July 21 is observed every year by Mamata Banerjee at downtown Esplanade to mark killing of 13 activists (then she was a Congress leader) in police firing on July 21, 1993 in Kolkata, but this year it was a different occasion for the communist slayer.
But Mamata this year chose to change the venue to the city's iconic Brigade Parade Ground for a massive show of strength and despite rain a large number of people gathered drawn by the star power of Mamata Banerjee.
"I thank you all for braving the weather and turning up in large number. My brothers and sisters and mothers of Nandigram, Netai, Singur and Jangalmahal (all over Bengal. I thank you all.
"Those who died will not come back. But I will try to do my best to bring peace.
"People punished them. So there is no need for us to clash with them. They robbed, they killed. But we will not do anything like that. We will give good governance," she said.
"Now we want good human beings. Now we want good youth power," she said.
"I have tried to do in two months what the Left Front did not do in decades. I tried to speed up work," she said.
"After taking over we saw that the government even did not leave any money to pay salaries. They left huge debts. They made the hospitals a gateway to hell. We increased 3500 beds in just two months," she said.
"The teachers will now get salary on time on the first day of the month," she said, adding that thousands of teachers would be recruited too.
"We will solve Singur problem. We will solve Jangalmahal (Maoist affected zone) problem. We will solve all," she said.
Mamata said she will now concentrate on infrastructure and ensure employment generation.
"We will show what is Parivartan (change). You welcome change, and we show what is change," she said.
From actors like Biswajit and popular Bengali singer Nachiketa to present day Tollywood heartthrob Dev and litterateur and Magsaysay winning social activist Mahasweta Devi, the stage of Banerjee's victory show was a galaxy of stars, singers, poets, actors and intellectuals.
"I call upon those who have misunderstood me and again extend my offer of talks and to work jointly with the government for the development of junglemahal," Banerjee said.
"I extend my offer to those also who are carrying out an ideological struggle. Restore peace in junglemahal and help speed up development," she said.
In reference to Maoists' demand to free their leaders after she first offered talks on July 7 and followed it up with a two-day visit to junglemahal from July 12, she proposed release of 52 political prisoners.
The proposal for freeing the 52 political prisoners was made by a government-appointed committee headed by Justice (retd) Moloy Sengupta.
Banerjee who had asked the Maoists to lay down arms and promised compensation and care for their families while announcing a package for the three districts, said, "We are keeping a watch on the situation and will certainly take more such steps once peace is restored."
"We have been sending details of these cases to the Bandimukti Committee formed by the state government," she told a mammoth rally at the Brigade Parade ground in Kolkata.
Addressing the Martyr's Day rally held annually by Trinamool Congress in memory of 13 Youth Congress workers killed in police firing in Kolkata in 1993, she listed achievements of her government after coming to power two months ago.
"Signing of the historic Darjeeling hills treaty, bringing peace in Junglemahal, taking back land acquired by the government in Singur and the decision on release of political prisoners were done in a record two months," she said.
"This is a big achievement which no other government could do in such a short time," she claimed.
"My government created one lakh jobs in the last two months and there will be scope for employment of 10 lakh in two years. Just have patience.
"I will take Bengal to its to the destined goal when there will be no financial crisis and and everyone will again say what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow," she promised.
Responding to repeated applause, she said, "I can sacrifice my life, but I can't sacrifice my commitments."
With the rally held amid heavy rains since morning, Banerjee thanked party supporters.
"It was raining before the rally, but now there is no rain. I appreciate the hardship you have taken to be present here."
From 13, list of 'martyrs' swells to 367
The Trinamool Congress, which has been observing "martyrs' day" for the 13 Congress workers who died in the 1993 police firing at Esplanade, has decided to expand the list of the "martyrs" to 367 by including all those who died in political violence or other political-related incidents ranging from the agitations at Singur, Nandigram to the violence at Nanoor and Netai.
According to the party's official document, there are 367 "martyrs" of Trinamool in the 19 districts of the state. "Members of all these families will be present in the meeting. Families of 65 "martyrs" from West Midnapore and 83 from East Midnapore will attend the meeting," the document states.
On Thursday, at the Brigade Parade Ground where Trinamool chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be paying tribute to the "martyrs", she is expected to announce compensation for the victims, most likely for the families of nine persons killed in Netai village allegedly by CPM goons this year.
As the railway minister Mamata Banerjee had already awarded jobs to some of the families of Nandigram and Nanoor "martyrs", but she is yet to anounce any rehabilitaton for Netai victims. Trinamool MP and Union minister Sisir Adhikary said: "We were told to bring the families of all the martyrs of Nandigram and Lalgarh movements. It was specially mentioned that family members of Netai victims should be present in Thursday's function. We have handed over the list of Netai victims to the chief minister and she may announce a relief package for the families."
... contd.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/from-13-list-of-martyrs-swells-to-367/820219/
Mamata hopes PM will sanction financial package for Bengal
PTI | 06:07 PM,Jul 21,2011Kolkata, Jul 21 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today hoped that Prime minister Manmohan Singh would keep his word on sanctioning a financial package for the state.Deliberating on the acute financial crisis the new government faced after taking over from the Left Front regime following Assembly elections, Banerjee said "I have sought a financial package from the Centre to rejuvenate the economy."I met the Union Finance Minister six to eight times to seek financial assistance for West Bengal, which was shattered in last 35 years of Left Front rule. But the package has not yet reached us," she said.She said the Prime minister has given his word and hopefully the package will get through.Listing her government's plans and programmes, she said "you will find within one year what the word 'parivartan' (change) stands for." "I think Ma-Mati-Manush is the real source of strength," she said at a huge public rally here to observe the Trinamool Congress annual 'Martyrs Day' and to celebrate her party's massive win in the last assembly elections."Once the financial crisis is over, the state government will find a way to build its own financial infrastructure. Bengal will not go begging anymore," she said.
Mamata criticises CPI-M for opposing Darjeeling treaty
A day after the historic Darjeeling treaty was signed, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the CPI-M and regional parties based in north Bengal for opposing the treaty.
"We want to rebuild Bengal. We are for friendly bond between the hills and the plains. When we are at work to achieve this... these parties are up in arms against us and trying to misguide people," she said at a function here.
The Chief Minister said the landmark Darjeeling agreement would go a long way in establishing a link between the hills and the plains of north Bengal.
Banerjee and Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi flagged off a number of state and railway projects aimed at all-round development of north Bengal among whom there is a mini-secretariat for the region.
"This is in accordance with my pledge for a government of Ma, Mati, Manush which is installed in West Bengal," Banerjee said.
Coming down heavily on the CPI-M for "misguiding and confusing" people on the Darjeeling agreement, the Chief Minister said, "It is amazing that this party, which neglected the hills for 34 years, has been raising a hue and cry over the treaty and also at a time when we are ushering in development in the hills".
Asking the CPI(M) "not to play with fire and not to try to create a division between the plains and the hills," the Chief Minister said, "I am a soft person. But I will not tolerate any move to stall development work. I will not apply force against these parties. I will deal with them by going in for development."
Mamata Banerjee holds first rally as West Bengal CM
| Kolkata, July 21, 2011 | Updated 10:52 ISTAmid rains, Kolkata virtually came to a standstill as thousands flocked to attend the rally, which was being organised by the ruling Trinamool Congress to observe Martyrs' Day at the Brigade Parade Ground.
Thousands of Trinamool Congress supporters marched towards Brigade Parade Ground. To minimise traffic jams, vehicular traffic was diverted. A massive traffic congestion was reported at AJC Bose Road, the lifeline of the city.
The political message from Mamata was expected to reach out to the lowest level party functionary. She will also launch her new youth brigade and a party anthem to mark the occasion.
Talking about preparations for the rally, Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee had earlier said, "We are trying our level best. Though there are people coming from all across the state to Kolkata, but still Trinamool workers are disciplined. Kolkata will run accordingly."
With security being a prime concern, over 10,000 police personnel were deployed around the venue
Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek to head Trinamool youth wing
n a country which thrives on dynasty politics, here's another one waiting to join the bandwagon.
Barely two months after storming to power, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to catapult her nephew as the next generation leader of Trinamool Congress.
Clad in a starched white kurta, blue denim and branded sneakers - a style similar to the new-breed of Congress leaders - Abhishek's rimless glasses and gelled hair is a far cry from Mamata's cotton saris and slippers. He is also considered arrogant by many within the party. But being Mamata's nephew has its own advantages and Abhishek is utilising it to the hilt.
Son of Mamata's elder brother Amit, Abhishek heads the party's cyber team.
He gained ground within the party with his online campaign ahead of the state assembly elections.
In the run-up to the state elections, Abhishek managed to mobilise a marginal section of the city youth, mostly from well-to-do families. He helped enhance the party's web presence with various online campaigns in social networking sites.
Party sources said Abhishek's name would be announced by Mamata as the president of All India Trinamool Yuva. The organisation was apparently launched to give Abhishek some room in the state's political arena.
The new platform was a brainchild of Mamata to bridge the gap between the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and the Trinamool Youth Congress. And she chose Abhishek to take over the party's newly formed youth wing. Political analysts feel Abhishek's emergence will start a new chapter of dynasty politics in West Bengal.
"Bengal has never seen such dynasty politics. It remains to be seen whether Mamata bucks that trend in the state. She received a large chunk of votes as people knew she had no direct descendants in politics. But the chief minister has left no stone unturned in introducing Abhishek to Bengal's power politics," senior CPM leader Md Salim said.
Salim said Trinamool was projecting Abhishek as a youth leader much like the Congress, which has been promoting Rahul Gandhi as the future leader of the country.
Under Abhishek's leadership, Trinamool Congress-Yuva will accept membership from those in the 21-35 age-group. In contrast, both the Trinamool Youth Congress and Trinamool Chhatra Parishad have no age limits.
"It (Trinamool-Yuva) will be a platform for those who couldn't stay in touch with politics since passing out from college. There's no organisation that targets this age group in our country. Trinamool-Yuva will target this audience," Abhishek told MAIL TODAY over phone.
He said anyone belonging to this particular age-group could join Trinamool-Yuva against a membership fee of Rs 1 per month.
"We will go on a membership drive from Friday - a day after the official announcement of Trinamool-Yuva. It will not be restricted to Bengal. Rather it will reach out to people in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Orissa and other states to create a pan-India presence," Abhishek said.
He said Trinamool-Yuva will organise workshops at the block level to groom the future leaders.
"We have accepted Abhishek as the future face of Trinamool because of his leadership qualities," Arup Chakraborty, a Trinamool Youth Congress activist in South 24-Parganas, said.
However, there are dissenting notes coming out from within the party. Sources close to Mamata feel Abhishek's emergence will send a wrong signal to the people in rural Bengal, where the party is viewed as a proletarian political force. But with Mamata at his mentor, a lot could change.
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'With so much difficulty I bring my children up, and this is what happens,' said Madkam Jogi, a widow and mother of young Madkam Idma, who was picked up by security forces and killed on the way to the police station. His body would be paraded as a Maoist killed in an encounter.
His village of Tatemargu in Dantewada's so-called liberated zone was attacked on November 9, 2009, by security forces. One of the Special Police Officers who was part of the combing operation was Sodhi Gangaya, who used to live in nearby Curreygundem.
Eventually, his senior commanders learnt of Comrade Naveen's indiscretions, and he discreetly escaped. The next time his villagers saw him, he was an SPO acting as a guide for a combing operation that left seven people dead, two villages burnt to ground, and three women allegedly raped.Gangaya used to be Comrade Naveen of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), an area commander, who, according to the villagers of Curreygudem had also raped a young girl.
SPOs and Salwa Judum leaders were also indicted for the kidnapping and brutal gang-rape of an adivasi girl in the Konta police station. There are warrants for their arrests and they are described as absconding, but they show up on duty.
This is why it is heartening to see the Supreme Court's order on the legality of the Salwa Judum that 'the State of Chhattisgarh claims it has a constitutional sanction to perpetrate, indefinitely, a regime of gross violation of human rights in a manner, and by adopting the same modes, as done by Naxalites/extremists.'
The Salwa Judum resorts to murder, rape, looting and burning with the complete support of the State in the name of industrial development. The Supreme Court thinks it's a bad idea, and there are people who feel the Supreme Court has 'encroached' upon the 'executive' and these same people have suddenly become votaries for the 'separation of powers.'
That's funny. I thought we had separation of powers to ensure that one group of gangsters (the executive) can't have a monopoly over power, as they've had for decades. The Supreme Court reminds us that we have a Constitution and you can't shoot your own people in the name of a virulent industrial development. But the state of Chhattisgarh, the ruling class and the security apparatus think it is necessary to arm people.
There are still people who want perpetual war to deal with the Maoists when they themselves, with their own economic policies, are responsible for their strength. The Supreme Court says it perfectly, 'Tax breaks for the rich and guns for the youngsters amongst poor, so that they keep fighting amongst themselves, seems to be the new mantra from the mandarins of security and high economic policy of the State.'
Those who are asking for the SPO system should also send their children to the jungles of Dantewada. Because contrary to popular belief, SPOs die by the truckloads because they're put in a war where the gun is always going to be pointed at their head: the gun called poverty.
And if the Chidambarams and Arun Jaitleys of the world want war, they should send their children and grandchildren to it. Or maybe they can see with their own eyes how NREGA payments haven't been paid to people for months and years, or how PDS shops cheat people. Or how malaria kills their own and the adivasis, and the government still spends more money on security than on hospitals and clinics.
Maybe they can see how the law is subverted, and the government acts like an agent for private corporations. Maybe they can see that industrial development is a lie as it only destroys forests and rivers, and the farms of the people who feed us. Maybe they can see the humanity of an adivasi village whose grains are destroyed by a combing operation and they still feed journalists.
Maybe the children of the warmongers can go back home to their daddies and tell them to read the Constitution. And maybe we can all finally start working for a country our forefathers died for.
— The writer is a Mumbai-based journalist
http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/comment_analysis-salwa-judum-deserves-to-be-wiped-out_1567793
এত দিন ছিলেন 'বিরোধী'। এই প্রথম 'শাসক'। রাজ্যের মুখ্যমন্ত্রী হিসেবে এই প্রথম একুশে জুলাইয়ের সমাবেশে বক্তৃতা করবেন মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়। ১৮ বছর আগের এক একুশে জুলাই যে মমতা কলকাতার রাজপথে আন্দোলনে নেমেছিলেন, তাঁর সঙ্গে এই মমতার ফারাক অনেক। তফাত সেই মমতার সঙ্গেও, যিনি গত বছর পর্যন্ত একুশে জুলাই পালন করেছেন। গত বছর পর্যন্ত যে সমাবেশ হয়েছে মধ্য কলকাতায় ধর্মতলার মোড়ে, এ বার তা তুলে আনা হয়েছে ব্রিগেডে। কারণ, গত বার পর্যন্ত যা ছিল 'বিরোধী সমাবেশ', এ বার তা 'শাসক সমাবেশ'। গত বছর পর্যন্ত যে মমতা এই সমাবেশে কড়া আক্রমণ করতেন রাজ্য সরকারকে, জনতার কাছে আবেদন করতেন তাঁদের ক্ষমতায় অধিষ্ঠিত করার জন্য, সেই মমতা আজ, বৃহস্পতিবার তুলে ধরবেন রাজ্যে ক্ষমতায় আসার দু'মাসের মধ্যে তাঁদের সরকার কী কী 'কাজ' করেছে এবং ভবিষ্যতে কী করবে। বলবেন সিঙ্গুর-জঙ্গলমহল-পাহাড়ে রাজ্য সরকারের 'সাফল্যের' কথা। জানাবেন রাজ্যে শান্তি ও উন্নয়ন এনে 'নতুন বাংলা' গঠনের কথাও।
সবুজ পাড়, সাদা খোলের শাড়িতে মঞ্চে উঠছেন তিনি। আর সায়েন্স সিটি অডিটোরিয়ামে জনতা ফেটে পড়ছে সহর্ষ উল্লাসে। চেয়ার ছেড়ে উঠে দাঁড়িয়েছে তারা, প্রতিটি হাতের মোবাইল-ক্যামেরা বন্দি করে রাখতে চায় এই মাহেন্দ্রক্ষণ। কিন্তু তিনি? ২১ জুলাইয়ের কয়েক ঘণ্টা আগে বুধবার সন্ধ্যাবেলায় 'সেরার সেরা' বাঙালির সম্মান হাতে নিয়ে তিনি কিঞ্চিৎ অপ্রস্তুত এবং লাজুক। "এটা নিতে আমার খুব ভারী লাগছে," বলতে বলতে রবীন্দ্রনাথকেই আশ্রয় করলেন তিনি, "শুধু তোমার বাণী নয়গো, হে বন্ধু, হে প্রিয়/ মাঝে মাঝে প্রাণে তোমার পরশখানি দিয়ো।'' কিন্তু সায়েন্স সিটিতে এ দিন যারা টিকিট পায়নি, সেই জনতাও তো তাঁর 'পরশখানি'ই চায়। অডিটোরিয়াম থেকে বেরিয়ে কালো স্যান্ট্রোতে উঠতে যাচ্ছেন, জালের ও পারে তখনও কয়েকশো মানুষের চিৎকার। সাধে একটু আগে সঞ্চালকেরা বলছিলেন, ''৯ কোটি ১৩ লক্ষেরও বেশি বাঙালির ভরসা আজ তিনিই!'' তিনি, মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ই এ বার স্টার আনন্দের 'সেরার সেরা বাঙালি'। তাঁর ১৩ বছরের 'কিশোর' রাজনৈতিক দল যে ভাবে বদলে দিয়েছে ৩৪ বছরের বাম শাসনকে!
ফের আগুন লাগল নিউ মার্কেটে। এ বার দক্ষিণ দিকে ফুলবাজারের দোতলায়। বুধবার রাতে হেরিটেজ গেটের ঠিক পিছনে দোতলা থেকে গলগল করে ধোঁয়া বেরোতে দেখা যায়। ধোঁয়া ক্রমশ নতুন নতুন এলাকায় ছড়িয়ে পড়তে থাকায় বাড়তে থাকে আতঙ্কও। ঢিল ছোড়া দূরত্বের ফ্রি স্কুল স্ট্রিটে দমকলের সদর। তা সত্ত্বেও ঘটনাস্থলে পৌঁছে আগুন নেভাতে দমকলের দেরি হয়। ধোঁয়া ছড়িয়ে পড়ে একতলার ফুলবাজারে। ধোঁয়ায় ভরে যায় গোটা প্যাসেজ। তখন রাত সাড়ে ৮টা। তত ক্ষণে বেশির ভাগ কর্মীই দোকান বন্ধ করে বাড়ি চলে গিয়েছেন। খবর পেয়ে তাঁদের অনেকেই পড়িমরি করে ফিরে আসেন। তবে ধোঁয়ার জন্য নিজেদের দোকানের কাছে পৌঁছতে পারেননি কেউই। নীচ থেকে দেখতে থাকেন, কী ভাবে ধোঁয়া ছড়িয়ে পড়ছে। ঠিক সময়ে আগুন নেভানোর কাজ শুরু না-করায় দমকলকে দোষারোপ করতে থাকেন অনেকে। রাত ১২টা নাগাদ আগুন পুরোপুরি নিয়ন্ত্রণে আসে বলে দমকলের দাবি। স্টিফেন কোর্টে আগুন নেভানো ও উদ্ধারের কাজে ব্যর্থ হয়েছিল দমকল।
বিশ্বকাপের সময় ভারতীয় দলে একটা অলিখিত নিয়ম চালু ছিল যে, ম্যাচের আগে উইকেট দেখার জন্য কেউ ছোঁকছোঁক করবে না। সবচেয়ে ভাল হয় যদি কোচ-ক্যাপ্টেন বাদে বাকিরা একেবারে পিচের কাছে না-ই যায়। আইডিয়াটা মনোবিদ প্যাডি আপটনের। সবাই মেনেও নিয়েছিল যে, আমরা হলাম প্রকৃত মরদ। উইকেট আগাম দেখে কান্নাকাটি করব বা ভড়কে যাব তেমন বান্দাই নই। ওই টার্ফেই যখন বিপক্ষ খেলবে তখন আমরাও মানিয়ে খেলব আর ওখানেই জিতব। আপটন আর নেই। নিয়মটাও কি টেমসে সাঁতরাচ্ছে? লর্ডস প্যাভিলিয়ন পেরিয়ে উল্টো দিকের অনুশীলন প্রান্তে যাওয়ার সময় বেঁটেখাটো একটা লাল জার্সি বগলে তিনটে ব্যাট নিয়ে তো দিব্যি পিচের কাছে দাঁড়িয়ে পড়লেন। পিচ প্রস্তুতকারক মাঠের ও পাশে ছিলেন। ছুটতে ছুটতে এলেন। ভারতীয় দলের স্ট্রেংথ ট্রেনার দূর থেকে দেখছিল। সে দৌড়ে ব্যাটগুলো ধরল। দেখামাত্র দৌড়ে আসার মহা তৎপরতা থেকেই নামটা আন্দাজ করা যায়। 
সনাতন দাস। বাঁকুড়ার প্রত্যন্ত গ্রামের বাসিন্দা। পেটের যন্ত্রণায় কাতর সনাতনবাবুকে চিকিৎসার জন্য 'আল্ট্রাসোনোগ্রাফি' করিয়ে আসতে বললেন গ্রামের ডাক্তারবাবু। জানান, রিপোর্ট হাতে পেলে, তবেই তার ভিত্তিতে শুরু করা যাবে চিকিৎসা। তাই বাধ্য হয়েই শহরে গিয়ে তা করিয়ে আনলেন সনাতনবাবু। এক ঝটকায় মোটা টাকা যেমন খরচ হল, তেমনই পোহাতে হল যাতায়াতের ধকল। সনাতনবাবু একা নন। গ্রামে এমন বহু মানুষ রয়েছেন, যাঁদের হাতের কাছে আধুনিক চিকিৎসার পরিকাঠামো নেই। এমনকী ছোটখাটো পরীক্ষা-নিরীক্ষার জন্যও শহরের পথে পা বাড়াতে বাধ্য হন তাঁরা। অযথা খরচ হয় অর্থ ও সময়। পরিকাঠামোর অভাবের এই অন্ধকার এ বার প্রযুক্তির আলোয় ঢেকে দিতেই বেঙ্গল ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং অ্যান্ড সায়েন্স ইউনিভার্সিটি (বেসু)-র সঙ্গে গাঁটছড়া বেঁধেছে তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি সংস্থা মেটালজিক সিস্টেমস। তৈরি হয়েছে 'মেটালজিক-বেসু সফটওয়্যার ইনোভেশন অ্যান্ড ডিজাইন সেন্টার'। যেখানে এখনও পর্যন্ত এক কোটি টাকা লগ্নি করেছে মেটালজিক। বেসু-র অধ্যক্ষ অজয় রায়ের দাবি, প্রযুক্তির সুফল চার দেওয়ালের মধ্যে আটকে না-রেখে, তাকে সাধারণ মানুষের কাছে পৌঁছে দিতেই তৈরি হয়েছে এই গবেষণা কেন্দ্র। 
Mamata Banerjee
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