ABG pulls out of Haldia on safety concerns

Cites safety of employees as reason for pullout after the abduction of three officials at gunpoint last Sunday

BS Reporter / Kolkata, November 1, 2012, 0:41 IST

West Bengal today saw a Singur re-run, with private cargo handler ABG Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) pulling out of Haldia.

Although many projects in the state are in limbo, this is the first major pullout after Tata Motors’s decision to move out of West Bengal in October 2008. What may have precipitated into the move was Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s “dissatisfaction”. Banerjee had claimed on Tuesday that “nothing has happened” at Haldia, when asked about the abduction of three HBT officials. She labelled it a conspiracy of a section of the media and the Communist Part of India (Marxist).

The company’s counsel today informed the Calcutta High Court that the company would terminate its operations in Haldia. ABG has also written to the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), seeking termination of its 10-year contract with the port.

CAUGHT IN RED TAPE Other projects that have been terminated or are yet to be completed
Projects	Rs cr
Projects stuck
JSW Steel Ltd's Salboni plant	35,000
Videocon Steel plant	22,000
Bhushan Steel project	20,000
Jai Balaji Steel project	16,000
Kulpi Port project	2,600
NTPC Katwa project	1, 800
Infosys and Wipro	1,500
Projects scrapped
Haripur Nuclear project	700,000
PCPIR Nayachar	96,000
Singur Tata Nano	2,000
Source: RBI

The move would put 350 jobs in jeopardy. The company will also approach the court seeking compensation for the losses that it suffered at Haldia, including the amount it paid for security. Tata Motors had also asked for compensation from the state government for its losses at Singur.

The immediate trigger was the abduction of three HBT officials — Manpreet Jolly, Jagadish Behara and Bushan Patil, including his wife and one-year-old daughter — at gunpoint last Sunday by an unidentified mob, allegedly backed by the TMC. Although they were later released, the officials were told “not to come back to Haldia”. This happened even after the firm paid more than Rs 17 lakh for the deployment of police personnel towards restoration of peace, based on a Calcutta High Court order.

“The safety and security of our employees is of paramount importance and above business interests. We have to inform you that we have been left with no option, but to walk out from Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) with immediate effect. We cannot work in an environment where the authorities responsible for ensuring the law and order and success of the project have openly renounced and abandoned their responsibilities,” said Gurpreet Malhi, chief executive officer, HBT.

Responding to this, a senior port official said on condition of anonymity: “If the state government cannot give protection, what can the port do?”

According to Malhi, HBT has made an accumulated loss of Rs 60 crore from Haldia operations, and that it has so far invested Rs 150 crore since inception.

KoPT was getting a net gain of Rs 150 per tonne vis-a-vis only Rs 25 per tonne from other berths. Therefore, suspension of HBT’s operations will imply an immediate revenue decrease of 75 per cent on dry bulk amounting to Rs 90 crore a year for HDC.

Last year, Haldia Dock handled 17 mt of dry bulk cargo, which is already down by two mt this year.

Trouble started since September, when HBT decided to suspend its operations from September 8, seeking more cargo from KoPT. However, following a court direction, it had to reach an agreement with the port.

According to the agreement, all vessels carrying dry bulk cargo arriving at HDC will be allocated to HBT berths No. 2 and 8, and if these berths are engaged, vessels will be allocated to other berths.

Things took a violent turn once the firm stopped operations on September 24 citing political unrest and retrenched 275 people on grounds of an oversized payroll of 650 and loss in operations.

There was resistance from the TMC-backed INTTUC, which said that it will not allow the firm to resume work, unless the retrenched workers were taken back.

“We were instrumental in revival of the Haldia Dock through the mechanisation of berths, which has resulted in a more than three-fold increase in productivity to more than 20,000 tonnes per day/per berth. Now, we regret our decision to go to Haldia. The economy of West Bengal has once again been denied the opportunity of growth, modernisation and development,” said Malhi.

General Strike Evokes Huge Response Across the state

KOLKATA: LIFE virtually came to a standstill in West Bengal on September 20 in the 12-hour general strike called by the Left Front in the state. Rail and road communication was disrupted, business establishments were mostly closed. In the government offices, there was very thin attendance despite threat from the state government.

Suburban train services were hit with opposition activists squatting on the railway tracks in various stations under Eastern and South Eastern Railways.

Streets in Kolkata wore a deserted look, as people generally preferred to stay indoors. Private bus services and taxis were almost non-existent, though a few government-run buses were seen on the roads. The Kolkata Metro Railway services were normal, but a spokesperson said there were very few commuters.

There is perceptible response to the call particularly among the small traders and shops. Shops and market places remained closed in most of the areas of the state.

The strike was near total in industrial areas. Factories and manufacturing units remained non functional.

The strike exposed the duplicity of Trinamool Congress. While they vociferously opposed the diesel price hike and the opening up of retail for FDI and decided to come out of the UPA on these issues, the state government and the ruling party came all out against the strike in the state. The chief minister herself issued threats to employees, workers and transporters. TMC activists attacked strike supporters in many places. They tried to forcibly open shops and attack on the road blockades. The people of West Bengal however rejected the terrorisation and strongly registered their protest against the policies of the centre.

Hundreads of processions were organised by the Left parties throughout the state. Led by its chairman Biman Basu and leader of opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra, the Left Front took out a large procession from central Kolkata's Moulali to Mallickbazar.

"People have supported this strike spontaneously to protect their own future. If the government does not roll back its decisions, there will be a bigger movement in the coming days," Basu said.

‘Translate Peoples’ Discontent into Concrete Movement’

CALL FROM CPI(M) WEST BENGAL 

KOLKATA: THE two-day extended meeting of CPI(M) West Bengal state committee, which took place during September 15-16, 2012 in Kolkata, called for more organised movement on the burning issues of the people. After extensive discussion, the meeting noted that there are discernible signs of peoples’ discontent against the state government which has to be translated into concrete movement. The extended meeting reviewed the political situation in the state and the condition of Party  organisation at different levels.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat in his inaugural speech spoke against the anti-people policies of the central government and said that the latest neo-liberal offensive launched by Manmohan Singh government will only add to the sorrow of the working people. The hike in the price of diesel will have cascading impact on prices of all commodities and will further hit the common people. The worst hit would be the farmers who are already reeling under the impact of rising costs of production. He added that FDI in retail sector will have a direct adverse impact on the employment of a huge chunk of the population who are engaged in small and unorganised retail trade. He also criticised the UPA government for its faulty natural resource allocation policy where precious natural resources were being allocated at throw away prices.

Karat also warned about the worsening communal situation in the country and the role of different communal and fundamentalist forces, particularly after the events in Assam.  He emphasised that the independent activities of the Party must be strengthened so as to build Left unity and move towards a Left and democratic alternative. To achieve this, the fight against liberalisation must get priority in the coming days, he underlined.

CPI(M) state secretary Biman Basu, moving the agenda for the meeting, outlined the attack on democracy and democratic institutions, the mounting burdens on the people and ever increasing crimes against women. The movement, through mobilising the people, has to be broadened in this perspective. That calls for strengthening the Party organisation, uplifting the political and ideological level of the Party,  more active role of Party members and improvement of functioning of Party committees. Basu emphasised the need for intensive work among the toiling people and particularly among the urban and rural poor. He has also stressed upon the need to mobilise younger sections and women. 

A total of 33 comrades from different districts and mass fronts deliberated on the report. While summing up on the second day, Biman Basu said that only mass struggles can change the situation. What is needed is a patient effort of the Party among the masses.

One of the major content of discussion was the panchayat elections due to be held in the coming months. Biman Basu urged to treat this election as a mass struggle and move forward with courage and determination, even in the face of attacks from TMC and other forces. Decentralisation and exercise of peoples’ rights have come under severe attack. This has to be exposed among people through intensive campaign. The meeting passed a resolution protesting these attacks and decided to fight the elections facing all odds. Though there is an apprehension that TMC will try to prevent opposition from contesting in many areas and will force bloodshed, the CPI(M) has decided to combat these attacks and an all out preparation to mobilise people would start immediately. Polit Bureau member Suryakanta Misra explained the situation in the rural areas and outlined the main tasks in this very important political battle.

Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, addressing the meeting, said there are perceptible positive changes in the state. We could see the positive impact of Party’s efforts in many areas. However, the balance of forces are still tilted towards the anti-Left forces. The people who left us have not returned entirely. A degree of alienation is still there. Our priority is to win over those sections of the people. We have to concentrate among the toiling people and the poorer sections. The impact of centre’s fresh reform initiatives and misrule of TMC government in the state would bring a large scope of building movements. But to respond to the situation we need more developed and cleaner Party organisation.

The extended meeting decided the following tasks before the Party: to build up powerful movement against neo-liberal attacks on people;  take up the issue of food security and mobilise poor people; take up issues of demands and social security of the unorganised sections of workers at local level;  build up movement against deteriorating public services; mobilise people against anarchy in educational institutions; mobilise democratic opinion against deterioration in law and order situation and particularly against growing attacks on women; massive campaign in villages against attack on panchayats.

The meeting also called for a widespread mass movement against the latest anti-people measures of hike in price of diesel, the cut back of subsidy on cooking gas, ushering in 51 per cent FDI in the retail sector and disinvestment of profit making PSUs. It called upon to make the general strike in West Bengal on September 20, called by Left Front a success.

The meeting also adopted a resolution extending support to nationwide strike on February 20th and 21st, 2013, called by central trade unions.

It has been decided that a mass collection will be organised on September 23 to collect money for the distressed and homeless people of Assam. 

Apart from Party’s general secretary, Polit Bureau members Sitaram Yechury and S Ramachandran Pillai also attended the meeting. Polit Bureau member Nirupam Sen presided over the two day session.

No takers for Didi-giri

THE ASIAN AGE, Sep 22, 2012

Shobhaa DE

Whether it was the aggressive art mart or the gold mart, going by the enthusiastic shoppers, nobody could believe Didi had dropped a bombshell

I happened to be in Kolkata when Mamata Banerjee made her dramatic announcement to pull the plug on the UPA. Nobody was surprised. There was a bus strike in the city and people were rejoicing. It meant there would be far less traffic on those clogged streets, less pollution in the atmosphere and more time to focus on the dengue outbreak that is obsessing Kolkatans.

Every time there is even a hint of a mosquito buzzing within a five-foot radius, locals duck for cover or start flapping the air frantically with anything handy — even a sturdy handbag.

Didi’s latest stunt doesn’t cause a single ripple. “It was expected,” says a corporate honcho tiredly. Apparently, anything and everything is “expected” from the mercurial Didi. And no, people don’t want her to leave her hard-won gaddi. Not yet. “The commies are waiting to get back into the saddle… but that’s not happening,” announces an industrialist as we nibble on exquisite salads. Life appears to be looking up for those who have embraced Didi’s extraordinarily eccentric and imperious style of governance.

There is a great deal of hope invested in her ability to somehow get things moving in that sluggish state. While people wait for the miracle, those close to her are reaping the myriad benefits of being Didi loyalists. Their projects are getting cleared phataphat, and money — a great deal of it — is being made. In such an upbeat scenario, it is foolish to argue with the converts. Didi is their saviour. She has rescued them from the maws and jaws of the previous regime and granted a carte blanche to go forth and mint money — no questions asked. In the process, her party hasn’t done too badly either. There’s something to be said about friends with benefits in these difficult times.

Like Didi’s faithful followers who argue (rather unconvincingly) against policies Didi refuses to endorse, there are the non-believers, albeit in a conspicuous minority, who articulate their misgivings over watered-down Scotch, while reeling off glories that once were Bengal. They are least bothered about the neighbourhood kiranawalla’s future and what will happen to his shop once the biggies enter the market. Wal-Mart politics is for those who live in Delhi. Diesel prices affect interstate truck drivers, not them. Didi’s got it all wrong, they sniff dismissively, as the old bearer in their favourite club, pads around getting refills. Similarly, the young, rich and restless are worried about Kolkata’s non-existent nightlife, given the early curfew and the absence of lively hangout places. One of them was earnestly urging a high-ranking official to “reconsider” the spoilsport policy since shutting bars at 11 pm was such a downer… a barbaric ruling, he called it, without a hint of irony. A disconnect this deep is hard to bridge.

It is happening all over India. And those who refuse to address the growing divide are going to pay for their resistance eventually. Most people are living in a fatalistic zone, worried about day-to-day adjustments and compromises. They are totally disengaged from the bigger political picture that, in fact, does impact their lives on every conceivable level. I watched the images of Vishwakarma in Kolkata and asked around how the preparations for the annual Durga Puja celebrations were progressing. Was there a sense of panic at rising prices… did the escalated cost of diesel dampen their enthusiasm? Was their confidence in Didi shaken? What about the prospect of a mid-term poll disturbing the tempo of their lives? Were any of these issues of any significance? Bilkul nahi! The Vardan Market was full of shoppers making early purchases from small boutiques that specialise in selling designer knock-offs. Speaking to a few women haggling over an Anamika Khanna fake, they stared at me like I was crazy. Rollback or no rollback, they were going all out to enjoy a great pujo, minus any cutbacks. Whether it was the aggressive art mart or the gold mart, going by the enthusiastic shoppers crowding bazaars, nobody could possibly have believed Didi had just dropped a bombshell.

How things unfold after the flop Bharat Bandh will be interesting to monitor. The key word being flung around is “consultation”. Assorted netas are going purple in the face about not being consulted by the Congress Party before taking such a momentous decision. But hello! Since when did the Congress ever consult anyone…. Allies included? Countless ad hoc decisions have been imposed on the nation in the past… been weakly debated and eventually junked. Most times, the aam janta has seen through the charade, shrugged and gone on with life.

This time too, the pantomime will be ignored till a staged “resolution” is offered and instantly accepted by the Opposition and allies. The Prime Minister, emboldened by the positive market sentiments to last week’s googly, will once again disappear behind the purdah and wait for the Didis and Dadas to calm down — which they will. Our political masters have read us well. They know all it takes to buy time and get on with business as usual is to make a big noise and threaten to withdraw support. The natives are satisfied that at least someone is doing something. It’s hogwash, of course. But everybody goes to bed feeling happy. Meaningless threats and protests have a way of dulling our senses and making us believe we actually count.

So, has a new era of Didi-giri and Dada-giri dawned? Will the latest flexing of political muscle make even the smallest dent in the status quo? Or will we — stupidly and passively — stay mum even after the Rs 12,500 crore Teddy Bear’s Picnic erroneously referred to as Bharat Bandh? As always, this expensive joke is on us.

Bengal’s hidden gain from diesel adds to your pain

Udit Prasanna Mukherji, TNN | Sep 18, 2012, 07.34AM IST

KOLKATA: Don't be surprised if diesel gets dearer again in October without any hike being announced by the Centre and all other parameters — international price of crude oil, rupee-dollar exchange rate or tax rates — remaining unchanged. Bengal and some other states are enjoying an extra benefit in the form of a 20% surcharge on sales tax that adds up to the Rs 50.61 price tag of diesel here.

Bengal earns Rs 1.62 per litre of diesel as this irrecoverable surcharge, say finance departmentsources. This component alone fetches the state government a monthly revenue of Rs 45 crore.

It's called an "irrecoverable" surcharge because the state does not pass it on to oil companies. All these years, the Centre used to pay this amount to oil companies because they couldn't recover it from the states. On July 26, 2012, the Centre refused to carry the burden any longer and allowed oil firms to recover a portion of it by increasing prices. The recovery was capped at Rs 1.08 a litre for diesel. Now that diesel prices have been increased by Rs 5, this component adds up to Rs 1.62 a litre in Bengal but because of the cap, oil companies can recover only Rs 1.08. The remaining 54 paise goes to the Bengal government's coffers. However, this 54 paise may well be passed on to you as the Centre proposes to review the under-recovery every quarter.

Money-spinner

Diesel price: 50.61/lt (inclusive of central, state taxes) Diesel sold in state/month 2.8 lakh kilo litre.

State earns

Rs 264.6 cr per month Sales tax at 17% is 6.83/litre Cess is 1/litre Irrecoverable Surcharge at 20% of sales tax is 1.62/litre Total: 9.45/litre.

Why price may rise again in October

Irrecoverable surcharge/lt charged by state is 1.62 Earnings from irrecoverable surcharge per month is 45 cr Surcharge not passed on to oil cos. Till July 2012, Centre compensated the oil companies From Aug 2012, Centre says it won't share the burden, asks oil firms to recover a portion of this component by increasing prices The cap for recovery fi xed at 1.08/lt for diesel 5/lt hike in diesel price takes surcharge to 1.62/lt, but oil cos can recover only 1.08 Remaining 54p may be passed on to consumers from Oct as Centre proposes to review under-recovery every quarter .

Ministers fume at tax-cut advice

This irrecoverable surcharge component explains why fuel prices in Bengal are higher than some other states. Taking the Rs 5 hike into account , the Mamata government earns an additional Rs 285.60 crore a year as sales tax, cess and irrecoverable surcharge taken together . TheManmohan Singh government is urging state governments to give up a part of this gain to lessen the burden on the consumer. An advertisement issued by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas on Monday says: "The recent increase in diesel price will yield an additional tax revenue of Rs 8,200 crore per annum to the states. The states can, at least, forego this additional revenue to provide additional comfort to the common man."

The suggestion has drawn flak from Mamata Banerjee's cabinet colleagues . "The state government has meagre resource avenues, unlike the Centre. Now if the Centre starts dictating ways to the state government then there is no point calling this a democratic set-up ," said panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee. Transport minister Madan Mitra reacted more aggressively: "Who are they (Centre) to suggest what state governments should do? They should have issued a notification instead of giving a suggestion through advertisement . Our government swears by ma mati manush, and our leader and chief minister will take the call on this."

Though the Opposition in Bengal is at loggerheads with the Manmohan Singh government as well, Left Front chairman Biman Bose came out with a similar suggestion for the Mamata Banerjee administration . Bose pointed out that the Left Front government had slashed sales tax on diesel price in 2008-09 to give relief to the common man and urged Mamata to do the same "if she was sincere to the cause of the masses" . 

LOK SABHA AS ON 19TH SEPTEMBER 2012

Sitaram Yechury reacts to Mamata Banerjee’s charges

Reacting to  the allegation of  Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal and TMC supremo that it was Standing Committee of  civil aviation  headed by  Sitaram Yechury  MP and  CPI(M) polit bureau member recommended 51 percent  FDI in the civil aviation   Industry,  Yechury said that allegation was totally false, untrue and falsehood.

Yechury said that I am the chairman of the Standing committee civil aviation and transport, this issue never came in front of us. This sort of decision is taken by the executive. Mamta Banejee was union minister since the time of Narshima Rao government and also under NDA and UPA 2 and she must know about this that such decision is taken by the executive.

Yechury said, I also take this opportunity to point that CPI (M) had been a consistent fighter against the FDI and privatization in the civil aviation, there are many documents and records to prove it. It is only our party which had moved a statutory resolution in the parliament which is rarely moved on an issue in this sector. I as chairman of the committee can sight various reports which have been adopted unanimously recommending the government not to take this path.

We really do not know why she does not know after remaining so many years in council of ministers this fact that these decision are taken by the executive. It shows her lack of knowledge about the function of the government.

eom

New Delhi,

19th September, 2012

Mamata walks out of UPA II, Trinamool ministers to resign on Friday

DNA, Published: Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012, 17:42 IST

We will hit the streets to protest against the government decisions, Bannerjee said.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 20:40 IST

This government will last only three to six months, she said, adding thatTrinamool Congress was the biggest party in the UPA alliance.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 20:38 IST

Trinamool Congress ministers will resign on Friday, said party chief Mamata Banerjee.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 20:32 IST

Mamata Banerjee says Trinamool Congress withdraws its support form the UPA government.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 20:29 IST

Mamata Banerjee:

The government did not consult us before fuel hike.

We have always been snubbed by the government.

UPA has no respect for us.

We cannot stay happy if our heads are cut off.

The central government has always discriminated against West Bengal.

Our ministers will resign fromt he centre tomorrow.

Trinamool Congress withdraws its support from UPA II.

We are doing this for the common man.

We are very proud of what we are doing.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 20:24 IST

Mamata Banerjee is currently addressing the media.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 20:21 IST

Mamata Banerjee will be addressing the media shortly to announce the decision taken in the meeting.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 19:33 IST

The Trinamool Congress meeting in Town Hall has ended.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 19:30 IST

After Sonia Gandhi, Finance Minister P Chidambaram will also be meeting the prime minister.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 19:11 IST

West Bengal Congress chief said that Mamata Banerjee will not pull out of UPA.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 18:24 IST

Meanwhile, MNS has declared that they will be supporting FDI in multi-brand retail.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 18:07 IST

There are also reports that a cabinet reshuffle is on cards.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 17:45 IST

Reports coming in that Congress chairperson is currently on her way to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's house to discuss the Trinamool crisis.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 17:45 IST

Congress leader Renuka Choudhury said they are talking to Mamata Banerjee and that she will understand their stand.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 17:41 IST

Crucial meeting of Trinamool Congress parliamentary party to decide party's stand on hiked diesel price, LPG and FDI is currently underway in Kolkata.

Tuesday, Sep 18, 2012 17:39 IST

         

Tapan Sen, MP, General Secretary, CITU writes to Petroleum Minister

Dear Shri S Jaipal Reddy ji,

I draw your urgent attention to the statement of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas published as advertisement in the leading National Dailies today on 17th September 2012 under the heading “Was the increase in price of diesel & capping of Domestic LPG avoidable? No, for the following reasons:” (copy enclosed)

I totally disagree with the “reasons” detailed therein but that is not the purpose of drawing your attention here.

The point is that the said statement published by the Ministry suffers from misrepresentation of facts when it referred to the recommendation of the ‘all party Standing Committee of Parliament on Petroleum & Natural Gas on ‘capping of domestic LPG’.

Number one, the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Petroleum & Natural Gas (8th Report on Demands for Grants-2011-12) on this particular issue was not at all unanimous as has been claimed in Ministry’s advertised statement. I as a member of the Standing Committee, had submitted my ‘note of dissent’ on the recommendation on this particular issue which was published along with the Report and tabled in Parliament on 03-08-2011.

Number two, the decision of the Govt capping the domestic LPG cylinders’ availability to 6 cylinders annually for all households is at wide variance with what the Standing Committee actually recommended on that issue, contrary to what has been stated in Ministry’s advertised statement. The Standing Committee recommended, though not unanimously, the restriction on domestic LPG availability at subsidized rate for “people having an income of more than Rs Six Lakh per annum including those holding constitutional posts, public representatives like MPs, MLAs/MLCs.”

Let me again reiterate, I am not arguing here on the merit of what the Ministry sought to convey to people through this advertised statement. I like to state here only that such official statement of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, that too published as advertisement in all the national dailies should not indulge in misrepresentation of facts as pointed out in the preceding paragraphs.

I would request you to please look into the matter and do the needful so that corrective action is taken at the earliest to put the facts straight and without distortion or dilution.

With regards,

Tapan Sen

17th September 2012

Match-fixing' by Cong, Trinamool on diesel hike: Karat

TNN | Sep 15, 2012, 06.11AM IST

KOLKATA: CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat on Friday termed Trinamool Congress claims of not being consulted on the diesel and LPG price rise as "match-fixing". "Three days back the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs (CCPA) had said it was to figure on its agenda. Trinamool is part of the committee. They will skip not attend the cabinet meeting and then say take a plea that they were not told," Karat said.

"The Trinamool Congress is an ally of the UPA. And no such decision can be taken without taking the allies in confidence. Congress doesn't have a majority," Karat said while speaking at a party function to commemorate the birth centenary celebrations of CPI(M)'s founder general-secretary P Sitaramaiah at Pramode Dasgupta Bhawan.

Earlier, speaking to the reporters at the NSCBI airport, Karat said: "The CPI(M) will hold discussions with other parties before launching a stir pressing for a rollback. Both the decisions of hiking the diesel price and restricting the supply of subsidized cooking to six cylinders per household in a year will hit the common man hard. CPI(M) has already criticised the decision of the Centre. We are going to discuss with other parties as to how to organise a common movement to demand the rollback of the decision."

Karat's statement also found resonance in the CPI(M)'s three-day extended state committee meeting, which began on Friday. In a statement, CPI(M) not only stopped at saying that Trinamool can't shun from its responsibility, it also said till the time the Centre makes a rollback, the state can very well withdraw the state component embedded in the prices. "The state also stands to benefit from the price increase," it said. Left Front chairman Biman Bose has already announced a series of agitation programmes in the state from Saturday.

State Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya also pointed why Union railway minister Mukul Roy chose to remain absent from the crucial cabinet meetings. "We all know it is a tough decision but sometimes tough decisions need to be taken. Trinamool, being our ally at the Centre, needs to be more sensible rather than trying to score political points " Bhattacharjee added. "

If they plan to launch agitations against the central government, then we can also launch stir against the wrongdoings and policies of the state government," Bhattacharjee added. Asked about the TMC's charges of not being informed about the decision, he said: "This is rubbish. They have a cabinet minister (Mukul Roy). All the important decisions are taken in the cabinet. Why does he always remain absent from the cabinet meeting?"

"Does he need a special invitation to be present at the cabinet meeting? Most of the times when there is a cabinet meeting, he stays in Kolkata and then Trinamool will say they were not informed. What is this?" he said.

BJP workers, on Friday morning, burned the effigy of PM Manmohan Singh and blocked roads in several parts of the state demanding rollback of diesel price hike and restoration of full subsidy on LPG cylinders.

How is Trinamool ignorant of every hike, asks Karat

KOLKATA, September 14, 2012

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat on Friday described as “peculiar” the pattern of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pleading ignorance every time a fuel hike was announced and saying she was opposed to the move even as her party, a constituent of the ruling UPA, failed to attend the meetings where the crucial decisions were taken.

“There is some sort of match fixing in this. They [the Trinamool Congress] say, ‘you [the Congress] go ahead [with the imposition of the hike], we will say we did not know anything about this.’ This is the approach the Trinamool-led State government has adopted,” Mr. Karat said, speaking at a function in the city to mark the birth centenary of P. Sunderayya, first CPI(M) general secretary.

“They [the Trinamool] say we were not told; we were not consulted; we are opposed to it. But there was a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Political Affairs and on the agenda were increase in diesel prices and limiting the subsidy for LPG cylinders. The Trinamool representative in the Cabinet [Railway Minister Mukul Roy], who is a member of the CCPA, did not attend that meeting.”

Mr. Karat said the Trinamool pleaded ignorance of the proposed hike even after the agenda of the meeting had been published in the media.

“If they were opposed to it, the Minister should have gone to the CCPA. They should have blocked it in the Cabinet.” The Congress, he said, did not have a majority and could not proceed with a decision if any of the allies opposed it.

Mamata govt superseding elected local bodies: CPI(M)

Zee News, Last Updated: Thursday, August 23, 2012, 18:38

New Delhi: Accusing the Trinamool Congress of "absolute authoritarianism", the CPI(M) on Thursday charged the Mamata Banerjee government with superseding elected local bodies in West Bengal and giving all their financial powers to district magistrates, thereby stalling development work.

"The state government has issued orders ceasing the powers of the zilla parishads of North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts. Under the orders, the DMs will now operate all powers of the parishads and sanction schemes," senior party leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

"This is absolute authoritarianism and autocratic manner in which the state government is functioning," he said.

A CPI(M) delegation of zilla parishad representatives, led by Yechury and former MP Amitabha Nandi, took up the issue with Panchayati Raj Minister Kishore Chandra Deo and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh at separate meetings.

Nandi said though panchayat was a state subject and his party was opposed to any move by the Centre to interfere in state matters, "in this particular case, I believe it has become necessary to have an exception as a very special case".

He said all public works in Nadia and North 24 Parganas "have come to a standstill since the state government order became operative".

The delegation sought the intervention of the two Union ministers to take appropriate action to end the deadlock. (PTI)

Is Mamata giving communal politics a chance in Bengal?

Written by: Shubham Ghosh

ONE INDIA, Updated: Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 10:41 [IST]

Mamata is often heard of shouting "Don't let them start riots in Bengal!." Who are "they"? Where is riot happening in Bengal? On the contrary, an educated middle-class led by a secular Leftist leadership nurtured a socio-economic culture in Bengal which was not traditionally characterised by caste and minority politics. But in the post-Left Front times, we are clearly seeing how casteist politics is making its way in the Bengali society. We have seen how the Matua sect and Muslims are being mobilised by the Mamata Banerjee, the latter in a more fragmented way.

Mamata encouraging communal forces

The BJP, which has never succeeded in fomenting a communal way of politics in the state, has been feeling encouraged only because Mamata, today, is intending to appease the minorities. We all know soft communalism in the name of secularism will eventually lead to the growth of a hard, reactionary communalism. The Congress's ploy and the BJP's rise as a counter-force have left such examples in the past. The recent protest over the construction of Aligarh Muslim University campus in Murshidabad is a classic case.

The BJP wouldn't have to sweat it out if Mamata continues with her appeasement policy for another three-and-half years and beyond (for I believe that she will come back to power in 2016 even if with a reduced majority). Mamata, instead of focusing on overall uplift of the minorities, is actually playing a dangerous game of fragmenting the minorities by extending facilities to selected sections.

What will an allowance for the Imam do for the uplift of an average educated middle-class Muslim person? He, or she, just like any educated middle-class Hindu, will want industrialisation in the state for generation of economic opportunities. There is no point in slamming the BJP for trying out 'communal politics'. It is being given such an opportunity.

Bureaucrats see it better and clearly

If a police officer, owing to the fact that he has seen it all from close ranks, decides to write on issues he strongly feels about, then who are these chamchas to oppose? Mamata can not accuse Islam as CPI(M)'s man either for he was known for his clashes with it also. People like Ghosh and Islam have dared to expose the so-called tamasha that is going on in Bengal today in the name of pro-people action and it is natural that the state machinery would be unleashed against them in a desperate bid to keep its artificial support base intact.

Islam's daring act could also hint at the growing dissent in the Bengal police against the maladministration of Mamata. The CM, who was once at the receiving end of the fury unleashed by the police during the days of the Left rule, has transformed it into a stooge of her own. She has defended criminals belonging to own party while discouraged honest officers from properly carrying out their job (she once allegedly got a few of her followers freed from police lock-up after they were arrested for threatening the police and reprimanded officers), the normal consequence of what has been the deteriorating law and order situation.

The culture that is being nurtured by Mamata Banerjee in Bengal is a shocking one. Even as people regard her government's action as anti-democratic, it is more threatening somewhere deep down. But who can arrest the slide when the protector itself turns draconian?

FEAR OF FREEDOM