Mamata Banerjee claims BJP's party colours being used for cricket team jerseys, metro stations
Kolkata, Nov 17: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the BJP-led central government of attempting to saffronise various institutions across the country, including the Indian cricket team, whose practice jerseys are now saffron-coloured.
Speaking at the inauguration of Jagadhatri Puja at Posta Bazar in central Kolkata, Banerjee alleged that the BJP has introduced saffron colour not only in the practice jerseys of the cricket team but also in the painting of Metro stations.
She expressed her disapproval, stating, "They are trying to paint the entire country saffron. We are proud of our Indian players, and I believe they will be champions in the World Cup. But they (BJP) brought in saffron colours there as well, and our boys now practice in saffron-coloured jerseys. The Metro stations have been painted saffron. This is unacceptable."
Without explicitly naming anyone, Banerjee denounced what she considered as partisan politics.
The TMC boss said, "I don't have problems with them erecting statues, but they are trying to turn everything saffron. I had once seen that Mayawati had made a statue of herself. After that, I hadn't heard of anything like this. These theatrics cannot always lead to benefits. Power comes and goes."
Taking a swipe at the BJP, she said the country belongs "to the Janata (people) of the nation, and not to just Janata of a party."
Her remark drew sharp reactions from the BJP, which dubbed the allegations as a "reflection of a vindictive approach."
BJP leader Rahul Sinha said, "After a few days, she might question why our national flag has saffron colour in it. We don't deem it fit even to react to such statements."
Lashing out at the Centre for withholding funds for the state, Banerjee said the BJP-led central government is prompt in spending crores on front-page advertisements but has stopped the "due funds of the state, thus depriving thousands of (MGNREGA) workers in the state."
"First, I fought with CPI(M). Now I have to fight with the party in power in Delhi," she said.
While talking about the upcoming edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit, Banerjee claimed that more than 70,000 businessmen have left the country.
"These businessmen could have invested in the country, and money could have been used here. But now they have moved out. We hope good sense prevails (in BJP leader)," she said.
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Health dept to probe into claim about Pune hospital's refusal to admit pregnant woman
Pune (PTI): Maharashtra Minister Prakash Abitkar on Friday said a senior official of the health department will conduct an inquiry into the incident in which a hospital in Pune allegedly refused to admit a pregnant woman due to the non-payment of an advance deposit of Rs 10 lakh.
The alleged incident took place at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, and the woman, Tanisha Bhise, wife of BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe's personal assistant, died after giving birth to twin girls at another hospital.
Talking to PTI, Abitkar said, "We have asked the deputy director of the health department to inquire into what exactly happened at the hospital. After we receive his report, we will take necessary action if the hospital is found to be in the wrong."
Workers of opposition parties, including the Shiv Sena (UBT) Congress and the NCP (SP), staged protests outside the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and even threw coins at one of the hospital staffers.
Police have been deployed in large numbers outside the facility to prevent untoward incidents.
MLC Gorkhe had on Thursday claimed that despite an assurance to pay Rs 3 lakh immediately, the hospital denied admission to the patient, and even a call from the Mantralaya did not yield any response from them.
The hospital, however, refuted the allegations and blamed the woman's kin for giving "misleading information".
The hospital's medical director, Dr Dhananjay Kelkar, had said they would prepare a detailed report about the incident and submit it to the health department.
