrorist forces,” he added.

He further said that ‘The Kerala Story’ is an attempt to bring the truth forward in front of the people.

“The Kerala Story is an attempt to bring forward the truth. The movie leaves you stunned. It shows how Indian daughters are trapped in the name of love, and recruited in terror organisations. The girls are taken showing heaven but are instead sent to hell,” the Union Minister said.

Helmed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film has triggered a massive political row with various leaders reacting to the upcoming movie.

The controversy surrounding the film started when its trailer claimed that 32,000 women from Kerala had gone missing and joined the terrorist group ISIS. This statement triggered a heated political debate and many leaders questioned the veracity of the claim.

“And the makers of the movie have tried to expose this conspiracy. If a terrorist conspiracy like this is taking place in a big state like Kerala. It is the responsibility of everyone to come together in support of this movie, so that not just we are able to defeat such forces,” Thakur further said.

Earlier in the day, Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led West Bengal government banned ‘The Kerala Story’ movie citing “maintenance of peace” and to avoid incidents of “hatred and violence” in the state.

West Bengal has became the first state to ban the film, which narrates the ordeal of three women who are trafficked to ISIS camps after being converted to Islam through marriage.

There’s a continuing political outcry around the movie even as it has been made tax-free in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh.

“This to avoid any incident of hatred and violence, to maintain peace in the state,” Mamata Banerjee said while addressing a media conference.

“What is ‘The Kashmir Files’? it is to humiliate one section. What is ‘The Kerala Story’?… It is a distorted story,” she added.

Mamata Banerjee said, “What is this ‘Kerala files’? I am not supporting CPIM, they are working with BJP. Instead of me, it was their duty to criticise the film. I want to tell Kerala CM that your party is working with BJP and that same party is showing Kerala files – a distorted story. Now I am told they are preparing the Bengal files. First, they defamed Kashmir, then Kerala, and now West Bengal”.

The Chief Minister has directed the Chief Secretary to remove the movie from the screens where it is running.

Reacting over the decision, Vipul Shah, the producer of the movie has said they will pursue legal options against the decision.

“If state government won’t listen to us we go through legal terms what possible things we should do that but as a legal way,” he told ANI.

‘The Kerala Story’ stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in the lead roles. Faced with backlash the makers then withdrew the figure and called the movie the story of three women from Kerala, in its trailer description. (ANI)

Mamata AFTER MEETING NITISH

Want BJP To Become Zero: Mamata After Meeting Nitish, Tejashwi

By LokMarg

Proceeding ahead to achieve the mission of uniting the entire Opposition to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Monday.

After the meeting, the three leaders held a joint press conference.
Nitish Kumar said, “We have held talks, especially about the coming together of all parties and making all preparations ahead of the upcoming Parliament elections. Whatever will be done next, will be done in the nation’s interest. Those who are ruling now, have nothing to do. They are just doing their own publicity. Nothing is being done for the nation’s development.”

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee also pitched for opposition unity while calling for an opposition meeting in Bihar, the land of the JP movement.

“We will go ahead together. We have no personal ego, we want to work together collectively. I have made just one request to Nitish Kumar. Jayaprakash (Narayan ) ji’s movement started from Bihar,”Mamata said.

If we have an all-party meeting in Bihar, we can decide where to go next. But first of all, we must convey that we are united. I have said earlier too that I have no objections. I want BJP to become zero. They have become a big hero with media’s support and lies,” Mamata added.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has taken upon himself the task of uniting Opposition forces against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre, will also meet with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday evening.

Earlier on April 12, Nitish Kumar had met with Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and former MP Rahul Gandhi in the national capital.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Rahul Gandhi said it was a “historic step” towards Opposition unity and for an “ideological fight”.

Rahul Gandhi, who posted a picture of himself with Kharge and JDU and RJD leaders, said they are “standing together, will fight together for India”.

“In this battle of ideology, a historic step has been taken today towards Opposition unity. (We are) standing together will fight together – for India!” Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet after the meeting with the Bihar chief minister.

CM Mamata Banerjee is also leaving no stone unturned in closing in ranks with other parties ahead of the 2024 polls, as she met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav at her residence in Kolkata last month. (ANI)

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Mamata on country division

Will Not Allow Any Division Of Country: Mamata

By LokMarg

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that some people are trying to divide the nation by pursuing the politics of hate and said that she is ready to give her life but “will not allow division of the country”.

Addressing people after Eid UL Fitr namaz at Red Road in Kolkata, she said, “I’m ready to give my life, but will not allow any division of the country. We want peace in Bengal. We don’t want riots. We don’t want divisions in the country.”
Hitting out Bharatiya Janata Party, CM said, “All I would like to tell you is stay peaceful, don’t listen to anyone. A “Gaddar Party” with whom I have to fight and with agencies too. I have the courage to fight with them and I am not ready to move back.”

Accusing the saffron party of trying to change the constitution of the country, CM Banerjee said that if democracy will go, everything will be ruined.

“If democracy will go away, everything will go away. Today Constitution is being changed, history is being changed. They (BJP) brought the National Register of Citizens (NRC). I told them that I will not let them do that,” said WB CM.

Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee also attended the event at Red Road.

Earlier, on the occasion of Ram Navami, several vehicles were set on fire after two groups clashed in Howrah. During the procession, the rioters vandalized public and private properties and set vehicles on fire. (ANI)

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Mamata on politics

We Don’t Want Danga: Mamata On Hate Politics

By LokMarg

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed that people are trying to divide the country through politics of hatred while asserting that she would not let the country divide in the name of religion and is ready to lay down her life for it.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee visited Red Road in Kolkata where people offered namaz on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr.
Addressing the gathering, Mamata Banerjee said, “We want peace in Bengal. We don’t want riots. We want peace. We don’t want divisions in the country.”

“Those who want to create divides in the country – I promise today on Eid, I am ready to give my life but I will not let the country divide. We don’t want danga, we don’t want a clash. We want shanti (peace),” she added.

“If democracy will go away, everything will go away. Today Constitution is being changed, history is being changed. They brought NRC; I told them that I will not let them do that,” the Bengal CM stated.

Earlier, on the occasion of Ram Navami, several vehicles were set on fire after two groups clashed in Howrah. During the procession, the rioters vandalized public and private properties and set vehicles on fire.

Launching a scathing attack at the BJP-led Central government, the West Bengal CM said, “Someone takes money from BJP and says that they will divide Muslim votes. I tell them that they don’t have the courage to divide Muslim votes for BJP. It is my promise to you today. There is one year to elections. See who will get elected and who won’t.”

“All I would like to tell you is – stay peaceful, don’t listen to anyone. A “gaddar party” with whom I have to fight, I have to fight agencies too – I fight them because I have the courage to do so but I am not ready to cow down,” she added.

Condemning the release of the 11 convicts who had gang-raped Bilkis Bano and murdered her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots, the CM said, “Everyone was released in the Bilkis case. But we will not tolerate all this. We will fight and we will win.”

The Gujarat government granted remission to 11 convicts on August 10 last year following which they walked free on August 15, 2022.

“Leaders should always keep unity. We dont want to destroy anything. I pray to Allah to give us s
hakti
(power). If we are united then I am sure we can defeat them,” Banerjee added.

TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee also reiterated CM Mamata Banerjee’s words.

He said, “Be it Christmas, Durga Puja or Eid, we in West Bengal have unity. We dont want any division. This only happens in West Bengal. No other state or city has this. They want to divide and rule. But this can’t happen. There should be brotherhood everywhere.”

“The trees, roads, and soil don’t have a caste. Allah and God are not bad. Those people who divide people are. Those who will try to apply the divide-and-rule policy in Bengal will not be tolerated. We say, Jay Hind, we say Vande Mataram as well as we say Jai Bangla,” he added.

Muslims across India, as well as different parts of the world on Saturday, are celebrating the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr by offering namaz. The festival marks the end of the holy month of Ramzan.

Eid ul-Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival is of great significance due to the moon sighting which has been part of Islamic culture for a long time. It is believed that Prophet Muhammad used to wait for news of sightings of the crescent moon as it narrated the beginning of a new month.

Ending the holy month of Ramzan and starting a new spiritual journey also marks the beginning of a new Islamic year.

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the month-long Ramzan fasting and the beginning of Shawwal which is the tenth month per the Islamic calendar. Since the observance of the moon is essential for ending Ramzan month and celebrating Eid, it is celebrated in different parts on different days usually with a one-day difference. (ANI)

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Mamata on country division

Stay In Five Star, Instigate Riots, Go: Mamata Attacks BJP

By LokMarg

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre alleging central forces came to the state to instigate riots.

Mamata Banerjee was on visit to Purba Medinipur on Monday where she distributed public welfare services to the people.
Addressing the gathering here, Banerjee said, “Here the Central Forces came, stayed in a five star hotel, instigated riots. They then held a meeting with BJP people and returned. Before their arrival, first of all ask should them that where is the money for 100 days employment (MGNREGA)? First tell that, then come to Bengal to incite riots.”

Banerjee urged the people to not vote for BJP in the upcoming Panchayat polls and 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“I will do everything for you (people), but you are requested not to support BJP, the party that create riots, in Panchayat elections and 2024 elections,” she added.

Notably, ruckus and stone pelting erupted during the BJP’s Shobha yatra in Hooghly on Sunday. Earlier on Thursday, several vehicles were set on fire after two groups clashed in Howrah amid Ram Navami celebrations.

During the procession, the rioters vandalized public and private properties and set vehicles on fire.

Meanwhile, allegations and counter-allegations continued to fly between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the principal opposition party BJP on the issue.

Soon after the reports of the violence Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to the Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on the issue. In fact, the union home secretary has sought a detailed report from the state on the violence.

West Bengal BJP demanded National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the violence. (ANI)

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Anurag In WB

Mamata Is Sleeping…Jungleraj Has Returned: Anurag In WB, Bihar

By LokMarg

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday hit out at the Bihar and West Bengal governments, over the communal clashes in the states during the Ram Navami festivities.

The Union Minister has spoken at the JITO Ahimsa Run at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, here in the national capital.
Attacking the Bihar government over violence, Thakur alleged that “Jungleraj” has returned in the state.

Talking to ANI, he said, “I would only say that the way the law and order situation in Bihar has worsened, and ‘Jungleraj’ has come. It is very unfortunate that the Jungleraj that was there during the Lalu regime, has returned again under Tejashwi Yadav and Nitish Kumar”.

He also said that the violence during Ram Navami festivities in West Bengal and other parts of the country is also very unfortunate.

Attacking the Mamata Banerjee government, Anurag Thakur said, “Mamata Didi is sleeping. She is providing security to one section. On the incidents of stone pelting, arson and violence during the ‘Shobha Yatra’ of the Hindu community, she kept on taking a selective stand. It is very unfortunate that Hindus are attacked under the protection of a Chief Minister, and she only plays the role of an audience”.

“What is the point of being a Chief Minister, that when you are elected, violence happens, and now again violence has taken place during the Ram Navami,” he added.

In West Bengal, two groups clashed in Howrah amid Ram Navami celebrations on March 30. Several vehicles were set on fire, and public and private properties were vandalised during the clashes.

The West Bengal police on Saturday said that a total of 38 people have been arrested, two cases have been registered and section 144 has been imposed in some areas.

In Bihar, clashes were reported on March 31, in Nalanda’s Biharsharif and Sasaram in Rohtas district where Union Home Minister Amit Shah was scheduled to visit.

Bihar Police on Sunday said the situation in Sasaram and in Biharsharif in Nalanda district is “completely normal and under control”. It said that 27 persons have been arrested in Nalanda and 18 in Sasaram in connection with the incident after identifying anti-social elements, and prohibitory orders under Section 144 are in force in Nalanda. (ANI)

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Manish Sisodia Smriti Irani

Mamata Gave Clean Chit To Stone Pelters: Irani’s Attack On WB CM

By LokMarg

Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Friday launched an attack at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the violence during a Ram Navami procession in Howrah and accused her of giving clean chit to those who pelted stones during the procession.

“Stone pelting happened during Ram Navami’s procession in Howrah. Instead of delivering justice Mamata Bandopadhyay (Banerjee) gave a clean chit to stone pelters who took the law into their hands and attacked the Shobha Yatra of Ram Navami,” Irani alleged.
“The question is how long will Mamata keep attacking the Hindu community…” she added.

Irani further stated, “This is not the first event that happened during the term of Mamata. Earlier in 2022, on Lakshmi Puja, when Dalits were performing puja they were attacked. At that time also she was quiet.”

Earlier on Thursday, several vehicles were set on fire after two groups clashed in Howrah amid Ram Navami celebrations. During the procession, the rioters vandalized public and private properties and set vehicles on fire.

Following the violence in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations, the West Bengal government on Friday handed over the probe to Criminal Investigation Department (CID). A special team led by Inspector General of Police, CID Sunil Choudhury has initiated the investigation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also earlier spoke to West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and took stock of the situation in Howrah where violence broke out.

Shah also called West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and enquired about the law and order situation in the state.

West Bengal BJP chief on Friday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into violence in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations.

Following the violence in West Bengal’s Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations, the Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Friday filed a PIL in Calcutta High Court seeking an NIA probe into the matter and immediate deployment of Central Forces in the violence-affected areas. (ANI)

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Flag March In Howrah After Ram Navami Violence

Police Hold Flag March In Howrah After Ram Navami Violence

By LokMarg

West Bengal Police on Thursday conducted a flag march in Howrah where violence broke out during a Ram Navami procession.

During the procession, the rioters vandalized public and private properties and set vehicles on fire.
Police personnel are on the spot, and the reason behind the violence is yet to be ascertained.

However, responding to the incident, State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party hires goons from outside the State to orchestrate communal riots.

“They have been hiring goons from outside the state to orchestrate communal riots. Nobody has stopped their processions but they do not have the right to march with swords and bulldozers. How did they get the audacity to do this in Howrah?” CM Mamata said.

Further information is awaited. (ANI)

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