My-Westbengal News

Reliance Fresh back in Kolkata

2008-08-05T11:17:00.001+05:30

The Reliance Retail has returned to Kolkata agin where it has opened 3 branches of the food chain, 'Reliance Fresh' in the City. The company which had last year announced its entry into the West Bengal retail market had to roll back with its plans as there were protests within the State. This time Reliance will foray into the Kolkata markets with only food products while the fruits and vegetables will be supplied by Keventer Group. --MP

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Govt for pro farmer industrial policies

2008-07-31T10:46:00.001+05:30

Triggered by the Singur situation, West Bengal government is seriously thinking of revamping its industrial policies in an effort to make way for the interests of farmers in the State. West Bengal government has even indicated that the government was working on industrial policies that would benefit the farmers as well. Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta informed that it would draft new industrial policies that would ensure farmers interests while acquiring land for investment purposes. --MP

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Terror threats put Kolkatta on alert

2008-07-30T22:20:00.001+05:30

With e-mail warnings of terror attacks targetted at Kolkatta, the city was put on high alert. However police traced out these emails which were sent to TV channels and found them to be hoax emails send from a cyber cafe. On the wake of threats, police had even searched the major city areas and landmarks, however could not trace any explosives. --MP

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CPM expels Somanath

2008-07-24T21:06:00.001+05:30

A day after the trust vote, the CPI-M on Wednesday expelled Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee from the party. The party wanted the West Bengal MP to quit from the Speaker's post ahead of the trust vote following the Left's withdrawal to the UPA government. "The Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has unanimously expel Somnath Chatterjee from the membership of the Party with immediate effect. This action has been taken under Article XIX, clause 13 of the Party Constitution for seriously compromising the position of the party." says a party statement. --MP

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Somen leaves Cong to form own party

2008-07-20T23:01:00.001+05:30

Senior Congress leader from West Bengal and former West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Somen Mitra has left Congress to form alliance with Trinamool Congress. The popular Congress leader said he was leaving Congress in order to join hands with Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress. His new party has been named as Pragatishil Indira Congress. --MP

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Somanth might quit

2008-07-13T22:35:00.001+05:30

With pressure mounting on Somnath Chatterjee after Left withdrawing support to the UPA, its now the LS Speakers's turn to decide on his position. Though Somnath has informed his stance saying he was the Speaker of the House and do not belong to any political party, there had been specualtion over the Speaker resigning the post. Meanwhile sources say that the CPI-M is trying to convince Mr Chatterjee to step down with the intervention of veteran CPM leader Jyoti Basu. --MP

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Ganguly to try on football

2008-07-13T22:34:00.001+05:30

After cricket, Sourav Ganguly is set to try out his football skills as he prepares to play for one of the forthcoming Kolkatta I-League matches which starts in September. Ganguly who is the brand ambassador of Chirag computers will play for Chirag United. "Maybe he'll play for a two-minute slot in one of the I-League matches. Again, it all depends on Ganguly's availability from his cricketing assignments," says Chirag chief. --MP

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BJP bandh goes quiet in WB

2008-07-04T12:05:00.003+05:30

The bandh called to protest against the cancellation of Amarnath land trasfer went on without much disruption in West Bengal. Except for few isolated incidents, the bandh went peaceful in most parts of the State. Train services were affected at some regions as bandh activists staged demonstration sitting on the railway tracks. --MP

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WB to deal Maoists in a different way

2008-07-04T12:05:00.001+05:30

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee informed that the government would not just ban Maoists, instead would tackle the growing concerns through political and administrative policies to ensure socio-economic development. With the growing Maoists violence, many states had sought ban on the militant outfit. However the WB CM said that a mere ban would not be able to check the Maoists. The state government would like to pursue socio-economic development of areas where Maoists presence were more established. --MP

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Reality show puts girl into depression

2008-06-29T13:10:00.001+05:30

Reality show competitions are becoming very much a part of today's TV entertainment. Recently a 16 year old school going Kolkatta girl went into depression after being dropped from a popular Bengali TV reality show. The talented girl who hails from Kolkatta has been reportedly rebuked by a judge in the show. Following her elimination from the dance show, she suffered immense shock and rendered speechless and paralysed. The girl is currently undergoing treatment for her medical condition in Bangalore. --MP

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GJM stir: Centre not to interfere directly

2008-06-23T11:20:00.001+05:30

Talking on the GJM stir demanding for seperate Gorkhaland, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi has said that the Center government would not interfere directly on the issue. Having said that he maintained that Center would extend all support to the West Bengal government to protect the territorial integrity of the State. He also indicated that the Congress party was not in favour of any further division of Bengal. --MP

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Midnapore hard hit by floods

2008-06-21T16:59:00.001+05:30

The East and West Midnapore districts of West Bengal are the worst affected regions inthe mansoon rains thath has been lashing in the State. At least 15 people died in West Midnapore district alone and around 1,60,000 people have been starnded by the floods in the region. The over flowing rivers are worsening the situation with river Subarnarekha submerging the Dantan, Gopiballabhpur and Kesiari areas. rescue operations are underway with army personnels helping out the flood affected people. --MP

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Darjeeling vehicles to carry GL number plates

2008-06-21T16:17:00.001+05:30

In a move of protest against the state government, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) has called upon vehicles owners to replace their number plates with 'GL' instead of 'WB' from July 7th onwards. The move is as a part of GJM's non-coperation movement against the West Bengal government initiated by GJM. "Numbers of the vehicles would remain the same and only two letters, WB, would be replaced by GL," said GJM chief. --MP

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WB reels under heavy rains

2008-06-18T11:10:00.001+05:30

Continous rains lashing over the West Bengal state for the third day has thrown the normal life out of control in Kolkatta and various parts of the State. Flash floods has caused disrution of road and links at Howrah and Sealdah areas. Rains attributed due to epression in Bay of Bengal is expected to get worse as heavy to heavy rains are forecasted over the next 24 hrs. The mansoon has also hit the nearby state of Orissa and north eastern regions including Arunachal, Assam and Nagaland causing more trouble to the low lying areas. --MP

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Tea market hit by strike

2008-06-18T11:08:00.001+05:30

The indefenite strike at the Darjeeling Hills is causing great losses to the tea business in the State. Darjeeling's tea export accounts to almost 7 percent of the country's total exports. And the strike is expected to bring in losses of $475,000 each day, claims Darjeeling Tea Traders' Association. The Gorkha agitation in West Bengal have created threat to the tea farmers disrupting tea trade due to blockage of roads and other transport links. --MP

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Tension continues in Darjeeling

2008-06-16T11:53:00.001+05:30

Tension still prevails in parts of North Bengal with Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM) supporters calling for another indefenite strike in the Darjeeling hills from Monday onwards. The ongoing stir for a seperate state for the Gorkhas was relaxed since June 11 to 16th inorder to avoid disruption for tourists at the hills. An all party meeting also has been scheduled for June 17 during which the West Bengal administration will have talks to discuss on settling the issues to restore normalcy in the Hills.--MP

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Army, Center forces rushed to WB

2008-06-13T11:43:00.001+05:30

Faced with growing violence over ongoing Gorkhaland agitation, the Center has sent 1,000 central paramilitary force personnel to tackle the ongoing agitation in Darjeeling. This includes BSF, CRPF and Sashastra Seema Bal(SSB) forces. While taking effective steps to deal with such a situation, additional forces are also send as demanded by the state govt. The State government has made a request to this effect to the Union Home Ministry, indicated a senior Home Ministry official. Meanwhile chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has said he also sought the help of the Army forces to patrol streets in Siliguri and premises to maintain law and order in the State. --MP

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Tourists under attack

2008-06-12T11:05:00.001+05:30

Even when the State government is taking all step to to improve the security situation in North Bengal, attacks on tourists has been reported in Darjeeling and Siliguri. Tourists came under attack following Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM) activists demanding seperate state for Nepali speaking people and called on tourists to leave Darjeeling. The Siliguri tourists travelling by bus were evacuated from Darjeeling at Kalijhora and was attacked by stones. Darjeeling administration immediately called out for the State government's intervention on the matter. --MP

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WB cuts sales tax on fuel

2008-06-06T10:08:00.001+05:30

Following the Center's hike in fuel prices, West bengal government has announced a sales tax cut in the sales of the petroleum products. The Left ruled West Bengal government has slashed sales tax on petrol and diesel by up to five per cent. With this consumers can get a relief of Rs 2.12 a litre on petrol and Rs 1.38 a litre on diesel in the State. --MP

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Fuel hike: Bengal goes on strike

2008-06-05T09:31:00.001+05:30

In view with the hike on fuel prices, the Left Front ruling West Bengal government has called for a 12 hour state wide bandh to protest against the Center's move. Terming the price hike in petrol, diesel and cooking gas as 'anti people', the Left parties called on the bandh call to protest on the Union Cabinet's decision. The opposition parties Trinamool Congress and the BJP also has called on for the strike on the next day, Friday. The Center has hiked the price of petrol by Rs 5 a litre and that of diesel by Rs 3 a litre. While the price of cooking gas (LPG) has increased by Rs 50 a cylinder. --MP

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State hospital to turn into medical college

2008-06-01T16:38:00.001+05:30

Leading health care group Apollo Hospitals is taking over one of the West Bengal government run hospital in Kamarhati.Sagar Dutta hospital near Kolkatta is being handed over to Apollo Hospitals which in turn would convert it to a medical college. The hospital at present spans over 23 acres and has 130 beds will be upgraded to 1000 beds with better facilities and infrastructure. The new college Apollo Gleneagles Medical College would be jointly developed by by Apollo Hospitals and Singapore-based Parkway Group. --MP

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Left loses Nandigram, Singur

2008-05-23T10:03:00.001+05:30

When the panchayat polls results were announced on Wednesday, it was a major setback for the ruling Left parties in West Bengal with the party failing to win Nandigram and Singur at the Zilla Parishad elections. The Left Front which retained its control in Hoogly, witnessed defeat at the controversial areas of Nandigram and Singur with Trinamool gaining credits. Though the Left Front bagged majority of the seats, the party's defeat at these regions was a clear indication of the people's protest over the land acquisition issue. --MP

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Probe on power cut in Eden Gardens

2008-04-21T21:59:00.001+05:30

A probe has been ordered on the Sunday's incident over the power supply which went off for almost 30 mts during the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkatta. There were also complaints of sufficient drinking water at the ground. A 3 member committee had been appointed by the State Government to investigate on the lapses that took place during the match which was held at the prestigious ground. The committee is expected to submit its report before the govt before the next match at the venue scheduled for April 29th. The Sports minister has also criticised the Cricket Association of Bengal for not taking proper measures to prevent such mismanagment during the event. --MP

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Bengal bandh disrupts normal life

2008-04-21T21:18:00.001+05:30

The Trinamool Congress and its alliance partner Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) had jointly called for a 12 hour shutdown in West Bengal on Monday to protest over the rising inflation levels. Transport services including train services were hit by the bandh which affected normal life. Schools and colleges remain closed. "We have called the shutdown as the State and the Central Governments have ignored public inconvenience caused by sharp rise in prices of essential commodities," said Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee justifying the protest. --MP

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Women in WB not safe: Mamta

2008-04-21T21:17:00.001+05:30

On the wake of recent sexual abuse on women in the state by political activists, Trinamul Congress chief, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the women in West Bengal are not safe and police have not taken any action against those who had committed the crimes. Two women supporters of Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Samiti (BUPC) were gang raped allegedly by CPM supporters on Saturday in Nandigram. "Two women supporters of the Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (BUPC) were raped by CPI(M) cadre on Saturday and the police remained mute spectators taking no action against the culprits," alleged the leader. --MP

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