Potato traders threaten strike
As a result of the strike threat, the prices of potatoes are likely to skyrocket and drill holes in common peoples’ pockets.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee was accused of taking a uturn on the infiltration issue by the BJP’s central observer for the state, Kailash Vijayvargiya, on Saturday.
Miss Banerjee’s present belligerence is in sharp contrast with her outburst in the Parliament on 5 August, 2005, when she tried to throw papers at the then deputy Speaker for not being allowed to speak on infiltration and was almost in tears, Mr Vijavargiya said at a Press conference during the day.
Thirteen years since the incident at the Parliament, the Trinamul Congress leader has taken an about-turn on the infiltration issue, the BJP observer said.
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Referring to the chief minister as “kursi didi” who is spreading false apprehension about National Register of Citizens (NRC) and would go any length to protect her seat of power, he said that the BJP would rather forego its electoral advantage in the national interest and continue to support the NRC.
While there has been a rise of 10 to 15 per cent voters all over the country, this percentage has gone up by 35 to 50 per cent in Assam and West Bengal, the BJP leader contended. This has been a cause of concern in Assam, which necessitated the NRC, he felt.
Miss Banerjee is holding a constitutional post and hence should have got in touch with her Assam counterpart before sending a team to the neighbouring state, Mr Vijayvargiya said.
The action of Miss Banerjee in this regard is unforgiveable, he added. The infiltrators are behind the forged note racket in the state, Mr Vijayvargiya said.
Blaming the infiltrators for joblessness in the state, he accused them of eating into the already scanty employment market.
Meanwhile, the rally that was scheduled to be adressed by the Prime Minister at Brigade Parade Ground on 22 January, has been postponed. It is likely to be held between 29 January and 5 February.
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