INDIA
Railway ministry issues free passes to artistes who supported the Trinamool Congress.
Railways minister Mamata Banerjee continues to raise eyebrows, be it with her selective felicitation of celebrities at the 54th Railway Week National Awards ceremony in Kolkata last week or her decision to grant them life-time free first class railways passes.
Almost all the celebrities who were felicitated had backed Mamata and openly called for change in West Bengal during the Lok Sabha election. They include Gyanpith award-winning writer and social worker Mahashweta Devi, painters Suvaprasanna and Yogen Chowdhury, theatre personality Bivas Chakrabarty, poet Joy Goswami and singer Pratul Mukhopadhyay.
It was surprising to see actor Soumitra Chattopadhyay, directors Mrinal Sen and Gautam Ghosh, magician PC Sarkar (junior) and singers Sandhya Mukhopadhyay and Arati Mukhopadhyay being ignored.
Considering that Mamata always accused the CPI(M) of making divisions among intellectuals, one might as well accuse her of doing the same this time. However, the Trinamool is not willing to take such criticisms seriously. “It is the CPI(M) and state chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who always distinguishes between ‘we’ and ‘them’. And now they are spreading canards about us,” a Trinamool spokesman said.
As regards giving life-time free passes to celebrities, critics wonder if Mamata can really give such passes to a select few, unless their financial condition is such that they cannot afford travelling expenses. A Trinamool spokesperson said these free passes are nothing compared to the number of free rail passes Mamata’s predecessor Lalu Prasad had instituted. During Lalu’s tenure, an ex-minister plus four could travel free. Mamata Banerjee has done away with that. “Those free passes have now become Gold passes for Bengal’s intellectuals,” the party spokesperson said.
However, Mamata is trying to institute such passes for intellectuals elsewhere in the country too. It is possible that the intellectuals would be honoured wherever a rail week is held in the country.
The Gold rail passes are valid for life or 25 years and the pass owners can travel for free anywhere in the country by AC First Class as many times as they desire.
But the Trinamool source said, “This is just an honour. The people who have been awarded these passes will, at most, travel by train only once a year and that too at their own expense.”
DNA TV Show: How US Presidential election results may impact the world
Sharda Sinha dies at 72: Who are there in her family?
Who was Sharda Sinha aka Bihar Kokila, famous for Chhath and Maine Pyar Kiya songs?
Bihar Kokila Sharda Sinha passes away in AIIMS, son Anshuman confirms news
Parliament's winter session to begin from Nov 25, to continue till Dec 20
IPL 2025 mega auction dates announced: Check no. of players, venue, where to watch and more
Deepinder Goyal reveals customers' reaction to wife Grecia Munoz delivering Zomato orders
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy flirts with Sudha Murty in viral video from Kapil Sharma show
Ajay Devgn's fans don't want Singham Again to become a blockbuster: 'Rohit Shetty jab tak hai...'
Types, Most Popular and Where to Buy Peptides for Bodybuilding
Luxury in the City of Light: SABO Boutique Hotel Brings Elegance to Varanasi’s Sacred Ghats
Virat Kohli, Babar Azam could play for same team as Afro-Asia Cup set for revival
Shaping the Future of Web Apps: Full Stack Developer’s Expertise in API Design and Cloud Deployment
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Software Performance and Security
Mastering Linux for Superior Sound
Amid divorce rumours of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, Aaradhya praises mother in viral video
AI in Data Warehousing: Future Trends and Innovations
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio IPO worth Rs 840960 crore in 2025: All you need to know
After India's 0-3 loss against New Zealand, Shah Rukh Khan calls Gautam Gambhir...
BIG revelation on Imane Khelif, Olympic gold medallist boxer's medical repot leaked, it confirms…
Meet man who built Rs 152000 crore company, donated Rs 100 crore, now set to lead US firm as...
Visa Uncertainty: Impact of US polls on global talent
Virat Kohli turns 36: IPL franchises send heartwarming birthday wishes to legendary India cricketer
Meet Sanjay Verma, the new DGP of Maharashtra who replaced Rashmi Shukla
Anushka Sharma shares FIRST photo of Akaay, Vamika to celebrate Virat Kohli’s birthday
CAT 2024 admit card to be out today at iimcat.ac.in; know release time, steps to download
Vikas Divyakirti UPSC Tips: Check strategy to crack IAS exam, aspirants should study for...
Video of Pakistani man putting hand into chained tiger's mouth goes viral, social media reacts
Shalini Passi reveals her husband's connection to Shah Rukh Khan's wife Gauri Khan, they were..
SC upholds validity of UP madrassa law, says it does not violate principle of secularism
US Presidential Elections 2024: What time do the polls close; when will the results be known?
Elon Musk shares controversial post on X amid US election results, video goes viral
Mukesh Ambani's company earned Rs 15393 crore last week, his net worth now stands at...
Chhath Puja 2024: Know about Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, Usha Arghya, date, timings and puja vidhi
Virat Kohli Birthday: Legendary batter turns 36, here's a look at his incredible milestones
When Ratan Tata met his first true love after 50 years, went for dinner together, know who she was
Samantha Ruth Prabhu hits back at trolls who body-shamed her: 'If you guys...'
Two fall prey to Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani's deepfake videos, lose Rs 80 lakh: Report
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward sea ahead of US election
Deepika Padukone romances Hrithik Roshan in Bikini, looks sizzling hot in UNSEEN viral video
Chhath Puja 2024: Top 50 wishes, What'sApp messages, quotes to share with your loved ones
Meet Caroline Emmons, Ratan Tata's 'first love' with whom he couldn't marry due to...
Who is Rohan Jaitley, frontrunner to replace Jay Shah as BCCI secretary?
World’s most expensive human tooth is valued over Rs 3000000, it belonged to…
Viral video: Little girl’s adorable dance to Lisa Haydon’s 'Manali Trance' impresses internet, watch
SC to deliver its verdict on pleas against Allahabad HC order scrapping UP madrasa law today
DNA TV Show: Why Election Commission changed Assembly by-elections' dates
Days after imposing fine on Anil Ambani, Sebi now issues Rs 130 crore demand notices to...
Thailand announces indefinite visa-free entry for Indian travellers
Meet daughter of billionaire, who studied in UK, now works in Rs 32770 crore Indian company as...
MUDA case: Lokayukta police summon Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for questioning on...
This city is 4000 years old, belongs to bronze age where 500 people lived, it is located in...