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Friday, May 20, 2011

DIDI`s DATE with History as Bengal is NO More MARXIST!'Govt to return 400 acres to Singur farmers'!

DIDI`s DATE with History as Bengal is NO More MARXIST!'Govt to return 400 acres to Singur farmers'!

Industrialists hail West Bengal's 'historic day'!



Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - SIX HUNDRED FORTY TWO

Palash Biswas

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Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday opened another front against the Tata group, hours after being sworn in as the chief minister of West Bengal.

 

"My first decision as chief minister is to return the 400 acres to the unwilling farmers of Singur," Banerjee said after the first cabinet meeting on Friday.

This 400 acres is part of the 1,000 acres acquired for the Tatas' Nano factory. Trinamool says it was acquired forcibly.

"It has been decided at the cabinet's first meeting that the Tatas are welcome to build their factory on 600 acres. But 400 acres will be given back to the farmers," she said.

The Nano project became a big political issue in 2008 when Banerjee sided with the farmers and asked the state government to return the land acquired forcibly.

The Tatas were forced to shift the project to Sanand in Gujarat.

While Banerjee could not give a deadline by when the land would be returned, she said the action would be in accordance with law.

A Tata Motors spokesperson said, "We have no guidance."

The decision dashes hopes that the new government may become friendly with the Tatas to send a signal that it welcomes investments into the state – the numerous Trinamool Congress agitations against industry notwithstanding.

The Tata group had kept a communication channel with the Trinamool Congress open by informing it about the launch of its cancer hospital on May 16. The hospital was inaugurated by Group Chairman Ratan Tata.

The senior Tata executives invited for Banerjee's swearing-in ceremony did not turn up. The Trinamool Congress had sent invites to Ratan Tata, Tata Sons Director R Gopalakrishnan, Tata Steel Vice-Chairman B Muthuraman and Tata Motors Vice-Chairman Ravi Kant.

Asked if the move would make future investments by the Tata group uncertain, Banerjee said, "Bengal will be such a place that I will not have to invite the Tatas. They will come and invest."

Banerjee said she would make the state government's lease agreement with Tata Motors public. The Left Front government had put it partially in the public domain.

Experts say the main impediment in returning the land is law. Under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, land once acquired for a public purpose cannot be returned. However, a new legislation can be passed.

The previous Left Front government, under which the land was acquired, claimed that only 181 acres was disputed.

Industrialists hail West Bengal's 'historic day'

Industrialists hailed Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee after she became the chief minister of West Bengal Friday, saying it was a "fantastic" and "historic" day.

Inventor, entrepreneur and policy maker Sam Pitroda said: "I was looking forward to this day. I know Mamata Banerjee as a friend since the day of Rajiv Gandhi. I will continue to advice and assist her in all her endeavours."

Tata Ryerson Managing Director Sandipan Chakravortty said it was a "fantastic change".

"We were looking for the significant change to come which will benefit the state and the industry. In my expectations she will focus on education and small and medium scale enterprises. She will also try in her own way to get big industries," he said.

According to Chakravortty, Banerjee did not have an anti-industry image.

He said: "She is pro-agriculture. She never said that she is against industry or the Tatas. As regard to industry, it will take time. But she will try to deliver."

Following intense anti-land acquisition protests in Singur led by the Trinamool Congress , Tata Motors had pulled out its Nano project from the town in Hooghly district.

On the Singur land, Chakravortty said: "Something has to be done there. It is an idle asset. There are legal aspects involved in it. The land is still owned by the Tatas."

RPG Group chairman Sanjiv Goenka hoped that Banerjee would come with a lot of positivity for industry.

"She has the rare quality of relating to the poorest of the poor and richest of the rich, which very few politicians have," he said.

On his expectations from the new government, Goenka said: "It is not the time to express our expectations, but to ask what she expects from us. We are confident that she will try her best to achieve long-term growth, especially for industry."

According to Sanjay Budhia, managing director of Patton International, it was a "historic day".

"Only Mamata Banerjee has the power to bring industry to Bengal. She will be able to achieve growth with a human face," he said.
 

WB assembly: Amit Mitra allocated Finance, Partha gets commerce, industries

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today allocated the key Finance portfolio to former FICCI secretary-general Amit Mitra and Commerce, Industries and Parliamentary Affairs department to her close aide Partha Chatteerjee .

Portfolios of other cabinet ministers and ministers of state would be announced soon, the chief minister told her maiden press conference after holding the first cabinet meeting at the Writers' Buildings.

"I will keep some departments with me," Banerjee said without disclosing the ones she would keep.

A few days ago, Banerjee had said that she would like to hold the Home, Health and Education departments.

She said that beside herself, 35 ministers took oath. "Congress (Trinamool Congress ally) will communicate the names of five ministers of state," Banerjee added.
'Govt to return 400 acres to Singur farmers'

In her first major policy decision, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that her government would return 400 acres from the abandoned Tata Motors plant at Singur to farmers who unwillingly parted with their land.

"The first decision taken in the cabinet is return of 400 acres from the abandoned Tata Motors plant in Singur. If the Tatas are willing, they can set up the factory on 600 acres," she said at her maiden press conference after holding the first cabinet meeting at Writers' Buildings.

To a query whether she would make the agreement between the Tatas and the previous Left Front government public, she said, "We have asked for a copy of the agreement.



The agreement will be made public. I believe in transparency."

When pointed out that the land was with the Tatas on lease and how leased land could be returned, Banerjee retorted "You do not have to worry. The government will act as per law."

Asked whether the Tatas would be invited to invest in West Bengal, she said, "I wish that they invest in the state." Sought a reaction, a Tata Motors spokesman said "no comment".

Following the pull-out of the Nano project from Singur because of agitation by the Trinamool Congress, the Tatas had shifted the mother plant to Sanand in Gujarat in October 2008.

Subsequently, the company continued to hold the land by paying the yearly lease rentals.

Mamata Banerjee, who ended the uninterrupted 34-year reign of the Left in West Bengal, on Friday scripted history when she was sworn in as the first woman Chief Minister of the state at the head of a Trinamool Congress-Congress coalition government.

The 56-year-old leader was sworn in as the 11th Chief Minister of the state at an impressive ceremony here by Governor MK Narayanan, who also administered the oath of office and secrecy to her.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who were invited by Banerjee for the ceremony, did not make it to the function which was attended by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Along with her, 37 MLAs - 35 from Trinamool Congress and 2 from ally Congress - took oath as ministers of the two-tier ministry. Four of the Trinamool Congress MLAs were sworn in as Ministers of State.



Contrary to speculation, Mukherjee's son Abhijit, who was elected as an MLA, failed to make it to the ministry.

Clad in a simple white sari and wearing a tricolor 'uttariya' (long scarf) that has by now become her trade mark, Banerjee took the oath in Bengali in the name of God.

Partha Chatterjee, Deputy Leader of the Trinamool Congress Legislature party, former FICCI Secretary General Amit Mitra and WBPCC chief Manas Bhunia and CLP leader Abu Hena were among those who were inducted into the Cabinet.

While Mitra, a TC MLA who quit as FICCI general secretary, was alloted Finance portfolio, Chatterjee will be the Industries and Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

Banerjee, who left the Congress in 1997 to form her own party to take on the Left, took the oath exactly at 1.01 pm, a time chosen by her in the presence of over 3,000 guests including the defeated Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Left Front convener Biman Bose.

After the swearing-in, Banerjee took everyone by surprise when she hit the road to go to Writers Building to assume office, a distance of 1 km, that took a long time as she was caught in the milling crowds that wanted to have a glimpse of her and greet her.

After holding a cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister announced that the government would return 400 acres from the abandoned Tata Motors plant in Singur to farmers who unwillingly parted with their land.

She also said if Tatas are interested to set up a factory on 600 acre in Singur, they are welcome. Former Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta and former Assembly speaker HA Halim were among those who attended the ceremony that lasted for one hour and 35 minutes. Former Governor Viren J Shah was also present.

Film actors Prasenjit, June Malia and singer Sandhya Mukherjee were among the other invitees to the ceremony throughout which the Trinamool Congress leaders kept shouting slogans hailing Banerjee.

Captains of industry including Sanjiv Goenka, Harsh Neotia, SK Roy, Sanjay Budhia, Sandipan Chakraborty were present. Also present were sports administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya, sports personalities Chuni Goswami and PK Banerjee.

Chidambaram walked to the dais after the ceremony and congratulated Banerjee.

Subrata Bakshi, state party president, Subrata Mukherjee, party vice-president, Sadhan Pandey, senior leader, Rabindranath Bhattacharjee, MLA from Singur, Manish Gupta, former chief secretary, and Upen Biswas, a former CBI Additional Director, took the oath.

Tatas are welcome in Singur, but minus 400 acres: Mamata Banerjee

Monideepa Banerjie, Updated: May 20, 2011 22:15 IST
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Kolkata:  Hours after taking oath as West Bengal Chief Minister, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that she will return the disputed land at Singur to farmers.

Addressing the media after her first Cabinet meet, Mamata said, "The Cabinet has decided to return the disputed 400 acres of land at Singur to farmers. Processes will be set into motion for this. The Tatas are welcome to have industry on the balance 600 acres."

The West Bengal government had leased almost 1000 acres of land at Singur to Tata Motors in 2006 for a Nano factory.

A section of farmers whose land totalled 400 acres had given the land unwillingly, refusing to accept payment for it. TwitterNDTV SocialLive MessengerGmail BuzzPrint

Making it clear that her government means business, Mamata said the Cabinet will meet once a fortnight from now on, adding that ministers must come to work on Saturdays too.

She also said that the government will invite ex-Justice Sachchar to help us formulate a package for minorities.

The Trinamool chief created history by uprooting the Left Front government from West Bengal after 34 years. And today, accompanied by thousands of people, Mamata walked the 20 minutes from Raj Bhawan to Writers Building, her new office. Jostled and pushed around in the massive rally, Mamata was actually cut on her arm and foot but kept on reaching out to her supporters in her typical style.

When asked about this, she said, "I could not have come by car because there was a sea of people on the roads. I took the Governor's permission before walking from Raj Bhawan to the Writers' Building."

Mamata also announced that former FICCI Chief Amit Mitra will be West Bengal's new Finance Minister. (Read) Senior Trinamool leader Partha Chatterjee will be minister for industry and commerce.

She reiterated that this is the government of Ma Mati Manush. "I thank them for their support. People are emotional; democracy minus people is not possible," Mamata said.

Earlier on Friday, at one minute past one in the afternoon, Mamata Banerjee took oath to become the first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal. (Read: Mamata Banerjee sworn in as West Bengal Chief Minister)

It was a historic moment for the state and personally, one that the diminutive giant-slayer has waited for all her life. Mamata took oath in Bengali marking a change of guard that will see the end of 34 years of uninterrupted rule by the CPM-led Left Front.



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Story first published:
May 20, 2011 19:20 IST

Tags: Mamata Banerjee, Mamata Cabinet, Mamata government

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Mamata talks tough, to return Singur's 400 acres to farmers

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Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday opened another front against the Tata group, hours after being sworn in as the chief minister of West Bengal. "My first decision as chief minister is to return the 400 acres to the unwilling farmers of ...

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Kolkata: Hours after taking oath as West Bengal Chief Minister, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that she will return the disputed land at Singur to farmers. Addressing the media after her first Cabinet meet, Mamata said, ...

"My first decision as chief minister is to return the 400 acres to the unwilling farmers of Singur," Banerjee said after the first cabinet meeting on Friday.
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Timeline of articles

Timeline of articles
Number of sources covering this story
Tatas are welcome in Singur, but minus 400 acres: Mamata
‎2 hours ago‎ - NDTV.com
A pilgrim spot? No, it's Mamata's home
‎7 hours ago‎ - Hindustan Times
Mamata Banerjee sworn in as West Bengal chief minister
‎14 hours ago‎ - Times of India
My name is Mamata Banerjee but...
‎20 hours ago‎ - Calcutta Telegraph
Coming soon: a play on Mamata Banerjee's life
‎May 19, 2011‎ - IBNLive.com
Representation of women in West Bengal Assembly declines
‎May 18, 2011‎ - The Hindu
Fantasy: If Mamata the Railway Minister ran Bengal
‎May 17, 2011‎ - IBNLive.com (blog)

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Mamata Banerjee

Mamata talks tough, to return Singur's 400 acres to farmers

Business Standard - ‎28 minutes ago‎
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday opened another front against the Tata group, hours after being sworn in as the chief minister of West Bengal.

Mamata's dream team set to bring change in West Bengal

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A new chapter begins

Daily Pioneer - ‎21 minutes ago‎
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Mamata Banerjee will hold her first Cabinet meeting at Writers' today at 4 pm

Indian Express - ‎17 hours ago‎
Among the 3200 people invited to the swearing-in ceremony, 52 are industrialists that include Sanjay Budhia, Sanjiv Goenka, Harsh Neotia and Ratan Tata whose Tata Motors had to shift its small car factory from Singur following consistent protest led by ...

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Expressindia.com - ‎1 hour ago‎
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Tagore songs played to celebrate Mamata Banerjee's swearing-in as chief minister

Daily News & Analysis - ‎2 hours ago‎
Place: Kolkata | Agency: PTI Trinamool Congress workers and supporters sang Rabindrasangeet outside Writers' Buildings as new chief minister Mamata Banerjee today entered the historic building to formally take charge of the state administration. ...

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Place: Kolkata | Agency: PTI New West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today said that the state government would prepare a special economic package for the people of Maoist-hit Jangalmahal and was serious about solving the problem within three ...

Mamata Banerjee says no to bullet-proof car

Daily News & Analysis - ‎2 hours ago‎
Place: Kolkata | Agency: PTI Mamata Banerjee, who took over as the new West Bengal chief minister today said she would not use a bullet-proof car. "I will not take a bullet-proof car. I don't want a bullet-proof car. I don't have any vehicle on my own. ...

Historic day for Mamata Banerjee

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West Bengal witnessed history today as Mamata Banerjee became the first woman chief minister of the state. Watch for some incredible scenes from Kolkata as she was welcomed in to her first day on the job by tens of thousands of supporters.

Tatas are welcome in Singur, but minus 400 acres: Mamata

NDTV.com - ‎2 hours ago‎
Kolkata: Hours after taking oath as West Bengal Chief Minister, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that she will return the disputed land at Singur to farmers. Addressing the media after her first Cabinet meet, Mamata said, ...

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Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday opened another front against the Tata group, hours after being sworn in as the chief minister of West Bengal. "My first decision as chief minister is to return the 400 acres to the unwilling farmers of ...

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Hindustan Times - ‎4 hours ago‎
PTI Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress party leader Mamata Banerjee gestures as she arrives at a...... Eighteen years after she vowed never to set foot again in Writers' Building from where she was forcefully evicted while on dharna with a rape ...

Mamata sworn in as CM

Business Standard - ‎11 minutes ago‎
A sea of humanity, including industrialists, artistes, litterateurs and the who's who of Kolkata, cheered as the first female chief minister of the state, Mamata Banerjee, was sworn in today. Amid the pomp and celebrations, the way West Bengal greeted ...

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Hindu Business Line - ‎1 hour ago‎
The Governor of West Bengal, Mr MK Narayanan, administers the oath of Chief Ministership to Ms Mamata Banerjee at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Friday. — Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury The euphoria over, Trinamool's self-imposed action countdown began on ...

Mamata defends large size of ministry

IBNLive.com - ‎1 hour ago‎
PTI | 11:05 PM,May 20,2011 Kolkata, May 20 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today defended the large size of her ministry saying it reflected representation of all districts.On being reminded that she had earlier spoken about a small ...

Mamata walks the launch of paribartan

Hindu Business Line - Pratim Ranjan Bose - ‎2 hours ago‎
Reaching out: The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ms Mamata Banerjee, walks to her office at the Writers' Building from Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Friday. — A. Roy Chowdhury "Exciting! I have attended such occasions many times. But, never before, I could ...

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IBNLive.com - ‎2 hours ago‎
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Mamata scripts history

The Hindu - ‎5 hours ago‎
Trinamool Congress chief and former Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee walked her way into Bengal's history as she became the State's first woman Chief Minister as well as the first non-Marxist Chief Minister in three decades. ...

Mamata takes charge as West Bengal CM

Livemint - ‎2 hours ago‎
Kolkata : What Mamata Banerjee started 18 years ago as a street campaigner, she completed on Friday as West Bengal's chief minister with her victory march to the Writers' Building. Followed by tens of thousands of followers, she entered the state ...

Sea of humanity along Mamata's road to Secretariat

The Hindu - ‎5 hours ago‎
PTI PTI A large crowd near the State Secretariat building in Kolkata waits for a glimpse of the new West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Photo: PTI It was a sea of humanity on both sides of the street which Mamata Banerjee took to walk from the ...

Mamata to return 400 acres of Singur land to farmers

Hindustan Times - ‎4 hours ago‎
PTI In her first major policy decision, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that her government would return 400 acres from the abandoned Tata Motors plant at Singur to farmers who unwillingly parted with their land. ...

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IBNLive.com - ‎2 hours ago‎
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Mamata Banerjee has taken oath as the New Chief Minister of West Bengal. It's a historic day for West Bengal as 34-year long rule of Left front ends. Mamata becomes the first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee sworn in as Bengal CM

Hindu Business Line - ‎10 hours ago‎
The Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the Union Home Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, and the Minister of State for Railways, Mr K. Muniappa, greet Ms Mamata Banerjee after her swearing-in as Chief Minister at Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Friday. ...

Buddhadeb, Biman, Mamata at same function - at long last

Hindustan Times - ‎7 hours ago‎
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IBNLive.com - ‎6 hours ago‎
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Mamata prefers to be called a "commoner"

IBNLive.com - ‎7 hours ago‎
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Now A Documentary On Mamata Banerjee's Life

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The educated middle class has a strange snobbery about people like Mamata and I think it is high time they change their attitude," he says. On Banerjee's recent victory Ghose adds, "The Left party ruled for 33 years and a single party ruling for such a ...

Historic day in WB, Mamata takes oath today

IBNLive.com - ‎11 hours ago‎
New Delhi: It is a historic moment in West Bengal for more reasons than one - Mamata Banerjee sworn-in as the state's first woman chief minister on Friday. Not just that she is the first non-Marxist leader to take over in 34 years. ...

Mamata Banerjee sworn in as West Bengal chief minister

Times of India - ‎14 hours ago‎
PTI | May 20, 2011, 01.09pm IST KOLKATA: Mamata Banerjee was on Friday sworn in as the first woman chief minister of West Bengal heading a Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance government, marking a change of guard that saw the end of 34 years of ...

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IBNLive.com - ‎11 hours ago‎
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has taken over as the first woman chief minister of West Bengal. Mamata, the first non-Marxist to hold the post in 34 years, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor MK Narayanan at ...

Mamata to be sworn-in as Bengal's first woman CM today

Hindustan Times - ‎15 hours ago‎
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee poses for a picture with her family members and party...... Buoyed by her resounding victory in the West Bengal assembly elections, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has envisaged a swearing-in ceremony ...

Mamata & Co ready for D-Day, Cong to join govt

Hindustan Times - ‎15 hours ago‎
After the change, the challenge: chief minister-designate Mamata Banerjee and her council of ministers will begin their stint of governance with the oath at the Raj Bhavan on Friday. Banerjee will have a 43-member council of ministers - one short of ...

 

Mamata Banerjee: Hysterics to history

Mamata defends large size of ministry

Press Trust Of India
Posted on May 20, 2011 at 11:01pm IST

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Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday defended the large size of her ministry saying it reflected representation of all districts.

On being reminded that she had earlier spoken about a small ministry, Mamata told a press conference, "We had to give representations to all districts, the minorities and schedule castes and schedule tribes."

She said that another six ministers would join. "Of them the Congress will give the names of five."

Along with her, 37 MLAs -- 35 from Trinamool Congress and 2 from ally Congress -- took oath as ministers of the two-tier ministry. Four Trinamool Congress MLAs were sworn in as Ministers of State.

The erstwhile Left Front government had 44 ministers.

Told that she had faced assaults in the past, Mamata replied, "I have been beaten up a number of times. I have suffered a lot of atrocities, but I choose not to remember them.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mamata-defends-large-size-of-ministry/153051-37-64.html

20/05/2011

Mamata takes over, walks history road

Kolkata: As tens of thousands crowded the streets of this grand old city and millions more watched on TV, Mamata Banerjee made history Friday by becoming the first woman chief minister of West Bengal, breaking 34 years of uninterrupted Left rule in the state.

Mamata takes over, walks history road

Trinamool Congress supremo, Mamata Banerjee (C) waves to supporters after the swearing-in ceremony as Chief Minister of West Bengal on the balcony of Writer's Building in Kolkata. AFP

Clad in her trademark white sari and rubber slippers, a beaming Banerjee was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor M.K. Narayanan at the Raj Bhavan here in a ceremony attended by more than 3,000 invited guests.

Alongside Banerjee, 33 cabinet ministers and four ministers of state were also sworn in, exactly a week after her Trinamool Congress-led alliance made the Left Front bow out of power by winning 227 seats in the 294-member assembly.

There were milling crowds at Banerjee's residence in South Kolkata's Kalighat, on the seven-kilometer route to and outside Raj Bhavan, where the programme came to an end to the strains of Tagore's immortal song "Nai, nai bhoi", as per her wish.

After the swearing-in, Banerjee walked the distance from Raj Bhavan to the state secretariat, Writers' Building, about two kilometres away, amid swirling crowds, instead of going in a car like her predecessors of the Left Front era.

Mamata takes over, walks history road

West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan administers the oath to Trinamool Congress supremo, Mamata Banerjee (R) as Chief Minister of West Bengal during the swearing–in ceremony at Governor's House in Kolkata. AFP

People rushed from all directions, police barricades gave way, and security personnel were in a tizzy. Over the entire route, Banerjee shook hands with the masses and exchanged pleasantries.

The 56-year-old Trinamool Congress chief becomes the state's eighth chief minister and the first non-Left front leader to occupy the post since Congress leader Siddhartha Shankar Ray's government was formed in 1972. She took her oath in Bengali at 1.01 p.m., a time she had herself chosen in the belief that it was auspicious.

Among those present were union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, former state chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Left Front chairman Biman Bose and other top leaders of the opposition combine.

The ceremony presented a rare sight of Banerjee, Bhattacharjee and Bose gracing the same function in a state known for its sharp political polarisation.

Thirty-one of the cabinet ministers were from the Trinamool, and two others from Congress - which would later announce five other ministers of state. Apart from Banerjee, the council of ministers has only one woman - Sabitri Mitra.

Mamata takes over, walks history road

Trinamool Congress party leader Mamata Banerjee, left, accepts sweets offered by Governor M.K. Narayanan after taking oath of office as Chief Minister of West Bengal state in Kolkata. AP

Among the Trinamool ministers are Partha Chatterjee, economist and former FICCI secretary general Amit Mitra and former minister Subrata Mukherjee.

State Trinamool president Subrata Buxi, Singur legislator Rabindranath Bhattacharya, theatre personality Bratya Basu as also three retired Indian Police Service officers - Upen Biswas, H.A. Sawfi and Rachpal Singh - also took oath, as did former chief secretary Manish Gupta, who humbled Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at Jadavpore.

Lawmakers from the minority community, including Firhad Hakim, Javed Khan and Abdul Karim Chowdhury, also took oath.

The two cabinet ministers from the Congress were Manas Bhuniya and Abu Hena.
Thirty-four of those sworn-in took the oath in Bengali, two in English, and one each in Santhali and Urdu.

Banerjee later met Governor Narayanan. "I will talk to him once a week. We will work for the people of the state," Banerjee said. Celebrations broke out across the state with Trinamool supporters bursting crackers and exchanging sweets.

Mamata takes over, walks history road

Former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, center, is flanked by former state Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta, left, and Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Biman Bose as they attend the swearing in ceremony of the new Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. AP

In the morning, the sound of conch shells and ululations filled the air and Mamata Banerjee's single-storey house at the dingy Harish Chatterjee Street almost turned into a pilgrim place as people thronged there.

Chants of 'Maa Maati Manusher Jai' (victory of mother, motherland and people) - Banerjee's pet slogan - and 'Mamata Banerjee Zindabad!' could be heard.

At the Raj Bhavan, the guests included leading industrialists like Sanjiv Goenka, writers Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay and Mahasweta Devi, and a Who's Who of politics, business, art, sports and culture.

Representatives from the working classes, including rickshaw-pullers, farmers, slum-dwellers and representative organisations of sex workers and the disabled, also graced the function.

Relatives of the victims in Singur, Nandigram - synonymous with peasant protests against farmland acquisition that changed the poll script in favour of Trinamool - and Netai, the site of an alleged Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activists, were also present.

They were witnessing history - having helped Banerjee make it.

Mamata takes over, walks history road

Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters celebrate Mamata Banerjee taking the oath of office as Chief Minister of West Bengal, in Siliguri. AFP

Thousands throng to see Banerjee walk to Writers' Building

In scenes never before seen in the state, Mamata Banerjee Friday walked amid tens of thousands of commoners after after being sworn in as the eighth chief minister of West Bengal. She walked her way to the Writers' Building, the state secretariat, from Raj Bhavan the venue of the swearing-in ceremony.

In a sharp departure from practice - her predecessors of the Left Front era chose to go in a car from Raj Bhavan to the state secretariat about two kilometres away - the state's first woman chief minister walked the distance amid the swirling crowds after taking oath.

Thousands flooded the Netaji Subhas Bose Road as Banerjee continued her walkathon. Atop the buildings the only thing visible was innumerable heads. People scrambled and jostled to get a glimpse of the leader who has been touted as the voice of the oppressed and the needy.

There was a near-stampede situation as people rushed to touch Banerjee's feet, to congratulate her, to shake her hands. Police had a harrowing time controlling the crowds as they kept on swelling by every second. It was irrefutable evidence of the mass appeal of the charismatic leader.

Banerjee kept shaking and folding her hands, greeting the people. She along with other Trinamool Congress leaders like Firhad Hakim and Partha Chaterjee also tried to manage the crowd, which had broken the barricades put by the police.

The security personnel were visibly anxious as Banerjee, unconcerned about her security, freely mingled with the people. Hundreds of banners and Trinamool flags fluttered as Banerjee walked on followed by her infinite swarm of admirers.

Banerjee started off at 4.10 p.m. and reached the secretariat at 4.45 p.m. On reaching, she garlanded former chief minister Bidhan Chandra Roy's bust.

Banerjee's black Santro that had been parked outside the Writers' Building also became the centre of attraction as hundreds touched the tyres of the car in reverence.

"This not a car, it's a chariot. Didi has conquered the whole state riding this chariot. It's sacred for us," said Suman Batyabal who came from Tamluk in East Midnapore.

Source: IANS

20/05/2011

After 34 years, swearing in the name of god

In the first sign of change in West Bengal, most ministers in the new Trinamool Congress-led government Friday took oath of office in the name of god - quite unlike the Marxist ministers who would swear allegiance to the constitution.

After 34 years, swearing in the name of god

The Left Front, which ruled the state uninterruptedly from 1977, was led by the communists, who are atheists by political belief. The communist leaders would "solemnly" affirm their allegiance to the constitution.

In contrast, most Trinamool Congress and Congress leaders, who took oath of office Friday, used the expression "do swear in the name of god". Purnendu Bose, a Trinamool legislator, was a rare exception as he simply said "solemnly affirm".

Banerjee struck other different notes as well. While her predecessors of the Left Front era chose to go in a car from Raj Bhavan to the state secretariat, Writers' Building, about two kilometres away, the state's first woman chief minister walked the distance amid the swirling crowds after the swearing-in.

And though, Banerjee, 56, is not one to be formally dressed, she imposed a dress code on ministers -- the men were asked to take oath in dhoti and kurta and the women in saris.

After 34 years, swearing in the name of god

A pilgrim spot? No, it's Mamata's home

The sound of conch shells and ululations filled the air. Mamata Banerjee's single-storey house at the dingy Harish Chatterjee Street in south Kolkata almost turned into a pilgrim place as people thronged in thousands to congratulate her Friday, the day she became West Bengal's first woman chief minister.

People started flooding the Kalighat area from early morning. Chants of 'Maa Maati Manusher Jai' (victory of mother, motherland and people) - Banerjee's pet slogan - and 'Mamata Banerjee Zindabad!' could be heard. Supporters wearing Trinamool caps and T-shirts stood on both sides of the road beating drums while hundreds danced with joy.

The admirers came from across the state, including far off districts, to be part of a historic event in Bengal's politics - the swearing in of the eighth chief minister and one who had dislodged the ruling Left Front after 34 years.

"I have been here since 7 a.m. to get a glimpse of her," said a man who had come from Barrackpore in neighbouring North 24 Pargans. "But I have been waiting for this moment for the past 34 years," said a man who had come from Burdwan to see Banerjee.

Seven-year-old Rupsha Debnath said: "I am here to shake hands with Didi."
Mir Kamaluddin, a juggler, had come from Sankrail in Howrah on a bicycle with a ball on his head to honour the leader. "I have a request for Didi. If she can provide me an opportunity to display my juggling skills at the Raj Bhavan."

He will cycle the whole day carrying a ball on his head in front of her residence. To mark the occasion, a tram has been decorated with garlands and balloons and banners.

After 34 years, swearing in the name of god

A banner in front depicted Banerjee in front of Writers' Buildings and said: "Welcome our beloved chief minister" while one at the back read, "Greetings to Maa Maati Manush." One more banner read, "Agriculture is our inspiration, industry our conscience."

As Banerjee stepped out of her house at 12.35 p.m. to head for the Raj Bhavan seven kilometres away for the swearing in, there was a mad rush. She shook hands with as many people as she could. People showered flower petals as the 56-year old moved towards her car.

Before boarding her usual black Santro car instead of the official bullet-proof vehicle, she said to the maddening crowd: "You all have been waiting since morning. I was too busy; I wanted to meet you all. You have chosen me. It's all because of you. You all keep well. Bless me so that I can work for your welfare."

"I will not meet you for the next seven days as I have to work for you all through the week. Then I will meet you once a week and listen to your problems and grievances. All this will be done in a systematic manner ensuring transparency. You will later get to know when and where I will meet you," said Banerjee.

Before boarding the car, she said: "I need to see my mother once more". And went back to her spartan home to seek her blessings.

She left for Raj Bhavan at 12.40 p.m. along with her sister-in-law as well as Trinamool leader Gautam Sanyal. The security personnel had a harrowing time controlling the crowds. For many in Bengal, such a day had arrived after 34 years.

Source: IANS

20/05/2011

Mamata Banerjee becomes West Bengal CM

Kolkata: Amid heightened security at the Raj Bhavan here, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was today sworn-in as West Bengal's first woman chief minister, with the Who's Who of politics, business, art and culture in attendance.

Mamata Banerjee becomes West Bengal CM

Along with Banerjee, a 43-member ministerial team - 36 from the Trinamool and seven from alliance partner Congress - took oath, marking the beginning of the journey of the first non-Left Front ministry in the state in 34 years.

Banerjee, who has become the state's eighth chief minister, took oath in Bengali at sharp 1.01 p.m. from Governor M.K. Narayanan in the presence of around 3,200 guests that included union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, outgoing chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Left Front chairman Biman Bose and leaders of other LF partners.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi did not attend the historic regime change-over in the state.

Banerjee resigned from the railway ministry during the day, and will be the first non-Left Front chief minister to be sworn in since 1972, when the Congress ministry led by Siddhartha Shankar Ray took oath.

Mamata Banerjee becomes West Bengal CM

Among the Trinamool ministers are leader of opposition in the previous assembly Partha Chatterjee, former FICCI general secretary and renowned economist Amit Mitra and former minister and Kolkata mayor Subrata Mukherjee, who served in the Ray ministry between 1972 and 1977.

State Trinamool president Subrata Buxi, Singur legislator Rabindranath Bhattacharya, theatre personality Bratya Basu also figure in the ministry that also includes former Central Bureau of Investigation joint director Upen Biswas and Indian Police Service officer H.A. Sawfi.

Several lawmakers from the minority community, including Firhad Hakim, Javed Khan, Nure Alam Chowdhury and Abdul Karim Chowdhury are in the list that includes representatives from most of the districts. Relatives of the victims in Singur, Nandigram and Netai have been invited to the ceremony.

Singur and Nandigram - synonymous with intense peasant protests against the acquisition of farmlands - have earned the credit for changing the poll scripts of the state.

Family members of Singur resident Tapasi Malik, who was raped and killed by alleged local Left leaders during the heydays of anti-land acquisition movements, have been invited to the oath-taking ceremony.

Mamata Banerjee becomes West Bengal CM

The kin of the 14 people who died in the police firing in Nandigram in 2007 and others who died during the 10-month long agitation against the land acquisition there, and family members of those nine victims who were killed by alleged Left goons in the Netai village of West Midnapore district earlier this year have also been invited.

The Trinamool Congress has also invited at least one representative each from all the working class sections of society, which includes rickshaw-pullers, farmers, slum-dwellers and representative organisations of sex workers and the disabled.

Meanwhile, the city police deployed Quick Response Teams (QRTs) under the command of senior deputy commissioners in and outside the Raj Bhavan compound and in front of Writers' Buildings - the seat of power.

Special arrangements were also made to sanitize a two-km radius around Raj Bhavan, Shahid Minar and the state secretariat Writers' Buildings.

Source: IANS


Will not trust N-plant safety reviews by vendors: Banerjee
NEW DELHI: Seeking to allay apprehensions on the Jaitapur nuclear power project, Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Srikumar Banerjee today said India would do its own safety reviews on the nuclear reactors it plans to purchase from French company Areva.

"We are not trusting the safety reviews done by the vendors. The licensing and safety reviews for the Jaitapur reactors will be done by our own nuclear regulators," he said in an interactive session at the National Physical Laboratory here.

He pointed out that the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has been working closely with Russian companies for the Kudankulam nuclear power plant.

Banerjee sought to downplay suggestions that the European Pressurised Reactors (EPR) were "untested" and contended that the reactors were based on an evolutionary design.

"Ours will be the fifth reactor. Finland, France and China have already signed up for installing the EPR reactors," he said adding that the nuclear power plants being set up in Jaitapur will have several additional safety measures.

The Jaitapur nuclear power project has run into controversy with anti-nuclear activists voicing apprehension on the safety of the project and its impact on the sensitive bio-diversity and marine life in the Konkan region.

Banerjee said eight universities and ecology departments had carried out studies on the impact on the environment due to the project.

He said the studies had concluded that the rise in sea temperature due to discharge of hot water from the plant would not be more than 4.5 degrees Celsius in the hottest months.

Banerjee said the water from the plant would be discharged at a distance of 1.5-2.5 km from the sea shore in an area of about 500 meter diameter.

He pointed out that Europe allowed a 10 degree Celsius rise in the sea water temperature due to discharge of hot water from power plants.

However, considering the tropical conditions in India this has been capped at less than seven degrees Celsius.

On concerns related to seismicity of the Jaitapur site, Banerjee said the plant site was located in seismic zone III and not in seismic zone IV as has been the belief.

"We will have to design the plant for that level. All the equipment will be seismically qualified," he said.

Areva and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited plan to build six nuclear reactors each of 1650 MW capacity at Jaitapur.

Agreements have been signed for building two reactors to start with.
 

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THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS BLASTS INDIANS THAT CLAIM BUDDHA WAS BORN IN INDIA

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: INDIAN GOVERNMENT FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM RISKIER

http://youtu.be/NrcmNEjaN8c The government of India has announced food security program ahead of elections in 2014. We discussed the issue with Palash Biswas in Kolkata today. http://youtu.be/NrcmNEjaN8c Ahead of Elections, India's Cabinet Approves Food Security Program ______________________________________________________ By JIM YARDLEY http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/indias-cabinet-passes-food-security-law/

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS TALKS AGAINST CASTEIST HEGEMONY IN SOUTH ASIA

THE HIMALAYAN VOICE: PALASH BISWAS DISCUSSES RAM MANDIR

Published on 10 Apr 2013 Palash Biswas spoke to us from Kolkota and shared his views on Visho Hindu Parashid's programme from tomorrow ( April 11, 2013) to build Ram Mandir in disputed Ayodhya. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77cZuBunAGk

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS LASHES OUT KATHMANDU INT'L 'MULVASI' CONFERENCE

अहिले भर्खर कोलकता भारतमा हामीले पलाश विश्वाससंग काठमाडौँमा आज भै रहेको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मूलवासी सम्मेलनको बारेमा कुराकानी गर्यौ । उहाले भन्नु भयो सो सम्मेलन 'नेपालको आदिवासी जनजातिहरुको आन्दोलनलाई कम्जोर बनाउने षडयन्त्र हो।' http://youtu.be/j8GXlmSBbbk

THE HIMALAYAN DISASTER: TRANSNATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT MECHANISM A MUST

We talked with Palash Biswas, an editor for Indian Express in Kolkata today also. He urged that there must a transnational disaster management mechanism to avert such scale disaster in the Himalayas. http://youtu.be/7IzWUpRECJM

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS CRITICAL OF BAMCEF LEADERSHIP

[Palash Biswas, one of the BAMCEF leaders and editors for Indian Express spoke to us from Kolkata today and criticized BAMCEF leadership in New Delhi, which according to him, is messing up with Nepalese indigenous peoples also. He also flayed MP Jay Narayan Prasad Nishad, who recently offered a Puja in his New Delhi home for Narendra Modi's victory in 2014.]

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS CRITICIZES GOVT FOR WORLD`S BIGGEST BLACK OUT

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS CRITICIZES GOVT FOR WORLD`S BIGGEST BLACK OUT

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALSH BISWAS FLAYS SOUTH ASIAN GOVERNM

Palash Biswas, lashed out those 1% people in the government in New Delhi for failure of delivery and creating hosts of problems everywhere in South Asia. http://youtu.be/lD2_V7CB2Is

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS LASHES OUT KATHMANDU INT'L 'MULVASI' CONFERENCE

अहिले भर्खर कोलकता भारतमा हामीले पलाश विश्वाससंग काठमाडौँमा आज भै रहेको अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय मूलवासी सम्मेलनको बारेमा कुराकानी गर्यौ । उहाले भन्नु भयो सो सम्मेलन 'नेपालको आदिवासी जनजातिहरुको आन्दोलनलाई कम्जोर बनाउने षडयन्त्र हो।' http://youtu.be/j8GXlmSBbbk