Hummingbird News Desk
KOLKATA, 2 MARCH: Before leaving for Varanasi to campaign for Akhilesh Yadav and his Samajwadi Party, chief minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the Centre for making inordinate delay in bringing back the stranded students from war hit Ukraine.
She said, “Though I don’t want to speak publicly on external affairs but I must say that the Centre’s aware of this war like situation and it’s a gross negligence on their part as they failed to bring back our students earlier.
“We have already forwarded the details of 200 students from Bengal to the Centre. Once they are in Mumbai or Delhi, we will provide the transportation cost so that they can reach their home safely,” the chief minister said.
Without naming the Prime Minister, Miss Banerjee said, “Election is held almost every year and there will be enough time for campaign but the priority of the Centre should be fixed. When there was a war, it’s Centre’s duty to evacuate its own citizens from Ukraine. It’s the responsibility of the Centre to bring back the standard Indians from Ukraine, she added.
“I’m favour of peace and against war and still believe that India has a role to play and can lead the talks to maintain world peace.,” she said.
“Covid has already destroyed a lot, we can’t take another war. Humanity is more important than politics, the central government should realise this. Student lives are more important than politics,” she hit out at the Centre.
She also said, “I am going to Varanasi to campaign for Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav. I will also visit the Vishwanath Mandir Ghat and light a Diya there.”
“Before leaving, I want to thank the people of Bengal for reposing their faith in the All India Trinamul Congress. They have showered immense love to AITC and I will forever be indebted to the people of Bengal.”
She tweeted, “Heart-felt gratitude to Ma-Mati-Manush for according yet another overwhelming mandate to us. Congratulations to the winning candidates of All India Trinamul Congress in the Municipal Elections.”
“Let victory enhance our responsibility and dedication. Let triumph impart humility. Let us together work for peace, prosperity and development of the state,” she added.
Miss Banerjee reacted when asked about violence in municipal poll,” a section of the media has been over hyping stray incidents of violence during the polls. Votes took place in over 11,000 booths across the state. Of that, there were reports of violence in seven or eight booths. Even within those places, five had EVM troubles and re-polling was announced in two booths in Sreerampore and Dum Dum.
She also asked the reporters whether they have heard any incidents of violence, or any untoward incident in Purulia, Bankura, Midnapore, Birbhum, Burdwan,Hooghly Arambagh, Barrackpore, Nadia, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Dinajpur or Malda? People have celebrated the elections as a festival. It is a festival of democracy.”
“I am really happy with the voting process in Darjeeling. There were five political parties in the fray in Darjeeling. This just shows that people have reposed their faith in electoral democracy,” she said.
“Trinamul have a good rapport with all the political parties in Darjeeling. We will soon conduct the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration elections too,” the chief minister said.
While talking about municipal polls, Miss Banerjee said this time election has been conducted from the Hills to the forest, from the forests to Sunderbans. “We had polls in Burdwan, Birbhum, Nabadwip to Santipur. At all places, Trinamul Congress have had a stupendous performance. This will make us work for the people even more in the coming days.
“Let us all be humble in victory. Let us focus on improving the lives of people via Duare Sarkar and Parae Samadhan programme.
Asked about the independent candidates whether they will be inducted in the party fold, she said the state committee of Trinamul Congress will decide on whether independent candidates who have won will return to fold. It is a small matter, and the state committee will decide that, she said.
On Deucha Panchmi, she reacted “Opposition parties who are claiming that they will not allow us to work at Deucha Pachami and Tajpur, they will soon realise their mistakes.
Tags: #MamataBanerjee #RussiaUkraineWar #IndianStudents