'Even if BJP arrests me, I will ensure TMC victory in polls from jail': Mamata Banerjee

politics

Nov 25, 02:11

Calling the BJP "garbage of lies" and "biggest curse of the nation", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday dared the saffron party to arrest her and asserted she will ensure TMC victory in the upcoming elections even from the jail.

Election to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly is due in April-May.

Accusing the BJP of trying to poach TMC MLAs by attempting to bribe them, Banerjee, without naming anyone, said some people are acting as fence-sitters who are under the illusion that the saffron party might come to power in the state.

"The BJP is not a political party but garbage of lies. Whenever the election arrives, they bring up the issue of Narada (sting operation) and Saradha (scam) to intimidate TMC leaders.

"But let me tell them very clearly, I am not afraid of the BJP or its agencies. If they have the guts, they can arrest me and put me behind the bars. I will fight elections from jail and ensure the victory of the TMC," Banerjee said in her first major public rally here in post-COVID times.

Referring to the recently-concluded Bihar elections, Banerjee said even RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav has been put behind the bars but still he ensured his party's good performance.

"Even Lalu Prasad Yadav has been put behind bars but still he has ensured his party's good performance. The victory of the BJP (in Bihar) is through manipulation and not through popular mandate," she said.

Lashing out at the BJP for allegedly trying to intimidate and bribe the TMC MLAs, Banerjee said, "Few people are under the illusion that they (BJP) will come to power, so some people are trying to take a chance. But I want to say this clearly, there is neither any chance nor 'by-chance' for the BJP to come to power. We will again return to power with a bigger mandate."

The TMC is ruling the state since 2011.

politics

How free is freedom of speech?

Nov 11, 06:11

Do we have the freedom of speech in India? Yes, in India we enjoy the freedom of speech and expression. Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution ensures this. This freedom rests the promise in the Preamble where it is vowed that the ‘liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship’ of all citizens is secured.

However, this freedom is not absolute, and comes with reasonable restrictions, some of which are national security, public order, defamation, etc.

The freedom of press, the right to information and, even the right to silence are based on the freedom of speech.

India’s position in the RSF Press freedom rankings

economy

What is operating leverage?

Nov 11, 05:11

Costs can be fixed or variable. For example, usually salaries are a fixed cost while freight is variable. When the share of fixed costs is higher, when sales increase costs don’t increase by as much. That leads to operating leverage, as more sales translates to higher margins. But when variable costs have a higher share then margins may remain the same or not improve as much. To illustrate, a software product should enjoy a high operating leverage whereas a cement company will not. Ordinarily, investors prefer companies with a higher operating leverage but this is only one of several investment indicators.