Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
India

I make a living by selling my books: Mamata

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 06 May, 2014 11:08 AM
    Responding to an attack by BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and the Left who have asked her to disclose who brought her painting for Rs 1.80 crore, Mamata Banerjee Tuesday claimed she makes a living by selling her books and does not take any privileges as West Bengal chief minister.
     
    "I manage my living my selling my books. But the opposition has a problem with that too," Banerjee said in election rallies in North 24 Parganas district.
     
    She said she since has struggled a lot, she chronicled her experiences for posterity to benefit from it and recalled that the royalty of her first book was given to the victims of violence in Amta.
     
    "I do not take any privileges as the chief minister. I do not draw salary as chief minister or use government cars. Even when I am visiting districts, I pay for my own expenses," she said.
     
    Refering to the sale of her paintings, Banerjee said the money collected was handed over to the spastic society and the chief minister's relief fund.
     
    "The money raised from the sale of my paintings is taken in the form of cheques in favour of 'Jago Bangla' (the Trinamool mouthpiece)," she said.
     
    Asking the opposition to counter her on policies, Banerjee said: "I am ready to answer all their questions".
     
    She said the Communist Party of India-Marxist mouthpiece Ganashakri was "full of advertisements" given by the chit fund aided Saradha Group. "They have taken money from chit funds."
     
    "Before raising the bogey of chit funds, the Left should answer who was in power when chit funds were founded in Bengal," she said.
     
    Accusing several media houses of taking money from Saradha to publish ads, Banerjee said: "How can they point fingers at others now?"
     
    Attacking Modi, also the Gujarat chief minister, she said some parties were inciting violence between communities.
     
    Banerjee said after the recent riots in Assam, several thousand people have crossed over to Bengal and taken shelter.
     
    "We have given them shelter. UP, Bihari, Rajasthani, Marwari - everyone living in this state is a Bengali. How many Bengali MLAs does Gujarat have? We have MLAs and MPs from different regions," she asserted.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Amethi won't forgive Modi for insulting my father: Priyanka

    Amethi won't forgive Modi for insulting my father: Priyanka
    Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Monday attacked BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for his speech in Amethi, saying he had insulted her "martyred" father Rajiv Gandhi and people of the constituency will not forgive him for this.

    Amethi won't forgive Modi for insulting my father: Priyanka

    EC can inquire into paid news allegations, says SC

    EC can inquire into paid news allegations, says SC
    The Supreme Court Monday said that the Election Commission was empowered to inquire into the allegation of paid news if the expenses for the same are not being reflected in the election return filed by the candidate.

    EC can inquire into paid news allegations, says SC

    Modi invokes Lord Ram at Faizabad

    Modi invokes Lord Ram at Faizabad
    BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Monday invoked the name of Lord Ram in an election speech and urged the people to vote out the "corrupt and incompetent Congress government at the centre".

    Modi invokes Lord Ram at Faizabad

    Campaigning ends for penultimate round of Lok Sabha battle

    Campaigning ends for penultimate round of Lok Sabha battle
    Campaigning ended Monday evening in 64 Lok Sabha constituencies which go to the polls Wednesday when over 85 million voters will decide the electoral fate of 897 candidates including Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

    Campaigning ends for penultimate round of Lok Sabha battle

    Modi: Our governance will be 'drastically different', will allay minority fears

    Modi: Our governance will be 'drastically different', will allay minority fears
    BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has said a government headed by him "will go the extra mile" to give justice to all and a dispensation "where nobody needs to be apprehensive or fearful". He said a BJP-led government will be "drastically different" from the UPA's approach to governance.

    Modi: Our governance will be 'drastically different', will allay minority fears

    Craze for leading Delhi schools leaves many distressed

    Craze for leading Delhi schools leaves many distressed
    Thousands of parents are undergoing a harrowing time as they battle to get their children into nursery classes of leading schools in the national capital. But many are celebrating too.

    Craze for leading Delhi schools leaves many distressed