West Bengal / Orissa

'If BJP wins in Bengal, challenges will increase for Sheikh Hasina'

'Dhaka Tribune' has published the perspective article of Partha S. Ghosh, Senior Fellow of New Delhi-based Institute of Social Sciences. This article says that if BJP wins in West Bengal, the political challenges for Sheikh Hasina will increase manifold.

This article states that Narendra Modi's 'Hindutva' and Sheikh Hasina's 'secularism' are fundamentally opposite.

According to the article, BJP's star campaigner PM Narendra Modi for the West Bengal assembly elections starting 27 March 2021 is talking of Hindu-Muslim division, which has never been seen before in the politics of West Bengal.

It reads, "Hindutva took an entry into Bengal politics after the Modi-led BJP came to power in 2014. Recently, BJP registered a strong presence in Bengal politics and won 18 of the 42 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.''

This article states that India's neighboring country Bangladesh will have to think about the voting of the eight phases of West Bengal and then the results of May 2, 2021.

Partha S. Ghosh recalls in the article that Bengal remained a symbol of peace when other parts of India were reeling from Hindu-Muslim riots after Partition.

He writes, "There are clearly opportunities for Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi, but if we go in depth, serious contradictions emerge. Bangladesh is happy with India because it is benefiting financially. Its exports with India have registered 300% growth. India is also happy because Bangladesh is preventing the northeast militants from using their land but beyond these points of confluence there is a vast and dangerous sea.''

"If BJP gains power in West Bengal, the political challenges for Hasina will increase manifold." The good things of the joint statement of Hasina-Modi will be of little importance.''

"Relationships can deteriorate because neither Narendra Modi nor Amit Shah understand the regional mindset of South Asia." For him, foreign policy is domestic politics in a way. We all know how domestic politics is.

Plasma bank will soon be built in Kolkata for treatment of corona infected

In West Bengal, the number of corona infected has crossed 21 thousand. So far 736 people have died due to this virus.

A plasma bank is being set up in a private hospital in Kolkata to treat patients with corona through plasma therapy.

Plasma therapy has started at the government level in the metropolis. But this is the first time to build a plasma bank in a hospital.

"This work will be completed this week," says Alok Rai, chairman of the hospital. After that treatment will be started with this technique.''

Maharashtra and West Bengal extend lock down till 30th April

Maharashtra has extended the lockdown till April 30. Whereas West Bengal also extended the lockdown till April 30.

Mamta extended the lockdown till April 30, told the media not to run the news by quoting sources.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has quoted Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi as saying that the nationwide lockdown due to Corona will be extended by two more weeks i.e. 30 April. The West Bengal government has also closed schools till June 10.

Mamta Banerjee said this in her press conference at the state secretariat in the evening after video conferencing with Prime Minister Modi on Saturday. She said that the number of Corona patients has increased to 95 with the arrival of six new cases during the last twenty four hours in West Bengal.

Mamta told, “I objected to various companies giving money in PM Cares under CSR and depriving the states of it from various companies. If money can be given to the center, then why discriminate against the states?''

Chief Minister Mamata said that she has sought to monitor and increase international borders. If Bengal is affected by people coming from across the border, then it is bound to affect the Northeast and other neighboring states.

Mamta told the Prime Minister, “Humanitarian aspects should also be taken care of during lockdown. With increasing lockdown, it is necessary to maintain balance in life and livelihood and maintain supply of essential commodities.''

She said that the Center suggested reducing congestion in dense markets. The government is considering doing this so that the crowd can be curbed.

The Chief Minister asked the media to refrain from showing and publishing news about Corona by quoting sources. She said that this leads to needless terror.

Mamta said, “I have asked the Prime Minister for a special financial package for the unorganized sector, small and medium industries, tourism and agriculture sector, besides keeping long distance trains and international airlines currently closed. Along with this, she has also appealed to take care of the migrant laborers trapped there.

Mamta has also demanded the Prime Minister to pay two months' wages to the laborers working under the 100 days employment scheme.

The state government has announced an exemption to the agricultural sector for harvesting rabi crops. Apart from this, discounts have also been given to flour and oil mills, bottled drinking water, fisheries centers and bakeries.

But they all have to follow the safety rules. The Chief Minister said that the government will keep an eye on congestion in various areas of the state through drones and the lockdown will be strictly implemented.

Maharashtra extended lockdown till 30th April

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has told the media that he has extended the lockdown till April 30 in his state.

Thackeray said that he and the chief ministers of several states have suggested Prime Minister Modi to pursue the lockdown.

Mamta Banerjee's direct warning to Modi government on CAA and NRC

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has openly challenged the Narendra Modi government of the Center in India on the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). She has said that the Center can sack her government if he wants, but she will not allow the citizenship amendment law to be implemented in Bengal.

Mamta said at a rally on Monday, "If he applies it, it will be on my corpse."

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Governor Jagdeep Dhankar saying that it is the responsibility of the Governor to cooperate with the state government in maintaining peace in the state, rather than provoking the situation.

The Governor responded to this by saying that he was suffering greatly from the "unfair approach" adopted by Banerjee. He urged people to work together.

The governor had tweeted that the Chief Minister and other ministers of the state have called a rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act, it is unconstitutional and no person sitting in a constitutional post can oppose the law.

He said that he will meet Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday and it is expected that all important issues will be discussed in it.

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