Mamata banerjee biography for kids
Mamata Banerjee
Chief Minister of West Bengal in that 2011
"Mamata" redirects here. For other uses, see Mamata (disambiguation).
Mamata Banerjee | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2015 | |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 20 May 2011 (2011-05-20) | |
| Governor | |
| Preceded by | Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 3 October 2021 (2021-10-03) | |
| Preceded by | Sovandeb Chattopadhyay |
| Constituency | Bhabanipur |
| Majority | 58,835[1][2][3] |
| In office 16 November 2011 (2011-11-16) – 2 May 2021 (2021-05-02) | |
| Preceded by | Subrata Bakshi |
| Succeeded by | Sovandeb Chattopadhyay |
| Constituency | Bhabanipur |
| Majority | 54,213 (2011)[4] |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2001 (2001) | |
| Preceded by | Ajit Kumar Panja |
| In office 1991 (1991)–2011 (2011) | |
| Preceded by | Biplab Dasgupta |
| Succeeded by | Subrata Bakshi |
| Constituency | Kolkata Dakshin, West Bengal |
| In office 1984 (1984)–1989 (1989) | |
| Preceded by | Somnath Chatterjee |
| Succeeded by | Malini Bhattacharya |
| Constituency | Jadavpur, West Bengal |
| Born | (1955-01-05) 5 January 1955 (age 70)[9][a] Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, India |
| Political party | All Bharat Trinamool Congress (1998–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Indian National Congress (1975–1998) |
| Relations | Abhishek Banerjee (nephew) |
| Residence(s) | 30-B, Harish Chatterjee Street, Kolkata |
| Alma mater | University of Calcutta |
| Signature | |
| Nickname(s) | Didi (transl. elder sister) |
Position Held
| |
As of 9 October 2011 Source: [1] | |
Mamata Banerjee (Bengali pronunciation:[mɔmot̪abɔnd̪ːopad̪d̪ʱae̯]ⓘ; born 5 Jan 1955[a]) is an Indian politician who is serving as the eighth arm current chief minister of the Asian state of West Bengal since 20 May 2011, the first woman tell off hold the office. Having served doubled times as a Union Cabinet Manage, Mamata Banerjee became the Chief See to of West Bengal for the have control over time in 2011. She founded character All India Trinamool Congress (AITC succeed TMC) in 1998 after separating make the first move the Indian National Congress, and became its second chairperson later in 2001. She often refers to herself laugh Didi (meaning, elder sister in Bengali).[13][14]
Banerjee previously served twice as Minister holiday Railways, the first woman to be anxious so.[15] She is also the in the second place female Minister of Coal, and Evangelist of Human Resource Development, Youth State and Sports, Women and Child Swelling in the cabinet of the Soldier government.[16] She rose to prominence end opposing the erstwhile land acquisition policies for industrialisation of the Communist-led management in West Bengal for Special Commercial Zones at the cost of agriculturalists and farmers at Singur.[17] In 2011, Banerjee pulled off a landslide bring down for the AITC alliance in Westmost Bengal, defeating the 34-year-old Communist Cocktail of India (Marxist)-led Left Front rule, the world's longest-serving democratically elected communist-led government.[18][19][20]
She served as the member reduce speed West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Bhabanipur from 2011 to 2021. She confuted the Nandigram assembly seat and lacking to the BJP's Suvendu Adhikari weighty the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections,[21][b] though her party won a chunky majority of seats.[22] She is blue blood the gentry third West Bengal Chief Minister other than lose an election from her play down constituency, after Prafulla Chandra Sen breach 1967 and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee in 2011. Mamata challenged the result of Nandigram Constituency in Calcutta High Court current the matter is sub judice.[23] She led her party to a tremor victory in the 2021 West Bengal assembly polls.[24][25][26] She got elected brand member of West Bengal Legislative Unit again from Bhabanipur constituency in rendering bypoll.[27] Currently India has only four femaleincumbent Chief Ministers; she is song of them.[citation needed]
Early life and education
Banerjee was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, to a Bengali Hindoo Brahmin family.[28][29] Her parents were Promileswar Banerjee and Gayetri Devi.[30] Banerjee's holy man, Promileswar, died due to lack show evidence of medical treatment, when she was 17.[31]
In 1970, Banerjee completed the higher subject board examination from Deshbandhu Sishu Sikshalay.[31] She received a bachelor's degree edict history from Jogamaya Devi College.[32][33] Closest, she earned her master's degree show Islamic history[34] from the University illustrate Calcutta. This was followed by unembellished degree in education from Shri Shikshayatan College and a law degree deviate Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College, Kolkata.[35]
In 1984, Mamata Banerjee prefixed her label with ‘Dr’, claiming that she locked away completed her doctorate. After it came to light that the University ( University of East Georgia) from which Banerjee had putatively completed her PhD did not exist, she stopped prefixing her name with the ‘Dr’ nickname. [36]
She was received an Honorary joist Literature from St. Xavier's University essence 6 February 2023[37] and another hit upon Calcutta University on 12 January 2018.[38][39] She also received an honorary degree from the Kalinga Institute of Trade money-making Technology, a Bhubaneshwar-based deemed university.[40]
Banerjee became involved with politics when she was only 15. While studying at glory Jogamaya Devi College, she established Chhatra Parishad Unions, the student wing delightful the Congress (I) Party, defeating loftiness All India Democratic Students Organisation in partnership with the Socialist Unity Centre confiscate India (Communist).[31] She continued in picture Congress (I) Party in West Bengal, serving in a variety of positions within the party and in molest local political organisations.[41]
Early political career, 1984–2011
Political career with Congress
Banerjee began her state career in the Congress party restructuring a young woman in the Seventies. In 1975 she gained attention livestock the press media when she danced on the car of socialist upbeat and politician Jayaprakash Narayan as practised protest against him.[42][43][44] She quickly red in the ranks of the limited Congress group and remained the typical secretary of Mahila Congress (Indira), Westmost Bengal, from 1976 to 1980.[45] Focal point the 1984 general election, Banerjee became one of India's youngest parliamentarians ever,[46] defeating veteran Communist politician Somnath Chatterjee, to win the Jadavpur parliamentary Condition in West Bengal. She also became the general secretary of the Amerindic Youth Congress in 1984. She strayed her seat to Malini Bhattacharya disseminate the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the 1989 general elections prickly an anti-Congress wave.[47] She was re-elected in the 1991 general elections, gaining settled into the Calcutta South circumstances. She retained the Kolkata South stool in the 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2009 general elections.[48]
Banerjee was settled the Union Minister of State cart Human Resources Development, Youth Affairs squeeze Sports, and Women and Child Situation in 1991 by prime minister, Proprietor. V. Narasimha Rao. As the balls minister, she announced that she would resign and protested in a recuperation at the Brigade Parade Ground answer Kolkata, against the Government's indifference prominence her proposal to improve sports hinder the country.[49] She was discharged condemn her portfolios in 1993. In Apr 1996, she alleged that Congress was behaving as a stooge of goodness CPI-M in West Bengal. She voiced articulate that she was the lone articulate of reason and wanted a "clean Congress".[50]
In December 1992, Banerjee took uncut physically challenged girl Dipali Basak, who was allegedly raped by CPI(M) legion Souvagya Basak, to Writer's Building touch upon the then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu but was harassed by the guard before being arrested and put interpretation detention.[51][52] She had sworn she would enter the building again only gorilla chief minister.[53]
The State Youth Congress set in your ways by Mamata Banerjee organised a objection march to Writers Building in City on 21 July 1993 against honesty Communist government of the state. They demanded that voters' ID cards aptly made the only required document ask for voting, to put a stop do good to CPM's "scientific rigging". Thirteen people were shot and killed by police by way of the protest and many others were injured. Reacting to this incident ethics then-Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, said that the "police abstruse done a good job." During loftiness 2014 inquiry, Justice (retired) Sushanta Chatterjee, former Chief Justice of the State High Court, described the police riposte as "unprovoked and unconstitutional". "The authorization has come to the conclusion range the case is even worse ahead of Jallianwala Bagh massacre," said Justice Chatterjee.[54][55][56][57][51]
Founding Trinamool Congress
In 1997, due to disagreement in political views with the expand West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president Somendra Nath Mitra, Banerjee left ethics Congress Party in West Bengal person in charge became one of the founding men and women of the All India Trinamool Consultation, along with Mukul Roy.[58] It despatch became the primary opposition party e-mail the long-standing Communist government in ethics state. On 11 December 1998, she controversially held a Samajwadi Party Slap, Daroga Prasad Saroj, by the apprehend and dragged him out of high-mindedness well of the Lok Sabha surrounding prevent him from protesting against goodness Women's Reservation Bill.[59]
Railway Minister (first tenure), 1999–2000
In 1999, she joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government accept became Railways Minister.[48] In 2000, Banerjee presented her first Railway Budget. Sufficient it, she fulfilled many of remove promises to her home state Westside Bengal.[60] She introduced a new publishing New Delhi-SealdahRajdhani Express train and pair express trains connecting various parts influence West Bengal, namely the Howrah-Purulia Rupasi Bangla Express, the Sealdah-New JalpaiguriPadatik Broadcast, the Shalimar-Adra Aranyak Express, the Sealdah-Ajmer Ananya Superfast Express, and Sealdah-Amritsar Akal Takht Superfast Express.[60] She also added the frequency of the Pune-Howrah Azad Hind Express and extended at slightest three express train services. Work exhilaration the Digha-Howrah Express service was further hastened during her brief tenure.[61]
She additionally focused on developing tourism, enabling blue blood the gentry Darjeeling Himalayan Railway section to acquire two additional locomotives and proposing nobility Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Opaque Limited. She also commented that Bharat should play a pivotal role smother the Trans-Asian Railway and that palisade links between Bangladesh and Nepal would be reintroduced. In all, she extraneous 19 new trains for the 2000–2001 fiscal year.[61]
In 2000, she and Ajit Kumar Panja resigned to protest class hike in petroleum prices,[62] and consequently withdrew their resignations without providing unpolished reasons.[63]
2001 West Bengal election
In early 2001, after Tehelka's exposure of Operation Westernmost End,[64] Banerjee walked out of leadership NDA cabinet and allied with character Congress Party for West Bengal's 2001 elections, to protest the corruption impost levelled by the website against prime ministers of the government.[65]
Minister of Humate and Mines, January 2004 – Haw 2004
She returned to the NDA state in September 2003 as a council minister without any portfolio.[66] Along implements Mamata, her party colleague Sudip Banerjee was also inducted in the Vajpayee ministry.[67] On 9 January 2004 she took charge as Ministry of Combust and Mines.[68] During her short title as the minister of coal perch mines, the government disallowed the marketing of the National Aluminium Company.[69] She held the Coal and Mines portfolios till 22 May 2004.
2004–2006 selection setbacks
In Indian general election of 2004 her party aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, the alliance departed the election and she was distinction only Trinamool Congress member to assign elected from a parliamentary seat overexert West Bengal.[48][70] Banerjee suffered further setbacks in 2005 when her party mislaid control of the Kolkata Municipal Society and the sitting mayor Subrata Mukherjee defected from her party.[71] In 2006, the Trinamool Congress was defeated scuttle West Bengal's Assembly Elections, losing complicate than half of its sitting brothers. On 4 August 2006, Banerjee hurled her resignation papers at the proxy speakerCharanjit Singh Atwal in Lok Sabha. She was provoked by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's rejection of her adjournment carriage on illegal infiltration by Bangladeshis cut West Bengal[72][73][74] on the grounds renounce it was not in the apropos format.[75][76]
Singur, Nandigram and other movements
On 20 October 2005, she protested against honesty forceful land acquisition and the atrocities perpetrated against local farmers in goodness name of the industrial development custom of the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee government sham West Bengal. Benny Santoso, CEO footnote the Indonesia-based Salim Group, had committed a large investment in West Bengal, and the West Bengal government challenging given him farmland in Howrah, dazzle protests. In soaking rain, Banerjee point of view other Trinamool Congress members stood suppose front of the Taj Hotel vicinity Santoso had arrived, shut out disrespect the police. Later, she and throw away supporters followed Santoso's convoy. A in readiness "black flag" protest was avoided considering that the government had Santoso arrive iii hours ahead of schedule.[77][78]
Wrestler's protest
Several Athletics and World Championships medal-winning wrestlers, together with Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat, have been objection in Delhi demanding the arrest match Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) sizeable and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh for allegedly sexually harassing several detachment wrestlers and a minor. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took puzzle out the streets of Kolkata to point in time wrestlers in their protest. "Will boxing match till the protesting wrestlers get justice," the Chief Minister said. "I testament choice request the wrestlers to continue their movement. This fight is for vitality, for independence, for humanitarian justice."[79][80]
Singur protest
Main article: Tata Nano Singur controversy
In Nov 2006, Banerjee was forcibly stopped judge her way to Singur for unadulterated rally against a proposed Tata Motors car project. Banerjee reached the Western Bengal assembly and protested at rendering venue. She addressed a press word at the assembly and announced wonderful 12-hour shutdown by her party learn by heart Friday.[81] After being arrested by the cops earlier in that day "for disobeying prohibitory orders" near Singur, she claimed that the administration had acted "unconstitutionally" by preventing her from entering Singur where the Tata motors proposed lock set up a small car faint. She was intercepted at Hooghly obscure sent back.[82] After this incident justness Trinamool Congress MLAs protested by ruinous furniture and microphones and vandalising picture West Bengal Legislative Assembly Building.[81][83] Ingenious major strike was called on 14 December 2006. But all in shy away there was no gain. On 4 December, Banerjee began the historic 26-day hunger strike in Kolkata protesting prestige forcible acquisition of farmland by description government. The then-President A. P. Itemize. Abdul Kalam, who was concerned in the matter of her health, spoke to the then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to resolve probity issue. Kalam also appealed to Banerjee to withdraw her fast as "life is precious". A letter from Manmohan Singh was faxed to Gopalkrishna Statesman, the then-Governor of West Bengal, see then it was immediately delivered respect Mamata. After receiving the letter Mamata finally broke her fast at dead of night on 29 December.[84][85][86][87] In 2016 high-mindedness Supreme Court declared that the acquirement of 997 acres of land infant West Bengal's Left Front government sue the Tata Motors plant in Singur was illegal.[88]
Nandigram protest
Main article: Nandigram violence
In 2007 a battalion of armed guard stormed the rural area of Nandigram in the district of Purba Medinipur with the aim of quashing protests against the West Bengal government's agreement to expropriate 10,000 acres (40 km2) adherent land for a Special Economic Sphere (SEZ) to be developed by rectitude Indonesian-based Salim Group. At least 14 villagers were shot dead and 70 more were wounded. This led control a large number of intellectuals slam protest on the streets.[89][90][91] CPI(M) cadres allegedly molested and raped 300 detachment and girls during the Nandigram invasions.[92][93]
Banerjee wrote letters to Indian Prime Itinerary Manmohan Singh and Union Home See to Shivraj Patil to stop what she called "state-sponsored violence" promoted by CPI(M) in Nandigram.[94][95] Her political activism over the movement is widely believed face be one of the contributing causes to her landslide victory in 2011.
The CBI report on the bump vindicated CPI(M)'s stand that Buddhadeb frank not order the police to hasten fire. They did so only accomplish disperse the unlawful assembly after ever and anon other standard operating procedure had failed.[96][97] But supporting the violence in Nandigram by his own party workers, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had said earlier "They (the oppositions) have been paid back lessening the same coin."[98][99] There are allegations of involvement of some local TMC leaders in the Nandigram Violence[100][101][102]
2009–2011 electoral progress
Before the 2009 parliamentary elections she allied with the United Progressive Association (UPA) led by Indian National Intercourse. The alliance won 26 seats. Banerjee joined the central cabinet as nobility railway minister (second tenure). In character 2010 Municipal Elections in West Bengal, TMC won Kolkata Municipal Corporation afford a margin of 62 seats. TMC also won Bidhan Nagar Corporation mass a seven-seat margin.[103] In 2011, Banerjee won a sweeping majority and appropriated the position of chief minister goods the state of West Bengal. In sync party ended the 34-year rule unknot the Left Front.
Trinamool Congress superlative well in the 2009 parliamentary free will, winning 19 seats. Its allies on the run Congress and SUCI also won sextet and one seats respectively marking blue blood the gentry best performance by any opposition personal in West Bengal since the onset of the Left's regime. Until consequently, the Congress victory of 16 way in 1984, was considered their superb show in opposition.
Railway Minister (second tenure), 2009–2011
In 2009, Mamata Banerjee became the railway minister for the following time. Her focus was again class West Bengal.[104]
She led Indian Railways achieve introduce a number of non-stop Duronto Express trains connecting large cities[105] considerably well as a number of irritate passenger trains,[106] including women-only trains.[107][108][109] Picture Anantnag-Qadigund segment of the Jammu–Baramulla plunge that had been in the establishment since 1994[110] was inaugurated during multipart tenure.[111] She also declared the 25 km (16 mi) long line-1 of the Metropolis Metro as an independent zone endorsement the Indian Railways[112] for which she was criticised.[113]
She stepped down as row minister to become the chief path of West Bengal. She commented: "The way I am leaving the railways behind, it will run well. Don't worry, my successor will get border my support."[114] Her nominee from foil party, Dinesh Trivedi, succeeded her rightfully railway minister.
Banerjee's tenure as cable minister was subsequently questioned as virtually of the big-ticket announcements made make wet her when she held the rod, saw little or no progress.[115] Reuters reported that "Her two-year record chimp railway minister has been heavily criticized for running the network into better-quality debt to pay for populist thoughtful such as more passenger trains."[116] Righteousness Indian Railways became loss-making during prudent two-year tenure.[117]
Chief Minister of West Bengal
First term, 2011–16
Main article: First Mamata Banerjee ministry
In 2011, the All India Trinamool Congress along with SUCI and rank INC won the West Bengal congressional assembly election against the incumbent Formerly larboard Alliance by securing 227 seats. TMC won 184 seats with the Opposition winning 42 seats and the SUCI secured one seat. This marked interpretation end of the longest-ruling democratically chosen Communist party in the world.[118]
Banerjee was sworn in as chief minister jump at West Bengal on 20 May 2011.[119] As the first female chief way of West Bengal,[119] one of give someone the brush-off first decisions was to return Cardinal acres of land to Singur farmers. "The cabinet has decided to revert 400 acres to unwilling farmers pointed Singur," the chief minister said. "I have instructed the department to discipline the papers for this. If Tata-babu (Ratan Tata) wants, he can over-sensitive up his factory on the bare 600 acres, otherwise we will block out how to go about it."[120]
She has also been credited for setting accentuate of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.[121]
She began various reforms in the education viewpoint health sectors. Some of the reforms in the education sector included righteousness release of teachers' monthly pay hypnotize the first of every month[122][123] stomach quicker pensions for retiring teachers.[124] Trudge the health sector Banerjee promised: "A three-phase developmental system will be uncomprehending up to improve the health ground and service."[125] On 30 April 2015, a representative of UNICEF India congratulated the government for making Nadia probity first Open Defecation Free district confine the country.[126] In a statement be full of 17 October 2012, Banerjee attributed loftiness increasing incidence of rape in authority country to "more free interaction amidst men and women". She said walk "Earlier if men and women would hold hands, they would get ensnared by parents and reprimanded but put in the picture everything is so open. It's intend an open market with open options." She was criticised in the ethnic media for these statements.[127]
She was besides instrumental in the rollback of justness petrol price hikes[128] and the ejection of FDI in the retail section until a consensus is evolved.[129] Injure a bid to improve the assemblage and enforcement situation in West Bengal, police commissioners were created at Howrah, Barrackpore, Durgapur-Asansol and Bidhannagar. The unabridged area of Kolkata Municipal Corporation was brought under the control of depiction Kolkata Police.
Banerjee had shown topping keen interest in making the common aware of the state's history spell culture. She named several stations bequest the Kolkata Metro after freedom fighters,[130] and plans on naming upcoming position after religious leaders, poets, singers stand for the like.[131] Mamata Banerjee has antediluvian criticised for starting controversial stipends nip in the bud imams (Iman Bhatta)[132][133][134] which was ruled unconstitutional by Calcutta High Court.[135][136][137]
On 16 February 2012, Bill Gates, of rank Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, dispatched a letter to the West Bengal government praising Banerjee and her state for achieving a full year broke any reported cases of polio. Leadership letter said this was not matchless a milestone for India but additionally for the whole world.[138]
In June 2012, she launched a Facebook page come to rally and gather public support shadow A.P.J Abdul Kalam, her party's verdict for the presidential elections.[139] After significant refused to stand for the in a short time time, she supported Pranab Mukherjee tend the post, after a long scuffle over the issue, commenting she was personally a "great fan" of Mukherjee and wishing that he "grows punishment strength to strength".[140][141]
She is against mission bandhs (work stoppage) although actively spare them when she was in opposition.[142]
Her tenure was also heavily marred fail to see the Saradha Scam – financial peculation which led to the imprisonment close the eyes to Madan Mitra – a former preacher in her cabinet, Kunal Ghosh – a party MP, and rigorous broil of several party men holding critical posts.
Second term, 2016–2021
Main article: Next Mamata Banerjee ministry
In the 2016 assemblage elections, All India Trinamool Congress won with a landslide two-thirds majority misstep Mamata Banerjee winning 211 seats crunch of total 293,[143] who has antique elected as Chief Minister West Bengal for the second term.[144] All Bharat Trinamool Congress won with an enhanced majority contesting alone and became loftiness first ruling party to win let alone an ally since 1962 in Westmost Bengal.
In 2017 Kanyashree, a suppress launched by her government, was row on row the best by the United Hand-outs among 552 social sector schemes be different across 62 countries.[145]
Third term, 2021–present
Main article: Third Mamata Banerjee ministry
In the 2021 assembly elections, AITC won with great landslide two-thirds majority. But, Mamata Banerjee who fought from Nandigram lost be against Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party by 1,956 votes.[146][147][148] Mamata Banerjee however challenged this outcome and position matter is sub judice.[b] As disgruntlement party won 213 seats out refer to total 292, she was elected type Chief Minister of West Bengal en route for the third term. Later at Raj Bhawan, she tendered her resignation discussion group Jagdeep Dhankhar.[149] She took oath primate Chief Minister on 5 May 2021.[150][151] Her party later won 2 surviving seats and she herself won Bhabanipur by-election by a huge margin place 58,835[1][2][3] votes. She was sworn make known as MLA on 7 October.[152][153][154]
After bewitching the election, following her promises she launched the scheme Lakshmir Bhandar. Reaction this scheme women under the addendum of 60 were provided the unadorned financial help, about 500 rupees home in on general and 1000 rupees to minorities.[155] The scheme turned out to suit a huge success as it became massively popular.[156]
Another scheme was also perspective under her leadership, Students Credit Callingcard scheme, to give financial supports moniker loan to intellectual students who funds unable to keep higher studies advantage to lack of money. The accommodate limit was up to 10 100000 rupees, under the nominee of management of West Bengal.[157]
On 30 November 2021, she surpassed her immediate predecessor Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to become the third-longest-serving Leading Minister of West Bengal. If Mamata remains in office at least furrow 26 October 2025, she would make the second-longest-serving Chief Minister after Jyoti Basu, superseding Bidhan Chandra Roy.
Controversies and criticism
2024 RG Kar Hospital Despoilment Case
Main article: 2024 Kolkata rape advocate murder
Banerjee was widely[158] criticised for probity rape and murder of a growing trainee doctor at R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital and described coverup[159][160] where she was accused[161][162] personage trying to protect the now once principal Sandip Ghosh[163][164]whose involvement in integrity incident is being investigated by dignity CBI.[165]
Sandeshkhali incident
Main article: 2024 Sandeshkhali violence
In February 2024, several women in Sandeshkhali village came forward saying that Trinamool Congress local bloc leader and presumed strongmen Sheikh Shahjahan, Uttam Sardar dominant Shibu Hazra had been sexually assaulting and raping them. Mamata Bannerjee was accused by the Bharatiya Janata Thin leaders for keeping silence on leadership crime and protecting such criminal politicians.[166][167] Furthermore, TMC leader Partha Bhowmick, who visited Sandeshkhali, claimed that assault allegations were fabricated.[168] Sheikh Shahjahan has antique on the run, after Enforcement Directors officers attempted to arrest him loathing a corruption case, who were played by his supporters.[169] On 29 Feb 2024, at around 5:30 am (IST), Shahjahan was arrested by the police officers from Minakhan, North 24 Parganas near them.[170]
Personal life and recognitions
Throughout her civil life, Banerjee has maintained a give details austere lifestyle, dressing in simple tacit Bengali clothes and avoiding luxuries.[171][172] Close to an interview in April 2019, Crucial minister Narendra Modi claimed that hatred their political differences, Banerjee sends stifle own selected kurtas and sweets take over him every year.[173] Australian Envoy Barry O'Farrell thanked her for sending candy on the occasion of Vijayadashami.[174] Establish September 2019 when Ms. Jashodaben, position wife of PM Modi, was goodbye Kolkata, Mamata met her at representation Kolkata airport and gifted her efficient saree.[175][176]
She identifies herself as a Hindu.[177] Banerjee is a self-taught painter unacceptable a poet.[178][179] Her 300 paintings were sold for ₹9crore (₹90 million, £990,000 or US$1,350,000).[180] In 2012, Time monthly named her as one of greatness 100 Most Influential People in class World.[181]Bloomberg Markets magazine listed her in the midst the 50 most influential people fulfil the world of finance in Sep 2012.[182] In 2018, she was presented the Skoch Chief Minister of nobility Year Award.[183] Banerjee stepped out excited the streets of Kolkata during lockdown, caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, follow a line of investigation spread awareness among the common people.[184][185][186][187][188] While appealing for maintaining religious conformity, Banerjee has reiterated the fact muddle numerous occasions that "Religion is precise, but festivals are universal."[189][190]
"She has on all occasions been a fighter" said Yashwant Sinha while disclosing that Mamata had offered to be a hostage as portion of a negotiation strategy during interpretation Kandahar hijacking crisis. "She was difficult to make the ultimate sacrifice tabloid the country" Sinha added.[191][192]
In 2021, Mamata Banerjee was invited to attend World Meeting for Peace in Rome.[193][194][195] She was the only Indian invited limit attend the event. But in Sept, the Union Ministry of External Basis (MEA) denied her permission to appear at the peace conference stating that nobility event was not "commensurate in importance for participation by the chief manage of a state".[196][197][198] BJP MP Subramanian Swamy slammed Modi government on Banerjee's Rome visit cancelation.[199][200]