Mamata bats for Federal Front, showcases ‘Bengal model’
12 Dec 2013 5:53 AM IST
In the last two years, Banerjee has not only managed to give reasonably good governance but also her strong stance taken over the persistent problem of inflation, especially during the slew of hikes in prices of fuel and staple food items, remains a national example. She even oversaw the formation of a taskforce on 3 July, 2012 to keep vigilance on the rising prices of vegetables in her state, garnering substantial success in checking the problem as compared to other states.
Banerjee, who is presently in the national capital, while stressing for a ‘Federal Front’, claimed that ‘negative vote’ in the recent state assembly elections, has gone against the Congress’ ‘anti people policies’. ‘It is the right time for all the non-Congress and non-BJP regional parties to call for a Federal Front,’ she said. Though she has been meeting with most of the top political honchos in New Delhi and exchanging pleasantries with bigwigs like BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, L K Advani, YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy, among others, nevertheless, the West Bengal CM strongly believes that common people have lost trust in Congress.
In the context of price hike, Banerjee said, ‘In Delhi, the price of onion was Rs 100, but people in Bengal bought it for Rs 22 only. In Bengal the price of potato was Rs 13, while in Delhi it was Rs 45. We cannot put burden on the poor people.’
‘The Congress party put poor people’s kitchen on fire. People are no more interested in Congress because of their various policies which went against the aam aadmi. They hiked price of almost everything, starting from vegetable, fertilisers, petrol, diesel, railway fare etc. Moreover, the Congress government reduced the state fund from 75 per cent to 50 per cent in several schemes,’ she said.
In last two years, West Bengal, under Mamata’s leadership, has achieved many accolades. Recently, the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) has given a proposal to help the West Bengal government in promoting its Geographical Indication (GI) and handicraft products to Osaka in Japan, São Paulo in Brazil, Perth in Australia and Chile in Latin America under ‘Biswa Bangla Brand.’ Among many initiatives, her decision for fair price medicine shops at government-run hospitals turned out to be a boon for those who cannot afford expensive medical care. Her initiative was welcomed by those in the medical and healthcare sectors and everyday thousands of people are drawing benefits from this service.
The Bengal government already started giving training to artists in financial management and other aspects to promote and sell their products at reasonable prices, which actually meet their cost and improve their standard of living. As a part of her social inclusion initiatives, the Banerjee government has already given identity cards to nearly 5.26 lakh artists associated with handicrafts.
In the context of West Bengal’s economic growth after the Trinamool Congress came to power in May 2011, Mamata said, ‘The per capita growth of central government is 4.9 per cent as compared to 7.6 per cent in West Bengal. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in India has gone up by only 0.05 per cent as compared to 6.65 per cent in West Bengal. These are central statistics and we are way ahead in terms of figures.’
Tax collection in West Bengal (during 2012-2013) grew by 31.57 per cent, which is a record in the country. From April to August this year, West Bengal’s tax growth in India was 21.6 per cent, which was second highest in India.
Banerjee, who is presently in the national capital, while stressing for a ‘Federal Front’, claimed that ‘negative vote’ in the recent state assembly elections, has gone against the Congress’ ‘anti people policies’. ‘It is the right time for all the non-Congress and non-BJP regional parties to call for a Federal Front,’ she said. Though she has been meeting with most of the top political honchos in New Delhi and exchanging pleasantries with bigwigs like BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, L K Advani, YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy, among others, nevertheless, the West Bengal CM strongly believes that common people have lost trust in Congress.
In the context of price hike, Banerjee said, ‘In Delhi, the price of onion was Rs 100, but people in Bengal bought it for Rs 22 only. In Bengal the price of potato was Rs 13, while in Delhi it was Rs 45. We cannot put burden on the poor people.’
‘The Congress party put poor people’s kitchen on fire. People are no more interested in Congress because of their various policies which went against the aam aadmi. They hiked price of almost everything, starting from vegetable, fertilisers, petrol, diesel, railway fare etc. Moreover, the Congress government reduced the state fund from 75 per cent to 50 per cent in several schemes,’ she said.
In last two years, West Bengal, under Mamata’s leadership, has achieved many accolades. Recently, the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) has given a proposal to help the West Bengal government in promoting its Geographical Indication (GI) and handicraft products to Osaka in Japan, São Paulo in Brazil, Perth in Australia and Chile in Latin America under ‘Biswa Bangla Brand.’ Among many initiatives, her decision for fair price medicine shops at government-run hospitals turned out to be a boon for those who cannot afford expensive medical care. Her initiative was welcomed by those in the medical and healthcare sectors and everyday thousands of people are drawing benefits from this service.
The Bengal government already started giving training to artists in financial management and other aspects to promote and sell their products at reasonable prices, which actually meet their cost and improve their standard of living. As a part of her social inclusion initiatives, the Banerjee government has already given identity cards to nearly 5.26 lakh artists associated with handicrafts.
In the context of West Bengal’s economic growth after the Trinamool Congress came to power in May 2011, Mamata said, ‘The per capita growth of central government is 4.9 per cent as compared to 7.6 per cent in West Bengal. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in India has gone up by only 0.05 per cent as compared to 6.65 per cent in West Bengal. These are central statistics and we are way ahead in terms of figures.’
Tax collection in West Bengal (during 2012-2013) grew by 31.57 per cent, which is a record in the country. From April to August this year, West Bengal’s tax growth in India was 21.6 per cent, which was second highest in India.
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