» Trinamool Congress condoles death of CPI leader
Kolkata | Monday, May 7 2012 IST
Trinamool Congress' minority cell today condoled the death former Left Front minister and veteran CPI leader Nanda Gopal Bhattacharya. Bhattacharya, who was an MLA from Dantan constituency in West Midnapore district from 1996 to 2011, was a minister in the cabinet of both Jyoti Basu and Buddhadev Bhattcharjee, died at a private nursing home here following a protracted illness on Sunday. He was 77. Trinamool Congress' minority cell chairman Idris Ali in a statement said he was personally acquinted with the CPI leader and expressed sympathy with the bereaved family members. Rail minister Mukul Roy laid a floral wreath on the body as a mark of respect to the departed soul. UNI PC KK SB BD1800 NNNN

 » Of Shah Rukh, Hillary, Mamata and cultural tourism
Kolkata | Monday, May 7 2012 IST
When Shah Rukh Khan sneaks into the chat between two of the most influential women of the world, what happens might border on grandiose--sometimes beginning the idea of an inter continental cultural tourism. That's exactly what transpired during the meeting between US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who talked on various issues at the state secretariat today. The two ladies feature in Time magazine's list of hundred most influential people in the world. The Chief Minister told reporters that she had proposed US involvement in 'cultural tourism' taking along the Hollywood, Bollywood and Tollywood film industries. "I gave the proposal after Ms Clinton mentioned about Shah Rukh Khan and said the film star had a big fan club in the US," Ms Banerjee said. She, however, did not elaborate on her plan of putting in place cultural tourism. The Bollywood badshah had agreed to be the brand ambassador of West Bengal following a request by Ms Banerjee, who pledges to rejuvenate the state and put it back on track in all spheres. The Bengal film industry of Tollygunge is also considered dear to the chief minister's heart with several film stars and directors being close to her. UNI KDG PL SB SB1744 NNNN

 » Have heard about your strugglecome to see you:Clinton
Kolkata | Monday, May 7 2012 IST
Since Hillary Clinton and Mamata Banerjee figured among the 100 most influential people in the world, the US Secretary of state had been looking for a meeting with the West Bengal Chief Minister, whose 'lifelong struggle' she had heard about. "I have heard about your lifelong struggle. I know it all. I was keen to meet you in New York, but it was not possible there. However, we have come to see you," Ms Banerjee quoted Clinton as saying after the two met at the state secretariat today. She said Ms Clinton was hoping to meet her in New York during the annual programme of the Time magazine, which Ms Banerjee was not able to attend. The Chief Minister said, "I told her that I visited New York in 1999 as a member of an Indian delegation." The US Secretary of state also congratulated Ms. Banerjee at the way she fought it out to come to power and appreciated her 'passion' for implementing programmes. "I congratulate you for the way you have come to power. I appreciate your Government's passion of work and implementation of programmes," Ms Clinton was quoted as saying. UNI KDG PL SB BD1700 NNNN

 » Of legends and stars: Mamata, Hillary discuss Tagore, SRK
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 5:35:05 PM IST
From the legendary Rabindranath Tagore to Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee discussed the state's 'brand ambassadors' then and now when they met here Monday.

 » Mamata invites Obama to Kolkata
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 5:35:05 PM IST
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said she would love to welcome US President Barack Obama to the state.

 » US wants Bengal to be a partner state
Kolkata | Monday, May 7 2012 IST
Initiating the process of melting a frozen relationship nurtured during the previous Left regime, the US today agreed to treat West Bengal as a partner state for investment taking advantage of the changed political situation, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. "They want West Bengal as a partner state and will invest here which did not take place earlier. They will invest in West Bengal in the changed political situation," Ms Banerjee told reporters after a 52-minute meeting with US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton at the state secretariat. Scotching speculations, she said the issue of Foreign Direct Investment in retail business was not disucussed, nor was the subject of Teesta water sharing with Bangladesh raised at the meeting. Apart from Ms.Clinton, US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell, US Consul General in Kolkata Dean Thompson,state Finance Minister Asim Mitra, Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and other officials representing both sides were present at the meeting. Ms Banerjee, who told reporters that the meeting was 'positive, constructive, creative and concrete', urged the US Secretary of state for American participation in the state's IT, software, manufacturing, tourism, health care, education and deep sea port. "They will give full support for economic and business development. They will keep in constant touch with us. US Ambassador Nancy Powell and our Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh will coordinate and monitor the progress,' she said. "Let me tell you very clearly, there were no talks about Teesta or FDI in retail. No nuclear or strategic issues were discussed," she stressed. The Chief Minister said she had also proposed US involvement in 'cultural tourism' taking along the Hollywood, Bollywood and Tollywood film industries. Her proposal came after Ms Clinton mentioned about film star Shah Rukh Khan, brand ambassador of West Bengal, having a big fan club in the US. Ms Banerjee also proposed to Ms.Clinton that the centenary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda's landmark Chicago address at a religion conference be observed jointly. Responding to it, the US Secretary of state said she would take up the matter with the Chicago Mayor. During the meeting, Ms Clinton welcomed the political change in the state after 34 years of Left rule and appreciated the way the present government was trying to implement its programmes. "We discussed many issues, including those relating to Jangalmahal and the Darjeeling Hills. She congratulated us for the way we came to power.She appreciated our Government's passion of work and implementation of programmes. She told me that she knows all about the fight I have put up," the chief minister said. As a mark of goodwill and cordiality, Ms Banerjee presented Ms. Clinton the English translation of 'Gitanjali' and 'Gitabitan', two famous books of poems of Rabindranath Tagore and two books on Ramakrishna Paramahansa Dev and Swami Vivekananda. She also presented her a scarf with stitch art. The US Secretary of state, who began her three-day India visit from West Bengal after arriving here yesterday, participated in an interactive session with leading personalities from a cross-section of society at La Martiniere School for Girls earlier in the day. Yesterday, she had attended a programme of several NGOs and interacted with women, who were victims of human trafficking. She had also visited the city's iconic Victoria Memorial monument. Ms Clinton left for Delhi by a US Airforce aicraft from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International airport shortly after her meeting with Ms.Banerjee. UNI KDG PL SB AS1611 NNNN

 » Pak has not done much to stop terrorism : Clinton
Kolkata | Monday, May 7 2012 IST
Terming terrorism as the 'biggest threat' to the world, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today said Pakistan has not 'done much' to stop the menace. In an interactive session here, the former US first lady also accused Pakistan of not taking all steps 'prescribed' by her country and India to curb terrorism. "Pakistan has not done much to prevent terrorism. It has failed to take steps to stop terror the way the USA and India wanted," Ms Clinton observed. She said more 'concrete steps' to erase terrorism should have come from Pakistan as the country had lost more people in terror attacks than did the US and India. "Thirty thousand lives have been lost in terror attacks in Pakistan. It is in their interest that they deal with it more sternly," the US Secretary of State maintained. Ms Clinton also expressed concern over human trafficking, maintaining that it was on the top of her government's agenda. She said she would raise the issue on the international stage, apart from her meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Focusing on the state being at the top in the country in trafficking of young women and girls, she promised to help women rescued from human traffickers in the city. UNI ADG LR PL SB HT1542 NNNN

 » US to invest in Bengal as 'partner state': Mamata (Lead)
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 4:05:06 PM IST
Describing her meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as "positive, constructive and creative", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said the former assured her of American investment in the state for its business and economic development, considering Bengal as a "partner state".

 » Clinton pitches for FDI in multibrand retail (Lead)
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 3:05:06 PM IST
Making a strong pitch for further opening up of the Indian economy, especially with regard to foreign direct investment (FDI) in multibrand retail, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday said it would raise the standard of living in India.

 » Hillary expresses US desire to invest: Mamata
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 2:05:06 PM IST
Describing the talks with Hillary Clinton as positive and constructive, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said the US secretary of state has expressed the US' desire to invest in West Bengal.

 » Clinton echoes India's outrage over Pak's pronounced inaction against Hafiz Saeed
Kolkata | May 07, 2012 12:01:13 AM IST
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Pakistan has not taken necessary action against Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, suspected of masterminding the terror attack in Mumbai in 2008.

 » Hillary, Mamata likely to discuss FDI
Kolkata | May 07, 2012 12:01:13 AM IST
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is meeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here today and the two are likely to discuss Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.

 » Hillary likely to seek CM's nod to FDI in retail
Kolkata | Monday, May 7 2012 IST
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will hold talks with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here today on a number of issues before leaving for Delhi, ending her two-day Kolkata visit. She is expected to urge Ms Banerjee to support opening India's retail market to Foreign Direct Investment, which the latter opposed in Parliament to stall a move of the Manmohan Singh Government last year. Since the time of the UPA Government-I, the US has been trying to persuade India to open up its retail sector to FDI with US giants like Walmart waiting to take plunge in the domestic market. However, the Centre's bid to invite FDI in retail was first foiled by the Left, which lent outside support to the first UPA Government from 2004 to 2008 and then, by the Trinamool Congress, the second largest partner of the Congress-led second UPA Government. It is also expected that the US Secretary of State, who held a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka two days ago, would discuss the India-Bangladesh Teesta water sharing treaty, which was shelved in the last hour because of Ms Banerjee's opposition. The Teesta treaty was proposed to be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's trip to Dhaka last year. But it was put off following Ms Banerjee's opposition over the issue of quantum of water to be shared with Bangladesh. With the barely one-year-old Mamata Banerjee Government desperately trying to rope in industrial investment in the state, the issue of US investment may also come up at the meeting. UNI KDG LR RSA PR1142 NNNN

 » Pakistan not doing enough on Mumbai attack: Clinton
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 12:05:06 PM IST
Stressing that all those involved in the 2008 Mumbai attack be brought to justice, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday accused Pakistan of not taking "steps which India and US have been repeatedly" requesting in this regard.

 » Clinton, Mamata meet with folded hands
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 12:05:06 PM IST
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat here, with FDI in retail, the Teesta water treaty and American investment in the state expected to figure in their talks.

 » India under pressure to cut oil imports from Iran: Clinton
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 12:05:06 PM IST
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday said countries like India were being pressurised to reduce their oil imports from Iran to make Tehran change its nuclear policy.

 » Want to know Mamata's vision of future: Hillary
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 11:05:05 AM IST
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday said she wanted to know West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's "vision of the future".

 » Clinton lauds eastern India's economic potential
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 11:05:05 AM IST
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who kicked off her three-day India visit from this historic city, Monday lauded the economic potential and geopolitical significance of eastern India.

 » India's Look East policy essential: Clinton
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 10:05:05 AM IST
India's Look East policy was essential for the integration of the Asia Pacific region, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said here Monday.

 » Clinton lauds 'incredible contribution' of Indian Americans
Kolkata |Monday, 2012 10:05:05 AM IST
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Monday lauded the "incredible contribution" of Indian Americans in her country and said the people to people relationship was at the heart of the ties between the two countries.