Mamata to meet PM a day after INDIA alliance meet
The Hindu
Mamata Banerjee said that she would attend the meeting of the Opposition INDIA alliance on Tuesday
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday left for a three-day trip to New Delhi where she is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (December 20). The Trinamool Congress chairperson also said that she would attend the meeting of the Opposition INDIA alliance on Tuesday (December 19).
“On 19th, I will attend the INDIA alliance meeting and on the 20th, I will meet the Prime Minister at 11 a.m. I will take along a few MPs with me. Following this, I will return to Bengal,” Ms. Banerjee told journalists before leaving for the national capital. Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has also accompanied the Chief Minister to Delhi.
“They [Centre] have stopped our funds and are not willing to release our dues. Bengal is the only State whose funds have been withheld. Funds have been stopped for our Banglar Bari scheme. We have finalised a list of 11 lakh beneficiaries, but even then our funds have been withheld. They [Centre ] have done the same for the Grameen Sadak Yojana,” the Chief Minister said. Ms. Banerjee said she had met the Prime Minister thrice regarding this issue and again and her government had passed a resolution in the Assembly on the issue.
The issue of delay in release of funds to key Central schemes such as the MGNREGA has emerged as an important political issue in the State and Ms. Banerjee has claimed that the Centre owes ₹1.15 lakh crore to the State.
Expressing her displeasure over the delay in release of funds, the Chief Minister said the Centre had stopped the funds for the Health department also because they want us to paint everything saffron. “We already have a brand [colour] in our State — white and blue. This is not the colour of our party. Is it justified that everywhere they will put the BJP’s logo and paint the buildings saffron?,” she asked.
The Trinamool Congress chairperson described the Parliament security breach as a serious security lapse.
“This is a very serious matter and there is no doubt about that. It was a security lapse and the Home Minister also admitted that. Let them [the Centre] investigate the matter. We don’t compromise on our security. It was a grave security lapse for the new Parliament,” she said. While referring to the suspension of MPs in the Parliament, Ms. Banerjee said when MPs including Derek O’ Brien protested against the security breach they were suspended.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”