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Memories of Another day

Memories of Another day
While my Parents Pulin babu and Basanti devi were living

Friday, August 21, 2009

MAHASHWETA Diversion from EXTREME Left to EXTREME RIGHT as Mamata Banerjee rewards intellectuals in West Bengal

 
MAHASHWETA Diversion from EXTREME Left to EXTREME RIGHT as Mamata Banerjee rewards intellectuals in West Bengal
 
Troubled Galaxy Destroyed Dreams, Chapter 339
 
 
Palash Biswas
 
Mamta Banerjee to interact with Ficci, Assocham, CII representatives
20 Aug 2009, 2124 hrs IST, Rakhi Mazumdar, ET Bureau
 
KOLKATA: Union railways minister Mamata Banerjee is slated to interact with leading captains of India Inc, representing three of the country's apex
chambers of commerce in an interactive session in the city on Friday.

The meeting, which has been organised by the Railways, is being billed as the first-ever meeting of minds between national representatives of the top three business chambers –namely Ficci, Assocham and CII – with local industry bodies also likely to participate in strength.

Incidentally, it comes less than a year after Ms Banerjee led a campaign against forcible acquisition of farmland for industry which led to the Tata group withdrawing its small car project 'Nano' from Singur.

In the meeting the minister is scheduled to present her vision of the Railways, an exercise that is likely to involve a fleshing out of the proposals she had presented as part of the Rail Budget on July 3, 2009.

Ms Banerjee had suggested a spate of new projects through public-private partnerships (PPPs) to improve Railway infrastructure and services. This includes projects to manufacture suburban EMU coaches, high capacity freight bogies and multi-functional complexes where Railways look at leasing out land for a proposed new factory.

The minister has already set up an expert committee headed by Ficci's secretary general, Mr Amit Mitra to prepare a business plan on innovative new ways to foster PPP in the Railways.

"The Railways have invited all the three apex national chambers for a meeting," Mr Mitra told ET on the sidelines of an event organized to mark the 54th Railway Week celebrations.

A top source close to the developments told ET: "The minister would spell out the template of growth she had outlined during the Rail Budget to leading business leaders and industry heads and, in turn, take their questions on the subject and interact with them. The objective is to bring about a synergy so that Industry can take part in Railways growth plans and modernization effectively."

"It is being organized essentially in a bid to engage with industry, create a platform for ideation and invite new ideas in making some of the proposals work," the source added.

Earlier, speaking at the function, Ms Banerjee told assembled Railway employees : We have a land bank of 1.12 lakh acres. We are in the process of preparing a business plan to utilize it and have set up an expert committee under Amit Mitra who will suggest ways for us to earn more money through commercial utilization of our land and air space.

The meeting was attended by Railway Board members and general managers of all zonal Railways and other organizations under the railway ministry.
 
Ignoring Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress boss Mamata Banerjee's strong objections, the Union home ministry will continue its anti-Maoist operations! Calling Lalgarh a "laboratory of (anti-naxal) operation", the Centre -- which along with state police has jointly been taking on Maoists
there -- on Thursday said a similar strategy of area domination through intense action (both police and developmental) would be replicated soon in neighbouring areas and also in Chhattisgarh and other states to flush out Red ultras.
Meanwhile,
Another 200 meters got washed away into the river Phoolhar in Bhaluka Bazaar in Malda.
 
Chief Secretary Ashok Chakrabarty visited Malda to hold a meeting with the district offiers in the circuit house to discuss the situation.

Saying the situation there "is still not normal", Union home secretary G K Pillai said the operation against Maoists who had dominated the area due to "eight months of zero administration" would continue and CRPF and BSF would be there "as long as it is required" to restore complete peace.
DMK-Cong sweep TN by-polls, Mamata wins in West Bengal
Karunanidhi led DMK-Congress won all the five assembly seats in the by-elections, but in neighbouring Karnataka, Congress is all set for a drubbing as most of the seats are likely to go to BJP and JD-S.
 
Refugee leader DR Jagadish Halder visted us at HOME. He was concerned to read the KISHANJI interview published in ANADA BAJAR PATRIKA and wondered how Maoist Strategy based in Forests may succeed against OMNIPOWER OMNIPRESENT Statepower!
 
Dr Halder is ideologically annexed to RSS HINDUTVA and is concerned only with MINORITY Persecution in Bangladesh and Hindu bengali Refugees in India. Though he claims to be sympathiser of NAXAL MAOIST Movement and INSURRECTIONS! Extrem Left and Extreme RIGHT makes a queer CHEMISTRY! He represents well the Bengali Brahaminical ZIONIST Mindset abundant even in SC OBC and Minority communities in BENGAL ICONISED by its CIVIL SOCIETY and INTELLIGENTSIA. They are PROUD to be HINDU, BRAHMIN and BENGALI as well as Progressive, LEFTIST, preferably even MAOIST with RSS originated HINDUTVA at the same time. The Muslims are a little bit different as they tend to be OPPOSED to US Imperialism and ZIONISM as well.
 
Dr Haldar is also a great supporter of Ms Mamata Bannerjee!
 
I know MATUA EXPERT DR NANDO DULAL MOhanti who researched on the Matua Religion as PARA FOLKLORE Discipline. He used to run a NGO in Matua GRAM and constructed a Parralel infrstructure there inviting direct ENCOUNTER with MATUADHAM Thakurnagar run by the DESCENDENTS of Harichand Thakur and GURUCHAND Thakur led by the WIDOW of late MP and Minister PR Thakur! He has been ousted from his base and lives in DUMDUM. Until last parliamentary Elections, he had converted himself from a MARXIST Intellectual to a STAUNCH supporter and Activist for TRINAMUL CONGRESS. He succeeded to get his sister ELECTED in PANCHAYAT. But he was seriously in fray for the TMC Loksabha Ticket from BANGAON. But he was not considered at all. The Dalit Matua Intellectual is in quest of a new FORUM to get FOCUS once again.
 
This is the SC and OBC and AMBEDKARITE Psyche and BEHAVIOUR in Bengal. They love to be CO Opted in the Brahaminical Hegemony and tend to delink from IDENTITY and Roots. When denied, they turn REBEL. But the REVOLT may dilute any time if ACCOMODATED!
 
Dr Haldar aspires a VIDHANSABHA seat from anywhere! The SC ST OBC retired Professionals and OFFICERS often seek REHABILitation in POLITICAL Parties, Parliament, Assembly and Committees! The GLORIFIED ICONISED Civil SOCIETY as well as INTELLIGENTSIA prove themselves NO DIFFERENT!
 
I asked DR HALDER how KISHANJI roam and loiter around and in LALGARH so freely despite the SIXTEEN BLOCK Lalgarh area has been LIBERATED so long and Indian MILITARY Power present! Just Consider! 
 
 
I know MAHASHWETA DI since 1980 very personally. I have been in the Editorial Board of BHASHABNDHAN. Mahashweta Di has written an Editorial article in dainik HINDUSTAN, countrywide circulated HINDI daily, on my Social Activism highlighting my Novel AMERICA Se SAVDHAN. Be AWARE OF AMERICA! She is the most EFFICIENT Author to write on Anti Imperialist ABORIGINAL Insurrections! In fact, we, generation after generation, learnt our lessons of commitment, liabilities, resistance from her Pro Activism Non Parliamentary since SEVENTIES, since the THUNDERING Spring! Now the THUNDERING SPRINGS turn into Autumn Festival of MASS ANNIHILITION and HEGEMONY PUJA GIFT! What a PITY!
 
I NEVER loved any person more than my late Father! Just because,he involved me in his social activism, social commitment, liabilities, expectations, aspirations and dreams while I was just an INFANT. The Uneducated but more LITERATE than any Urban Highly educated Activist or Politicians, Dalit Bengali Refugee leader who had interacted with EVERY Prime Minister Since Nehru to Bajpayee and most of the Chief Ministers during his life span, NEVER treated me as his son only,rather he treate me as his best friend, advicer and eveneducated enlightened Helping hand with whom he could share his worries, fears, pleasure and sorrow! He always called me, PALASH Babu! I never saw a SOCIAL ACTIVIST as committed as the LIFE SACRIFICING Ambedkarite Dream as my Father was! But I am predestined to see all SACRIFICES to turn in Vedic RITUALS in Rsult. MY Father and my People remained the ETERNAL Slaves as they were for thousands and thousands years and as they would REMAIN! The MASSES are so BIOLOGICAL ELEMENTS only fed by BASIC INSTINCTS! SO IMPULSIVE to PERISH as the HILSHA of PADMA predestined for the MARKET MORGUES!
 
I weep not for any LOST LOVE!
 
I woe NOT for any Failure!
 
I repent NOT for any STANCE!
 
I NEVER Retreat as my Ancient Ancestors the ASURAS, DEMONS, RAKSHASHA, DAITYAS NEVER DID RETREAT!
 
I Worry NOT for the AFTER EFFECTS of my ACTIVISM!
 
I NEVER tried to get SETTLED!
 
I NEVER did SAVE or INVEST!
 
I always folowed CHARVAK SIDDHANTAS!
 
I NEVER changed my CHOICES, FRIENDS and FOES as well!
 
I NEVER REVISITED my DECISIONS!
 
 I NEVER sold MYSELF nor I tried to PURCHASE anyone!
 
Yes, I hated DEFEAT! RETREAT!ESCAPISM! CAREER! ASSETS!SHARES! POWER!
 
 
BUT I weep for my late Father whose efforts went wrong way!
 
I also woe for my CHHOTO KAKA who taught me basics of Literacy and Literature, Science andTechnology and LIVED a DISASTROUS life as most of our people use to live just because of their INSTINCTS and IMPULSES!
 
I HATE Manusmriti!
 
I hate INJUSTICE!
 
I hate Ineuality!
 
I hate CASTE and Class!
 
I hate HOLY SCRIPTS and FORCASTS!
 
I hate APATHEID!
 
I hate IMPULSES!
 
I hate INSTINCTIVE Behaviour and DECISIONS!
 
I HATE ILLITERACY!
 
I Hate DARKNESS!
 
I hate ZIONISM!
 
I hate FASCISM!
 
I hate IMPERIALISM!
 
I repent for MY FATHER`s, ANCESTOR`s FOLLIES with FORTUNE!
 
I NEVER did RESPECT anyone more than MAHASHWETA DI!
 
AND friends, my heart BLEEDS to see her DIVERSION from EXTREME LEFT to EXTREAM RIGHT!
 
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday evening gave away awards to eminent writers and artists of the city, including those who supported her in the anti-land acquisition movements in Singur and Nandigram in West Bengal.

Altogether 12 personalities - including eminent writer and social activist Mahasweta Devi, poet Joy Goswami, veteran Bengali actor Supriya Devi, painter Suvaprasanna, dancer Amala Shankar, singer Nirmala Mishra, theatre personality Bivas Chakraborty - were honoured on behalf of the Indian Railways during the occasion.
 
Though there were 15 personalities in the list, three of them - filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh, classical vocalist Ajoy Chakraborty and Rabindra Sangeet exponent Suchitra Mitra - did not turn up to receive the honour.
 
My heart aches when I see the most respected lady from Bnegal is tagged with UPA Partner MS Mamata Banerjee considering the ROLE of Gandhi Nehru Dynasty to COLONISE India under USA and ISRAEL! DIDI leads us in Resistance against the MARXIST GESTAPO Genocide Culture but at the same time while she calls for a change in Bengal, she just forgets the Government of India INCs and its MASS DESTRUCTION Campaign!
 
I felt very DEJECTED tiday while I had to witness DIDI to be HONOURED by the RAILWAY Minister of India. We oppose GENOCIDE in Bengal, but we support GENOCIDE Countrywide, all over the GEOPOLITICS. The ICONS of CIVIL Society as well as INTELLIGENTSIA are quite justified to stand united against Marxist capitalist fascist ways of RULING Left Front in Bengal!
 
MY DILEMMA is how we do support DR Manmohan Singh and his ECONOMIC Reforms, AMERICANISATION of India against which all of us had been fighting for so long!
 
Our DOMESTIC help, SHOBHA, a widow comes from TAHERPUR, near KRISHNANAGAR. During Lalu`s railway Regime, she used to get RAILWAY Monthly for RS Thirty only against her BPL card! She and her lot,lacs of them, who come to Metro Kolkata and SUB URBAN destinations from remote areas to earn daily wage and bread have been DEPRIVED since DIDI declared IZZAT plan on RS Twenty Five. NO such monthly is issued from any Rly Booking window and the old plan remains closed for ever. I know many more of this lot, with whom I have interaction daily. They supported and VOTED for Mamata. But mamata has no time to lend her ears to hear their grievances!
 
Daily Commuters in SUB URBAN Railway do face STIFF Hyke in MONTHLY Charge. The commuers who used to get the opted DESTINATION Monthly Tickets for either Howrah or Sealdah or Princepghat, they have to pay for the added distance which was never included earlier as office goers alwys uses the single distance. For example, if any commuter reaches Sealdah he would not travel to BBD Bagh via Dumdum for which no train is available.But under Mamata regime, the commuter has to pay for both the distance! If any passenger from Bandel reaches Kolkata via Sealdah, he would not return to Bandel to travel Kolkat from the start to get entry from Howrah!
 
Maoist leader Kishanji in his latest interview from Lalgarh has rightly CRITICISED Mamata being the part of the GOI decision making to brand the TRIBAL Polulation Maoist. He has also alleged that NANDIGRAM is now CAPTURED by TMC and the TMC Gestapo is doing the same thing as the marxists used to do. This interview has been published in ANAND BAZAR Patrica today and has to continue! Kishanji also alleged that the Marxist Hegemony and the TMC CONG combine led by Ms Mamata Bannerjee are just two sides of a single COIN!
 
I hope, Mahashweta DI perhaps seen the interview! I had been known her for long and I wonder how she supports the COLONIAL GANDHI NEHRU DYNASTY Rule, Nuclear Arms race, MILitary Option with Zero Tolerance, DIVESTMENT and DEPORTATION, Cororate GOVERNANCE, Public Private Joint Ventures led by PRIVATE management, CONTACT farming, REALTY BOOST, BAILOUT, JOB LOSS, and MASS SLAUGHTER!
 

Top Maoist leader Koteswar Rao alias Kishanji has thrown the gauntlet at the government following Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram's promise to weed out the "Maoist menace" in the country.

Kishanji, speaking from an undisclosed location in Lalgarh on Tuesday night, said the Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army of the rebels would reply to the police "onslaught on the people bullet for bullet". The Maoist politburo member in charge of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa alleged that the governments, both at the Centre and in the states, were whipping up anti-Naxalite propaganda to distract attention from their own failure to eradicate poverty and under-development.

"No government, either at the Centre or in the states, ever attempted to eradicate poverty. Now, when the people are becoming restless, the governments are trying to suppress the people's movement by letting lose the police" Kishanji said.

The Maoist leader, who is also in charge of the party's central military commission, reacted to the government's attempts to label the rebels as terrorists.

"Our only interest is to serve the people, stay among them and liberate them from the clutches of oppression. No government in the world has ever won a war against the people. We will reply the government's planned onslaught bullet for bullet," he said.

Indicating a change in the Maoist strategy in West Bengal, Kishanji said they would no longer keep silent on the Trinamool Congress and Left Front allies such as the RSP, Forward Bloc and CPI and concentrate their attack only against the CPM. "In West Bengal, all the Left Front partners have ganged up with the CPM to annihilate the peoples' struggle in Lalgarh. At the Centre, Trinamool Congress has ganged up with the Congress to crack down on us. Why hasn't Mamata (Banerjee) resigned from the Cabinet if she is sincere about her opposition to deployment of paramilitary forces in Lalgarh?" Kishanji asked.

The top rebel leader's presence in Lalgarh, despite 50 companies of security personnel hunting for the man, coincided with the Maoists stepping up their armed activities and the Peoples' Committee Against Police Atrocities clamping an indefinite strike in the three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia demanding immediate withdrawal of the central forces.

Courtesy: Mail Today

 
Meanwhile,

lalgarh-is-set-for-1st-big-naxal-ops

The CRPF personnel, who are currently living in school and government buildings, will move into "alternate accommodations" within a fortnight, CRPF DG A.S. Gill said on Thursday. The Centre's announcement comes amid reports of Maoists staging a comeback in Lalgarh.

While counter-offensive operations are already on in neighbouring Jharkhand and Purulia and Bankura in West Bengal, the CRPF is gearing to move into new areas soon where Naxals are still roaming freely. "The state police has come back. We can't put a date but the CRPF will stay there as long as necessary," Mr Gill said.

Home secretary G.K. Pillai said, "Neither from the CPI(M) or the Trinamul Congress is there any pressure on the CRPF to withdraw." Asked whether Trinamul Congress chief and railway minister Mamata Banerjee was putting pressure to end the operations, Mr Pillai said: "There is no pressure whatsoever."

"Now that we are by and large consolidated, we will try to spread to more areas to ensure that killings by CPI (Maoist) completely cease. And we hope to achieve that," Mr Gill said. He said that the Centre is all set to replicate the Lalgarh operation in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa. "Lalgarh is the laboratory for us and this will be reflected in what we are going to do in other Naxal-infested areas like Chhattisgarh. The operation in Lalgarh was by and large successful, but not complete as we want to arrest all top Maoists leaders," he said.

 
 

The state government is soon going to issue notification for conferring the PCIR (Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrchemicals Investment Region) status on the Haldia-Nayachar area.

 

This was decided at a high-level meeting at the Writers' Buildings on Thursday chaired by Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and attended by Minister for Commerce and Industries Nirupam Sen and Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta.

 

Bhattacharjee has not been attending office for the last three days because of illness.

 

"Several issues came up during the meeting, including transfer of land from the commerce and industries department to Prafulla Chandra Chemical Complex, which will be the parent company for setting up the chemical hub at Nayachar. The issues of publishing notification under the Town and Country Planning Act, signing of the MoU with the Central government and others were also discussed at the meeting," a senior government official said.

 

On the other hand Indian Express reports:

 

 

Promising an investor-friendly environment, the Bihar government is all set to woo private players from West Bengal for investment in its food-processing sector.

 

At a programme organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry in Kolkata on Friday, the principal secretary of industries department, Government of Bihar, A K Sinha said Bengal has tremendous potential for churning out private investors.

 

With Bihar's new food-processing policy, the Nitish Kumar government intends to open its door to the inbound state investment.

 

"The investment scenario in Bihar has changed in the past few years. In Bihar, we have come up with a liberal food processing policy that is beneficial for investors. We want private players in Bengal to invest in our state," said Sinha.

 

According to Sinha, benefits like 100 per cent exemption for set up, 80 per cent VAT reimbursement, 40 per cent capital subsidy and other government incentives are bound to attract investors from Bengal.

 

 
Mind you, Mamata is no longer a RESISTANCE leader which she used to be during Nandigram and Singur Insurrections! She is the HUMAN Face of The GANG of KILLERS, IMMORAL IMPOSTERS, SUPERSLAVES consistiong of Government of India! 
 
  
"The Indian Railways is privileged to honour these personalities who have made a mark in various fields of art, culture, music and literature. We have issued each of them a lifetime free first-class railway pass so that they, along with one companion, can travel by train to any destination they choose," Banerjee said at the 54th Annual Railways National Award Function here.
 
Among those feted, Mahasweta Devi, Suvaprasanna, Bivas Chakraborty, Joy Goswami, painter Jogen Chowdhury and singer Pratul Mukhopadhyay had played active roles during the anti-land acquisition movement spearheaded by main opposition Trinamool Congress party and its chief Banerjee in the past couple of years.
 
Times of India reports:
 
Railway minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday she plans to introduce a performance-based promotion scheme for railway employees. Some
of them may even get 'double-promotions' for exceptional performance. If she goes ahead with her plans, the railways could become the only government department where performers will get an opportunity to shine in their careers.

Till now, nearly all promotions in government departments are time-bound. Though confidential reports of officers are scrutinized, promotion is not normally withheld unless there are charges of gross misconduct against a person. Officers now believe that the scheme will encourage railwaymen across the board to perform better.

"The railways cannot survive without its human face. Even a gangman can prevent a major accident. The 268 medals and certificates awarded today are insufficient. Even the family members of railwaymen need to be awarded. I am planning a scheme through which, railwaymen who perform their duties well, may even get double promotions, as we used to get during our school days. This will be across the board. Even gangmen and safaiwallahs will be rewarded for their good work. The railways will reward and protect good officers and employees. We shall also take care of those who reveal the misdeeds of others," Mamata said at the 54th Railway Week National Awards function in Kolkata.

The railway minister said she has no plans to privatize the railways or any of its departments. However, business plans will be made to earn money so that employees and officers lead more secured lives. She, however, made it clear that employees who do not perform will not be spared. "We are one big family and will strive forward to make the railways the best in the world." 
 
 
 
Lalgarh replay outside cordon
- Tribals and rebels dig up roads beyond forces' area of control

Midnapore, Aug. 20: Tribals and Maoists have dug up roads or placed chopped trees on them at several points just outside the security forces' circle of domination in West Midnapore in what seems like a repeat of resistance tactics now synonymous with Lalgarh.

Last night, villagers owing allegiance to the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, accompanied by the rebels, dug up two roads — one running from Jhargram to Chandra, the other from Lalgarh town to Dherua. (See graphic)

Between Jhargram and Baita, a village about 24km from Lalgarh town, the villagers placed trees on the road.

The stretch between Baita and Dherua, close to the Dharampur police camp, was dug up in three places.

The road between Dherua and Chandra showed freshly dug ditches in four places, while the road from Lalgarh town to Dherua, with Dharampur in between, was cut at least in three places.

All this was done, according to police, to keep the forces away when the rebels and the tribals later attacked the homes of seven local CPM leaders and also vandalised a party office in Malbandhi.

Had the the security forces in the three camps at Dharampur, Chandra and Jhargram town tried to rescue the CPM families in Baita, they would have found all the roads blocked.

"This is the same tactic the Maoists employed in Lalgarh before the joint forces moved in. Whenever police tried to enter any trouble spot, the Maoist instructed villagers to dig up roads," a police officer said.

The houses of CPM local committee member Bankim Singha and chief of the Baita gram panchayat Suman Singha were attacked, though both had announced that they had quit the party a month ago following Maoist threats. Neither leader was at home.

"The villagers along with the Maoists surrounded our house around midnight. They ransacked it and broke the furniture with axes and rods. They took the broken pieces of furniture outside and set them on fire. They also looted my jewellery and money," said Manju, Bankim's wife.

Around the same time another group of about 200 villagers, again with Maoists accompanying them, ransacked the CPM local committee office in Malbandhi — standing deserted for a month now — and set the furniture and papers on fire.

"In every house, the Maoists set the furniture on fire after ransacking the house and looting money and jewellery," said a police officer.

A police officer said one of the reasons for the attack could be the detention of eight villagers for questioning yesterday.

"Last evening, security forces picked up eight villagers from Gohomidanga for questioning. But they were released when we realised that we had picked up the wrong people," said Manoj Verma, West Midnapore SP.

Security pat

The Centre wants the Lalgarh security operation to be a model for other states.

"This is a laboratory for the kind of operations we will do in Chhattisgarh (and elsewhere)," Union home secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai said, specifically speaking on Lalgarh.

Pillai termed the operations in Lalgarh largely successful, considering that the area was under Maoist control till June.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090821/jsp/bengal/story_11389626.jsp

Maoists step up attacks in Lalgarh, ramgarh, Joint forces to stay

; Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI/MIDNAPORE, 20 AUG: Central paramilitary forces will continue to stay in Lalgarh area to assist the state security forces till the situation improves in the region, the Union home secretary, Mr GK Pillai, said here today.
There would be no change in the CRPF deployment in the region in the near future and the force would continue operations along with the state security forces to flush out and eliminate naxalites. Police have also seized a large number of SLRs (self-loading rifles) and .303 rifles, which were looted from the state police forces, as also a large number of country-made weapons, said the CRPF director-general, Mr AS Gill, who was also present at the briefing.
Mr Pillai said the situation is improving in Lalgarh, adding that the Central government has increased welfare activities in the area to help local residents. Recently, the government has revised the list of BPL families increasing it from 11,837 to 18,915, an increase of over 7000 families. It would enable more people to avail of social welfare schemes. Employment opportunities in the region have also improved due to more enrolment under NREGS, Mr Pillai said. In the past 84 days more than Rs 65 lakh has been distributed under NREGS, he added. The government has also given various incentives to farmers, including 2,000 mini farmers' kits, distribution of 600 goats and installation of over 300 more water resources, the home secretary said. Meanwhile, the Police Santras Birodhi Public Committee's (PSBPC) rampage in league with Maoists continues at Junglemahal in West Midnapore. After razing the CPI-M office at Dherua in Midnapore Kotwali police station area to the ground the PSBPC dug up roads at several places blocking the movement of joint forces and ransacked the Marxist party office in adjoining Malbandi today and the houses of eight CPI-M activists in the area. All the residents, along with other villagers, have fled. Locals are tightlipped. The PSBPC leaders threatened that they won't allow Marxist comrades to live in peace until their eight supporters, abducted from Gohomidanga in neighbouring Lalgarh by CPI-M cadres yesterday, are released. They threatened to torch the cadres' houses and other belongings.
The joint forces have failed to show any spectacular achievement in their second phase of operation which began last week, except for nabbing a handful of Maoist cadres, as announced by home secretary Mr Ardhendu Sen at a Press conference in Midnapore town on 13 August. He said the forces would frequently change their strategy to befool the Maoists so that they don't get any breathing space.
Maoist cadres fired at the police outpost in Ramgarh early today. Police retaliated and the gun battle lasted an hour. A few hundred PSBPC activists reportedly assembled near a police camp at Kasdasole in Goaltore to launch an attack. The joint forces have been kept ready to meet any eventuality.
The indefinite bandh called by the PSBPC from Tuesday at Junglemahal of Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia will be relaxed for two hours from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. from tomorrow.
In another development, CPI-M Politburo member Mr Sitaram Yechury accused Central ministers belonging to Trinamul Congress of abetting Maoists in West Bengal. Referring to the Prime Minister's Independence Day speech, Mr Yechury said Dr Singh had expressed "great concern" at the growing Maoist violence and stated that the Centre would redouble its efforts to deal with the menace. But he must explain how he continues to tolerate members of his own Cabinet aiding and abetting Maoist violence in Lalgarh and other parts of West Bengal, he said.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=1&theme=&usrsess=1&id=265395

 

German firms ready to invest in Bengal

A delegation of representatives of 25 German companies will visit Kolkata in April to explore investment opportunities in the state.

 

According to the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC), the delegation will meet Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee during its two-day stay in the city.

 

The delegation will be led by Philipp Roesler, German Minister for Economics, Employment and Transport. Besides Kolkata, the delegation will visit Pune, Mumbai, and Chennai.

 

Companies dealing with solid waste management, water management, environment, air-pollution, minerals, engineering and electronics will be part of the delegation.

 

"Besides exploring business opportunities and investment in the state, the companies will also seek a strategic business partner. The companies may procure certain raw materials from the state at a cheaper price than Germany," said B G Roy, director, eastern region, Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle.

 

Dasgupta warns against investing in foreign banks

State Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta on Wednesday advised people not to deposit money in foreign banks or foreign insurance companies considering the crash in the share market.

Dasgupta was of the view that the private banks which have tie-ups with foreign banks were also not safe for investment purposes.

On the prevailing situation of the share market, Dasgupta said foreign banks were responsible for the setback in the market. People should deposit money in nationalised banks and insurance companies, advised Dasgupta.

Dasgupta also felt that the steps taken by the Union finance ministry as well as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) were not sufficient to revive the economy. The ministry should have slashed the interest rates of nationalised banks on loans given to industries, trading and agriculture sectors, he added.

The minister also claimed that the price rise would not have taken place if the interest rates were slashed by the Union finance ministry.

 

Metro Cash & Carry gets licence to do business, cannot touch retail

With Nano having set back West Bengal's industrialisation by a few paces, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee got some reprieve on Friday when his so-far stubborn colleagues in the Forward Bloc issued a fresh trade licence to German wholesale major Metro Cash & Carry to continue business in the state.

The state's Agriculture Marketing Board, controlled by the Forward Bloc, handed out the trade licence within deadline — October 10 — though government offices were closed because of Durga Puja. The licence will be valid till March 2009.

The permit came after the state government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the German firm, which says the company can sell commodities to only those who have a trade licence. The MoU also specifies Metro can do business on agro-products with those who have an Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) licence like it. The company cannot enter into direct or indirect retail business or opt for contract farming, the memorandum states.

  • I am the last person to privatise Railways : Mamata

 

Ruling out 'mischievous propaganda' about railway privatisation, Railway minister Mamata Banerjee today said the interest of employees will be protected while expanding the commercial interests of the Railways.

"Some people are mischievously saying that the Railways are going to be privatised. I want to assure the employees that I am the last person to privatise the Railways," she told the 54th Annual Railways National Awards function.

Pointing out that 1.12 lakh acre of railway land had been identified for commercial utilisation, she said two expert committees under the chairmanship of FICCI Secretary General Amit Mitra and National Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda had been formed to provide 'innovative ideas'.

"I want to assure that the employees' interests will be protected when we implement these innovative ideas in the commercial interests of the Railways," she said.

 

Cultural treat give railwaymen a reason to cheer

KOLKATA: It was an awards function with a difference, thanks to railway minister Mamata Banerjee. She ensured that the 54th Railway Week National

Awards ceremony, held in Kolkata on Thursday, had few dull moments.

At one point, it turned into more of a "jam session" with Kabir Suman egging on veteran singer Nirmala Mishra into rendering an all-time

favourite. Even Mamata joined Suman for Purono sei diner kotha, much to the delight of the hundreds of railwaymen attending the event

Probably for the first time in Indian Railway's history, 15 eminent personalities from the fields of art, music, literature, theatre, dance and films were honoured at an official railway programme of this magnitude. Among those seated on the dais with Mamata, the two ministers of state for railways and senior Railway Board officials were writer Mahasweta Devi, thespian Bivas Chakrabarty, poet Joy Goswami, actress Supriya Devi, singer and composer Pratul Mukhopadhyay, painters Suvaprasanna and Jogen Chowdhury, singers Sumitra Sen, Nirmala Mishra, Anup Ghosal and Subir Sen and danseuse Amala Shankar.

Apart from mementos, Mamata handed over lifetime railway passes to them. The passes will allow them free upper class travel across the country with an associate. The recipients were clearly bowled over by the gesture.

Mahasweta Devi went ahead and asked for a thousand mosquito nets and a same number of tarpaulin sheets for Aila victims. Mamata said she would arrange for them soon.

While Pratul Mukhopadhyay and Anup Ghosal were coaxed into singing a few stanzas each, a beaming Nirmala Mishra said she agreed to attend the ceremony not for any politics but because of her love for Mamata. Joy Goswami said this was the for the first time that he was sharing the dais with greats such as Subir Sen and Sumitra Sen. Mamata said she would similarly honour eminent personalities from other states.

Many of the intellectuals present on Thursday may have refused to share the dais with Mamata even a few years ago because of political differences. But all that has changed now. For Mamata, this is nothing less than a great victory as anything to do with intellectuals in the state was traditionally associated with the Marxists.

Scholarships were also awarded to children of railway personnel. While five children were awarded the Prime Minister's scholarship, 26 girl children of Group D employees were given scholarships by the railways. The girls will get Rs 1,200 a month for their education. Mamata said she would do more for the families of railway employees. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cultural-treat-give-railwaymen-a-reason-to-cheer/articleshow/4917022.cms
 

CM chairs Nayachar meet

 KOLKATA: Even as private partners of the joint venture company APC Roy Chemical Complex (APCRCC), floated to take up infrastructure development at

the proposed chemical hub project at Nayachar, have engaged consultants to look for options other than the Jurong model, the state government seems focussed on implementing the project. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to issue the notification for the PCPIR area covering Haldia and Nayachar as soon as possible.

All aspects of keeping the project well on track were also discussed and reviewed by the CM. The draft of the MoU between the Centre and the state government necessary for the project, which would be signed once the Centre clears it, was also discussed.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4916935.cms

 

Buddha's Delhi speech in absentia claims order in Lalgarh

 

Express News Service Tags : Buddha's Delhi speech, kolkata Posted: Friday , Aug 21, 2009 at 0316 hrs Kolkata:

Though the state government has admitted that the first phase of joint Centre-state operations to flush out Maoists from Lalgarh failed to get desired results, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is of the view that it "restored order in most of the villages and made it possible to restart development work".

In the speech that he was to deliver at the recent chief ministers' meet in Delhi that he could not attend for health reasons, the CM had claimed that the joint operation against the Maoists "cannot be successful unless a similar operation was conducted in Jharkhand in collaboration with Bengal police".

According to the CM's speech, which has been released by his secretariat three days after the August 17 meeting in Delhi, Bhattacharjee wanted that the Union government allow the Central forces to remain in Lalgarh till the Jharkhand operation was over.

 

"There is a need to launch such an operation without delay and to continue the operation in our state till that (Jharkhand operation) is over," the draft of the speech, which also dwells on the Darjeeling issue, says. "A joint operation by the state police, CRPF and BSF had been launched on June 18 to regain control over Lalgarh. The operation has been acclaimed by a large section of people. It has restored order in most of the villages and made it possible to restart development work," it says.

However, senior officers in the home department disputed the CM's portrayal of the situation in Lalgarh and his claim that 67 Maoists were arrested.

... contd.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/buddhas-delhi-speech-in-absentia-claims-order-in-lalgarh/504808/

 

Future of India lies with the Left: Buddhadeb

Raktima Bose

"Time to turn things around in West Bengal"

KOLKATA: Asserting that turning around and reaching out to those who might have misunderstood the Left was imperative for taking the leftist movement forward in West Bengal, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said here on Friday: "There is no going back."

'No alternative'

Addressing the memorial meeting of Subhas Chakraborty, the State Transport Minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader who died here on August 3, Mr. Bhattacharjee said: "There is no alternative to the Left in West Bengal. It is time to turn things around."

Several prominent Left leaders paid tribute to the memory of Subhas Chakraborty, who was described as a leader of the masses. Two senior leaders of the State Congress leadership were also present.

"We believe that socialism is inevitable. We believe that the future of India does not lie in the hands of either the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party. It lies with the Left," Mr. Bhattacharjee said.

"What change?"

Pointing out that a "peculiar" political situation had risen in West Bengal "with the Left on one side and a strange combination of forces of varied beliefs and colour on the other," Mr. Bhattacharjee wondered "what change" the Opposition was talking about.

"What do they want to change? Do they want to change things to lead the State in a rightist direction? If so, the people will never accept it," he said.

Apt tribute

Biman Bose, Secretary of the State Committee of the CPI(M), said imparting renewed vigour to the Left movement was the most apt tribute one could pay to Subhas Chakraborty.

Recalling the role he played in inspiring mass movements in 1971-72, Mr. Bose said a similar zeal is necessary to "counter the chaos and unrest being incited by a desperate Opposition in the State."

 
 
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Mamata showers railway riches on artistes
Express News Service
 
Kolkata The 54th Annual Railway National Awards, which was held in Kolkata on Thursday, turned out to be a gala extravaganza with Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee leaving no stone unturned to make the star-studded event a success.

While she spoke about getting finances for Railways through "innovative business plans", Banerjee showered lavishes for her guests by booking expensive hotels and hiring around 150 private cars, including 20 cars for celebrities and industrialists, for the three-day event.

Besides handing out 338 awards, including 268 individual awards for performance, the railways for the first time gave scholarships to 26 daughters of Group-D railway employees for their higher studies.

Mindful of the support that her party received from artiste fraternity in her fight against the CPM in Nandigram and Singur, Banerjee gave away awards to 12 city artistes. Among them were theatre personality Bibhas Chakraborty, poet Joy Goswami, actress Supriya Devi, singers Nirmala Mishra and Anup Ghosal and classical dancer Amala Shankar.

The singer-turned-Trinamool MP Kabir Suman sang a few anti-Left songs and played guitar before the 1,500-strong crowd. Banerjee also gave lifetime free first class tickets to all the artists and their one companion.

"Railway is always there in times of disaster and its employees are no less dedicated than Army personnel. We do not only have a duty for providing transport but also a social obligation. This time we started honouring intellectuals of Bengal and we will carry out this in other states," Banerjee said.

Renowned author Maheswata Devi, who was felicitated by the minister, showered praises for Banerjee and said, "Till date whatever she (Mamata) has done is laudable, be it fighting for the poor or coming up with a train for working women."

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/mamata-showers-railway-riches-on-artistes/504818/

 

Normality returning to Lalgarh, claims West Bengal Govt.
Posted on June 24th, 2009 in Latest India News

Kolkata, June 24 (ANI): The West Bengal Government on Wednesday claimed the situation in Maoist-infested Lalgarh was returning to normal, as the operations by security forces entered 5th day on Wednesday.

normality-returning-to-lalgarh-claims-west-bengal-govt

The operation by security forces and State police is being carried out to reclaim areas taken over by Maoist-backed tribals at Lalgarh in West Midnapore district.

"I think the situation is returning to normal in Lalgarh. I have talked to the local people. I have heard their grievances. I feel if we all work together, normalcy will return soon," West Bengal Chief Secretary Asok Mohan Chakraborty told newsmen at a helipad next to the Lalgarh police station.

Asked how long the operations would continue, Chakraborty said, "The forces are here. It will depend on them and their commanders. It is not for me to comment on."

With six truckloads of rice arriving, the chief secretary said from Thursday, besides rice, dal and potatoes would be provided free to displaced villagers and in relief camps for which the Block Developmetn Officer has been given instructions.

Chakraborty said Moaists were trying to pressurise the villagers to stay away from relief camps and rice distribution centres. "I talked to the local people and asked them to defeat the designs of the Maoists." (ANI) 


Pranab and Buddha on Maoist hitlist
The outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist, CPI (Maoist), named a terror outfit by the Centre last month, has issued a threat to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, according to reports.

The CPI(M) has dared Home Minister P Chidambaram to visit Jharkhand.

"Home minister P Chidambaram says the government will end Maoist movement in the country. His statement will remain a dream. It is not possible to end the movement... If Chidambaram has the courage, he should come to Jharkhand," the CPI (Maoist) said in a press release issued late on Monday.

It also threatens Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

"Both the PM and Sonia Gandhi will meet a fate like former prime minister, late Rajiv Gandhi," said the release issued by Anup-ji, a member of the Jharkhand state central committee of the CPI (Maoist).

The CPI-Maoist, in the statement, has also threatened Congress leaders in Jharkhand, asking them to quit the party or face dire consequences.

"The CPI (Maoist) is desperate after it was termed as a terrorist outfit. It just wants to gain mileage by issuing such press releases," a police official involved in anti-Maoist operation in Jharkhand said.

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