Branding the BJP Government anti-people Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the State civil society to raise its voice against the Centre’s policies that was hurting the people, more so the people of her state.
Saying that she would not bow down before New Delhi’s coercive policies and that she would continue to fight for the protection of Bengal’s socio-cultural integrity and economic prosperity which had come under threat due to the policies being adopted by the saffron government. “It is for the intellectuals to raise their voices against the Centre’s anti-people policies,” Banerjee told a gathering of Bengali intelligentsia adding how “the Centre is obstructing the development of Bengal.” She said, “the civil society should stand up and raise its voice against the Centre’s anti-people policies” which were essentially hurting the interests of Bengal.
“It is necessary to for us to preserve our identity,” the Chief Minister who had a few days ago written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to postpone the implementation of the three new criminal laws said.
A number of intellectuals including Bengali writers, poets, dramatists and singers were present in the programme. “I want your support to intensify our protest against the Centre’s anti-people policies,” she said. The meeting took place at South Kolkata auditorium Soujanya on Thursday evening.The Chief Minister who has no love lost for the BJP Government has often protested its “anti- Bengal and anti-poor policies,” the blockage of MNREGA and PMRY funds to begin with.
“The Centre has blocked thousands of rupees on account of the 100 days’ works scheme … they are also not releasing the funds meant for Prime Minister Awaas Yojna which is not only illegal but also unethical,” Banerjee earlier said.
“The fight against the Centre’s anti-people policies particularly directed against the people of Bengal will continue,” Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim later said adding “the people of Bengal have rejected the BJP and its policies … because culturally or otherwise BJP does not gel with Bengal and its culture.”
The Trinamool Congress had extensively campaigned against the BJP and used the non-payment of central funds in the recently concluded general elections which saw the saffron party getting 12 seats against the TMC’s 29.
Meanwhile in a parallel development the Bengal Government has announced a hike in the terminal benefits of the State government employees working on casual or contractual basis.
The benefit will include an increase from Rs 2-3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh State Education Minister Bratya Basu said.
Among the categories of workers who would be benefited through the upward revision of the amount are higher secondary contractual teachers , para teachers, SSKand MSK teachers, academic supervisors, ASHA workers, honorary health workers, Anganwari workers and helpers, civic volunteers, village police volunteers, home guard volunteers and auxiliary fire operators.
“The Chief Minister has been pleased to allow the increase in the terminal benefit of the workers which is very good news,” Basu said.
