KOLKATA, 30 JUNE: Minutes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi finished his address to the nation on Tuesday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee convened a press conference, where she said that merely blocking Chinese apps will not give results when she was asked to comment on the Chinese intrusion in the Indian territory.
Tension between India and China has escalated amidst a military and diplomatic standoff since May and it heightened further after the deadly border clash on 15 June, in which India lost 20 of her soldiers.
“TMC will always stand beside the Government of India regarding the decision taken by the Ministry of External Affairs. Merely blocking Chinese apps will not give results. We want to give China a befitting reply. But the means by which we do it has to be decided. But I support the government’s stand, as it’s our motherland,” Miss Banerjee added.
On Monday, the Ministry of Information Technology of India issued a notice imposing a ban on 59 Chinese apps, including the much popular Tik Tok, after China’s attempt at grabbing land in the Indian territory.
A day after the Union government’s decision to impose ban on Chinese apps, the Chinese Embassy issued a statement mentioning that India’s decision to ban the apps is selective and discriminatory and “suspects of violating WTO rules”.
The statement mentioned that the Chinese side is seriously concerned with and firmly opposed to such an action.
Banerjee also raised questions on discrimination under PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana Scheme in Bengal
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee also criticised Modi’s PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana scheme, and said that presently out of 10 crore people, only 6.01 crore people can avail the benefit. The rest of the people have not even been included in the beneficiary list, she added.
“Why such a discrimination? I would say that they should give ration to 100 per cent people,” Miss Banerjee said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation, mentioned that nearly 80 crore people will be benefitted as 5 kg wheat or rice along with a kilogram of chana daal will be given free every month till November. We are trying to bring the entire nation under the umbrella of ‘one nation one ration card’, he added.
Moments later at the Press conference in Kolkata, the chief minister announced that free ration will be provided to all beneficiaries in Bengal till June 2021.