Rajat Roy In Kolkata

Stories by Rajat Roy In Kolkata

Congress, not CPI-M, is Trinamool's Oppn in Bengal

Congress, not CPI-M, is Trinamool's Oppn in Bengal

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2012

Is Mamata Banerjee's decision to support United Progressive Alliance's presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee going to change the dynamics of opposition politics in West Bengal? Both Congress and Communist Party of India Marxist rule out that possibility and insist that instead the heat would be more and more on the ruling Trinamool Congress in the coming days.

TMC and Congress lock horns over 5th seat in Rajya Sabha

TMC and Congress lock horns over 5th seat in Rajya Sabha

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2012

On March 30, West Bengal will elect five new members to Rajya Sabha. The ruling Trinamool Congress with its 185 members of Legislative Assembly in the state legislative assembly is in a position to elect three members to Rajya Sabha with ease.

I regret I couldn't die as a CPI-M member: Somnath

I regret I couldn't die as a CPI-M member: Somnath

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2011

On the outskirts of Santiniketan, in a sprawling bungalow, lives an octogenarian gentleman with his wife. The hurly-burly of the outside world does not disturb the peace there.

Govt should keep off land acquisition: Mamata

Govt should keep off land acquisition: Mamata

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2010

The meeting took place in the backdrop of recent spat between West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Manas Bhuiyan and a number of TMC leaders on the Rajarhat land issue.

Bengal helped power Delhi's CWG glory

Bengal helped power Delhi's CWG glory

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2010

A rightful share of the praise heaped on the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) for a spectacular inaugural function including the laser show should also go to West Bengal, for the much-required electricity for the Games is being supplied by the state.

The history of violence gets bloodier in Bengal

The history of violence gets bloodier in Bengal

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2010

After the sudden change in the balance of political power following the successive electoral setbacks, the ruling Communist Party of India - Marxist has made it and its government helpless in the face of growing violence and series of murderous attacks on its cadres and sympathisers. Two days back, Ananda Das, a former CPI-M Member of Legislative Assembly from Nanur, Birbhum was brutally shot dead by a gang of armed people.

After 33 years in power in WB, Left making amends?

After 33 years in power in WB, Left making amends?

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2010

With successive electoral setbacks in Panchayat, Lok Sabha and municipal polls in the past three years, Left leaders in Bengal have realised that there has been a steady and serious erosion in their traditional vote bank among the urban and rural poor.

Karat slams Buddha for CPI-M's poll debacle

Karat slams Buddha for CPI-M's poll debacle

Rediff.com   17 May 2010

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, once the poster boy of development for the Communist Party of India-Marxist, has come under fire in the party's latest 'rectification' campaign.

Infosys to get 50 acres in Rajarhat

Infosys to get 50 acres in Rajarhat

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2010

After Wipro, now Infosys has also agreed to set up its campus at Rajarhat, New Town.

Bengal cautious in industry drive

Bengal cautious in industry drive

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2010

Land, the core issue of contention, is now being acquired selectively for the sake of setting up new industries and that too in areas where agriculture is weak.

Centre upset with Bengal for 'intel failure'

Centre upset with Bengal for 'intel failure'

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2010

Monday's Naxalite attack on a joint forces camp in Silda, West Midnapore, has left the West Bengal government red-faced and the Union home ministry livid. At least 24 paramilitary jawans of the Eastern Frontier Rifles were killed last evening.

Nandigram to give up farmland for railway project

Nandigram to give up farmland for railway project

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2010

Railway minister promises jobs for land deals for the project.

Centre trying to initiate dialogue with Maoists

Centre trying to initiate dialogue with Maoists

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2009

While an operation is on to destroy the infrastructure of Maoists in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa, a move is also being initiated for a dialogue.From Saturday, a two-day session will be held at Delhi with some human rights activists to chalk out the talking points before the Naxalites are approached formally. Though the meeting is being held under the aegis of a newly formed Delhi Policy Study Group, it appears to have the Union home ministry's blessings.

Trade unions may spoil Dunlop party

Trade unions may spoil Dunlop party

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2009

Though the general feeling among the majority of the workers is that of a relief as the management finally asked them to join work from December 2, a section of workers started demanding inclusion of the 25 workers who had been chargesheeted by the management earlier.

Ruia threatens to shelve reopening of Dunlop unit

Ruia threatens to shelve reopening of Dunlop unit

Rediff.com   16 Oct 2009

The recession-hit company had earlier temporarily shut its plants at both Sahagunj, near Kolkata, and Ambattur, near Chennai. But with the rising demand in the the automobile sector, it was decided to resume production. According to Ruia, the Ambattur plant will resume operation from October 19.

RSP drops support to Cong-led municipality

RSP drops support to Cong-led municipality

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2009

Cracks appeared in West Bengal's ruling Left Front as the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), one of its constituents, on Tuesday withdrew its support to the Congress-led Siliguri Corporation.

Buddhadeb to meet PM, Chidambaram on Oct 11

Buddhadeb to meet PM, Chidambaram on Oct 11

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2009

In the wake of the joint operation against the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal, the chief minister of West Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, will meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 11. On the same day, he will have a separate meeting with the Union home minister P Chidambaram on the joint operation against the extremists in the state. Both the meetings are scheduled to be held in the morning.

Mamata blasts Congress on Siliguri episode

Mamata blasts Congress on Siliguri episode

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2009

The rancour of associating with the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist while forming the board of the Siliguri Corporation has now created a major problem for the West Bengal unit of the Congress, as Debaprasad Roy, one of the vice-presidents of the state Congress, has resigned from the post, protesting the Left help sought by his party to gain power in the municipality.

Bengal's tea gardens: A sad tale of misery

Bengal's tea gardens: A sad tale of misery

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2009

The sorry tale of how the operating managing committees, the state-supported worker committees who were to manage tea estates in West Bengal after their exhausted owners gave up and instead ran these into the ground, while pocketing the money, has been reported in some detail. But, what of the body of workers themselves?

Kathalguri Tea labours under Marxian delusion

Kathalguri Tea labours under Marxian delusion

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2009

The Kathalguri Tea Estate in the Dooars, is now closed. Situated 40 km from Jalpaiguri, on the India-Bhutan border, it was a big garden with more than 1,200 acres of plantation and 1,479 workers. The annual output of the garden used to be 12 million kg of processed tea and sources in the Dooars Branch of the Indian Tea Association say it could have yielded up to 16 million kg of tea if it had been run properly..