The wonderful hobby of throwing mud at each other

We know that those who live in glasses houses should not throw stones. We have also been taught that when we point a finger at somebody, another four fingers point back at us. One also remembers the instance of a group of men and women who wanted to punish a woman by pelting her with stones. Jesus Christ stood beside the woman and said he who has never committed a crime could throw the first stone. And – no one threw stones at the woman. However, today throwing mud at each other has become the norms. Recently, a huge scam came to light in Bengal. The Enforcement Directorate ED believes that Partho Chatterjee, a senior minister of the ruling Trinamool Congress TMC, was involved. He had engineered the scam, along with Arpita Mukherjee, a celebrity of the film industry. The total value of the scam is yet to be ascertained by the authorities. They say it runs into several crores of rupees. It has come as a shock to the TMC and its leaders are trying to reduce the damages by throwing mud at other political parties like the BJP that is in power at the center. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, TMC Supremo, has already sacked the minister. Mamata Banerjee sacks minister Partha Chatterjee after cash haul at his aide’s residence

Incidentally, there are leaders in other political parties, who are equally if not more corrupt. Those who are close to these politicians know the truth but prefer to remain silent spectators for fear of serious repercussions. Spilling the beans could end up in loss of lives for the men or loss of face for the women and girls. The fact remains that when there is a scam and it blows out of proportion, the opposition tries to divert attention. They draw a red herring across the trail to dilute the issue. Politicians treat these as wars and justify their actions by saying - everything is fair in love and war. The Ajay Devgan movie Gangajal of 2003 is a depiction of how those in politics treat others. Things have not changed much over the last nearly two decades.

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No entry of plastics to Digha - violators to pay fines of Rs 300 to Rs 500

It is now No entry of plastics and thermocol to Digha - violators would have to pay fines of Rs 300 to Rs 500. All vehicles entering Digha would be searched from February 1 and those who are found to be carrying such items would be fined with amounts ranging from between Rs 300 and Rs 500.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 22 January 2016.

The East Midnapore district administration has successfully imposed a ban on plastic and thermocol products by levying fines on errant hotels and shops at Digha and has, now, decided to extend the cleanliness initiative to tourists. While the hotels and shops are abiding by the ban, those who arrive from outside to the resorts in their own cars or buses for picnics, are either unaware or are ignoring the ban that has been imposed.
The visitors coming for picnics, have their meals and then throw the plastic or thermocol bags, glasses and plates all over to create litter.
This has also came to the notice of chief minister Mamata Banerjee who was in Digha about a month ago and she has given instructions to implement strong measures to stop such environmental pollution.
Huge crowds are expected between 23 and 26 January and the administration would use that opportunity to pass on the message through microphones, banners and posters.

Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Poor visibility brings Bagdogra airport to a halt - VIPs unable to fly back

After attending the Global Bengal Business Summit of Bengal chief minister to boost industries in her state, some VIP guests were unable to fly to Bagdogra due to poor visibility at the airport which affected both take-off and landing. This resulted in inconveniencing nearly 4,000 people including Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay who was one of the VIP guests. He had taken a flight from Calcutta to Bagdogra after attending the Global Bengal Business Summit but had to return to the city because his flight could not land.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 10 January 2016.

Apart from the Prime Minister of Bhutan, others affected were Darjeeling's BJP MP S.S. Ahluwalia and Union micro, small and medium enterprises minister Kalraj Mishra.
Airport officials have indicated that installing an ILS could enable planes to land and take off even if visibility is around 350 metres. ILS is a ground-based technology that guides an aircraft through a combination of radio signals and high-intensity lighting arrays to enable safe landing and take-off. However, in order to put it in place some land is necessary - but, 1.28 acres of the 24.16 acres necessary for the project has not yet been acquired because of resistance from five families.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Calcutta Book Fair from January 25 to February 7 at Milan Mela grounds

This year the Calcutta Book Fair will be held from January 25 to February 7 at Milan Mela grounds opposite Science City, off the Bypass. The state government wants the organizers to keep the event "apolitical" and promote only "Bengal's culture and creativity". This has been conveyed by Chief minister Mamata Banerjee in a meeting in Nabanna held with officials of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild who are the fair organizers.
This has been reported in telegraphindia,.com dated 5 January 2016.

The guild officials have been requested not to allow any political activity on the fairground. It is the Calcutta Book Fair, which is an international event, and it should highlight Bengal's culture, creativity and educational values through books. Political debates or discussions could pollute such a grand annual event.
When queried as to whether the government had asked guild officials not to allot stalls to party mouthpieces such as the CPM's Ganashakti or Trinamul's Jago Bangla, the minister indicated that the government could not dictate terms to the organizers. It is up to them to ensure that the event is kept away from politics.
An official of the guild has said that stalls would be allotted to Ganashakti, Yubashakti (DYFI mouthpiece) and Jago Bangla but, rallies and political activities would not be allowed.
A four-acre land had been identified as the parking area at the Milan Mela grounds.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Durgapur-Delhi flight takes off, thanks to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

Durgapur gets a direct flight to Delhi by Air India – chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself was on the inaugural flight. This development would provide a big boost to the 1.1 crore population that the city holds. It will ensure a hassle-free travel on the 122-seater, Airbus-319 Air India aircraft which is expected to operate thrice a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
This has been reported in indiatoday.intoday.in dated 7 December 2015.

The Durgapur airport is India's first Greenfield airport – it is named Kazi Nazrul Islam. Regular flights will commence from December 12. With this, Durgapur has become the latest city in the Burdwan district to be connected to the National Capital. The Kazi Nazrul Islam airport at Andal was built by Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited BAPL in association with Singapore's Changi Airports International (CAI).
As Mamata Banerjee has said – this service, which is in addition to the existing connectivity between Durgapur and Kolkata, will help in the growth of industry, commerce and tourism in the region.

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Mamata Banerjee and her chopper services

In the course of her rule as chief minister in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has inaugurated a number of helicopter services. An airport has already been set up in Andal and one can take a flight from Kolkata to Andal and from Kolkata to Bolpur.But, people did not go in for it because the helipad was made far away from the main town and one had to hire a car to reach the helipad. Similarly for passengers who arrive from Kolkata. They also faced problems of transport availability. As a result the trips were stopped.
Similarly, the helicopter service from Haldia to Calcutta was discontinued because of lack of passengers to make it a viable operation.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 4 December 2015.

A finance department official in Kolkata explained how the math is skewed against the state government in the case of such chopper services where passenger availability is unpredictable. In his opinion, the Sagar Island-Kolkata chopper service is the only route, among several in the state, that is getting passengers.
The capacity of each chopper is up to seven people and one-way fare for a Kolkata-Sagar Island flight is Rs 1,500 for each passenger. The entire flying time, including return, is close to an hour. With a full load, the total earning for a return trip of seven persons would be Rs 21,000 while the total expenditure would be close to Rs 1.5 lakh.

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Parama Island flyover adds to traffic jams in Kolkata – made one-way

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had thrown open the Parama Island flyover on 9th October but within these few days, there is traffic chaos on this stretch and the Kolkata Police had to step in and make it one-way to restrict the flow of traffic.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 14 October 2015.

Usually, flyovers are constructed to ease the flow of traffic and handles traffic from both directions. In the case of Parama, it appears that some portion of work is yet to be completed. Once complete, it is hoped that traffic movement would improve. Obviously, inauguration of an incomplete flyover could have been avoided and a more appropriate date could have been decided upon.
Under the circumstances, as announced by Kolkata Commissioner, a one-way system would come into effect immediately and would be in force until Lakshmi Puja by which time, things would be resolved. The system is - from 7 am to 1pm all traffic bound for Park Circus would be allowed while from 1pm to 10pm traffic bound for EM Bypass would be allowed. On Saturday and Sunday, traffic from both ways would be allowed.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has inaugurated Kolkata's most awaited and longest Parama Flyover hat will connect Eastern Metropolitan Bypass (EM Bypass) and Park Circus. This has been reported in indiablooms.com dated 9 October 2015.

The 4.3-Km long flyover (9-Km long with flanks and ramps) starts from Park Circus Seven Point crossing and ends at EM Bypass near Salt Lake. On the EM Bypass side, one flank of this flyover is ending near Bartaman Bhaban at Dhapa area and another flank is ending near Ambedkar Bridge and PC Chandra Garden at Arupota area. Work on the construction of a second flank that will connect Parama flyover and AJC Bose Road flyover will begin after Durga Puja and the targeted completion time of the project is July, 2016. The estimated cost of the flyover is 330 crore rupees. In the course of her speech, she also announced the construction of another flyover which would connect Taratala and Prince Anwar Shah Road in south Kolkata. (Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Singapore gained Independence only 50-years ago but, the way it has developed itself to a major tourism center and business hub is impressive. Its unrivaled economic success in a region that used to be struggling with poverty and political instability is for otters to emulate.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 10 August 2015.

In order to celebrate, its fighter jets screamed through the sky and nationalist songs blared while the leaders made speeches and people were treated to free rides on trains and buses.
However, alongside its quantum leap from a poor colonial port to a wealthy metropolis, its people are now grappling with a growing resentment over political restrictions, an influx of foreign labor and the ever increasing cost of living.
The credit for the rise of Singapore should go to its founder and longest-serving leader, Lee Kuan Yew, who died in March at age 91. He had run a virtually one-party state as PM for more than three decades. He did not tolerate any political dissent.
It may be recalled that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had visited Singapore last year to attract investment in her state and had signed three major agreements – food park at Dankuni worth Rs 1000 crores, Calcutta Riverside Development worth Rs 200 crores, shipbuilding, oil and gas exploration in Sector V that would generate employment for 500 persons in two years’ time.
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Heavy rains have crippled West Bengal and so far, 39 deaths have been reported – moreover, it has affected nearly seven lakh people leaving many homeless. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of those who died and has asked concerned officials to ensure prompt rescue, relief and restoration work.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 1 August 2015.

Most of the deaths were from lightning strike, wall collapse, electrocution, snake bite or drowning.
The Chief Minister had cut short her London visit and returned back to Kolkata because of the cyclone threat. She has asked the officials to ensure that release of water from different barrages due to heavy rains in the high catchment area is controlled and done with prior notice to local residents.
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Mamata’s TMC received hate mail before her tour of UK to woo investors

It has been reported that the TMC of Mamata Banerjee has been receiving threats over e-mail and phone calls from foreign location like London, New York and New Jersey asking the chief minister to call off her trip to London with the intention to woo investors. This has been happening over the last fortnight but has been revealed only now because TMC did not wasn’t it to cloud its Eid celebration on July 18 and the Martyrs' Day event on July 21.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 26 July 2015.

These hate mails are purportedly from Hindu radical groups based in Britain — the general message is for the chief minister to call off her UK trip and asking British industrialists not to invest in Bengal. In the opinion of TMC, these emails are part of a larger conspiracy to disrupt the chief minister's UK tour. The target is Bengal and its development.
Most of the e-mails have been sent with attachments which are apparently long press releases — and the tone is of the bias of the CM towards a certain community. The mails warn potential UK-based investors against putting their money into "communal" Bengal.
The team of the CM along with her 66-member entourage of ministers and bureaucrats has already left for a four day of the UK. She is scheduled to meet industry captains and discuss investment possibilities in Bengal.
Derek O'Brien, the party's national spokesperson and leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, who received 10 such emails in the past 24 hours, has taken up the matter with the police. The matter has also been referred to the Indian High Commission in London. The London Metropolitan Police is also expected to be apprised of the development.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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RAW issues terror alert for Kolkata port – warships INS Khukri and INS Sumitra move out

INS Khukri and offshore patrol vessel INS Sumitra that had been docked at the Kolkata port for three days as a part of the Navy Day celebrations has moved out to the seas because of a terror threat issued by RAW. It seems the central intelligence agencies has warned of a probable terror strike between November 4 and 7 in the Kolkata port area by a Pakistan-based terror outfit.
The ships INS Khukri and INS Sumitra had been docked to allow visitors into the ships. Incidentally, the only visitors who benefited from the ships being in the port were some 60 street children and orphans – they had visited the warships just before the alarm was sounded.
The movement out of the ships is because warships are the safest in the open seas where they can defend themselves. West Bengal has come into focus due to the unearthing of terror jihadi modules operating in Burdwan and other different locations in the state. These modules numbering nearly 65 of the Jamaat-ul- Mujahideen Bangladesh had been operating with impunity under the eyes of the local police and came to light only when central agencies like the NIA and NSA were involved to find out the truth behind a bomb blast in which two persons died – they turned out to be the people behind the sleeper modules.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval has indicated to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that the state of West Bengal is gradually turning into a safe haven for anti-national elements and the government should take action to crack down on this.
Moreover, there was an attempt by al-Qaida's Indian sub-continent wing to hijack Pakistani frigate PNS Aslat at Karachi in September – the objective apparently was to deploy it against Indian warships. It may be recalled that Pakistan had suffered humiliation at Karachi harbor port during the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971 and, since then, for the past 43 years, Pakistan has been harboring designs to strike back at, especially, the Indian Navy.
In the opinion of experts, the probable reason for choosing Kolkata port for the strike is that even though there are other ports like Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kochi, these are heavily guarded, hence difficult to penetrate the high security ring.
However, Kolkata port is guarded by the CISF since it does not have a strong naval presence.