West Bengal Transport Minister passes away

October 8th, 2009 KOLKATA - Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Thursday described West Bengal as an "university of Maoist activities" where the ultras get training and launch armed strikes in other parts of the country. "West Bengal is a university of Maoist activities.

September 23rd, 2009 KOLKATA - West Bengal is lagging behind in implementing the projects sanctioned under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) scheme, Union Minister of State for Urban Development Saugata Roy said here Wednesday. "West Bengal and Delhi are lagging behind in (utilising) the fund sanctioned under the schemes of JNURM.

July 23rd, 2009 KOLKATA - At least 17 associations of commercial vehicle operators in West Bengal will go on indefinite strike from Friday, to protest the state government's decision to ban all commercial vehicles that are over 15 years old. "We're sticking to our stand to call the strike if the state government does not pay any attention to our interests," said Sarnakamal Saha of Kolkata Metropolitian Bus and Minibus Owners' Association.

July 19th, 2009 KOLKATA - Union Finance Minister and West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday ruled out any possibility of further division of West Bengal. Mukherjee said this while commenting on the indefinite bandh that has been called by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM) in the Darjeeling Hills, which has been demanding for creation of a separate state of Gorkhaland.

July 19th, 2009 KOLKATA - At least 17 associations of commercial vehicle operators Sunday called for an indefinite strike from July 24 to protest the state government's decision to ban all commercial vehicles that are over 15 years old. "We've called this strike as the state government has paid no heed to our interests.

June 23rd, 2009 KOLKATA - The West Bengal government Tuesday said the central government's decision to extend the ban on the Communist Party of India-Maoists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was also applicable to the state. "This act is applicable in the whole country.

June 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Centre would soon send a team to assess the damage caused by recent cyclone "Aila" in West Bengal, state, it has been assured to the State Government, said West Bengal Finance Minister Ashim Das Gupta on Tuesday. Ashim, after meeting the Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram on Tuesday in the national capital, said that Chidambaram has also promised that he would sympathetically consider all the demands for rehabilitation of the cyclone-affected people.

June 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - West Bengal's Finance Minister, Dr. Ashim Dasgupta, will meet Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today and submit a report on the recent devastation caused by cyclone Aila in the state.

May 26th, 2009 KOLKATA - Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, who broke convention Tuesday to take charge of her portfolio here instead of the national capital, said people earning below Rs.500 per month will be given monthly railway passes at Rs.20. "For the poor, we are announcing special monthly railway passes.

May 17th, 2009 KOLKATA - West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is likely to skip the CPI (M) politburo meeting on Monday in Delhi. The reason for the West Bengal Chief Minister skipping the politburo meeting is that he wants to "oversee the law and order situation in the state".

April 13th, 2009 KOLKATA - A video recording of a West Bengal minister's election speech lambasting a prominent tribal leader will be sent to the Election Commission Tuesday to see if he has violated the model code of conduct, an official said Monday. Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty in an election meeting threatened Chattradhar Mahato, who is spearheading a tribal movement in Lalgarh area under the aegis of People's Committee Against Police Atrocity (PCAPA).

April 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - A majority of people in West Bengal believe that Tata Motors moving out of Singur is not good for the state, and many have given the electoral thumbs down to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, whose sustained anti-land acquisition campaign forced Tata to move the Nano plant to Gujarat, according to an opinion poll. The poll conducted by NDTV news channel says that West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is the most popular leader in the state and is likely to retain his post.

March 20th, 2009 KOLKATA - Throwing police into a tizzy, a motorcyclist intruded into the convoy of West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Thursday. The incident occurred on the busy Park Street when the chief minister was on his way to the state secretariat, Writers' Building, police said.

March 18th, 2009 KOLKATA - Activists of Trinamool Congress and Congress party organised a yagna here for the success of the alliance of these two parties in the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha. This was consequent to the finalisation of the tie-up and sharing of seats between the two parties in West Bengal.

January 12th, 2009 KOLKATA - West Bengal would review bus and taxi fares when the central government reduces fuel prices, Transport Minister Sunbhas Chakraborty said here Tuesday. 'The government of India has not issued any notification so far.