Won’t take revenue for farm lands, says Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that the state government will no longer take revenue for agricultural lands. The announcement meant a relief to farmers since they were hit by the demonetisation and the failure of kharif crops. 

Addressing a public meeting at Kharagpur in West Midnapore, where she inaugurated some development projects, the chief minister said, “You had made a promise to waive loans for the farmers but have done nothing yet. Waive loans for them as so many farmers across the country have committed suicide.”

Claiming that the Centre had stopped funds for the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) and that development in Left Wing Extremism had affected areas, the chief .minister alleged that discrimination between the states regarding disbursal of central funds. “We have as many as 88 fast-track courts and 45 women’s police stations, Gujarat has zero fast track courts. The Centre has allocated `400 crore to Gujarat while Bengal received nothing,” she alleged, adding that even banks were not sanctioning loans for self-help groups under the Anandadhara scheme and students were not getting money under a scholarship. She reiterated that she would not tolerate “politics of hate” in the state. Referring to rumours of a ban on mangal aaroti at the Dakkhineshwar Kali temple, Ms Banerjee said, “An Union minister posted on Facebook that we have banned mangal aaroti at Dakkhineshwar. How can an Union minister spread misleading information? What country are we living in? I pray to Maa Bhobotarini to give them (BJP) some good sense. We never indulge in politics over Maa Kali.”

Urging people not to believe in rumours, she advised people to always cross-check the information they saw on social media.