Mamata Banerjee gears up for renaming of West Bengal
In 2011, the CM had called for an all-party meeting where it was discussed that West Bengal's name would be changed to 'Paschimbanga' that will help address the 'alphabetical issue'.
In Short
- West Bengal's name will be changed to Paschimbanga.
- The name change will help address the 'alphabetical issue'.
- Mamata has instructed her government machinery to get on the job.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is known for her mercurial temper. She often loses her cool almost at the drop of a hat. Last week also it was no exception when the Trinamool supremo came to the national capital to attend the inter-state council meeting at the President's House. There all chief ministers were invited to discuss various state-specific issues with the PM. The outcome of the meeting left Didi was completely red-faced as she was made to wait for over six hours and given a chance to speak only for 12 minutes with PM Modi at the end of the session.
A LONG PENDING ISSUE
This time it was not the fault of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre or a section of media allegedly conspiring against her government in Bengal. It was the alphabetical order of the state for which she had to wait for her turn for so long. Naturally, she could not vent her ire on any of them and gulped down her irritation. On her return home, the angry CM decided to gear up for a name change of her state - a long pending issue that the TMC government had kicked off soon after coming to power in 2011 - and to the Centre this time.
It was learnt that the CM had come to Delhi with preparations to discuss various key issues with the Prime Minister in the meeting.
However, since her turn came at the end, she was not allowed to speak for too long.
WEST BENGAL TO BE RENAMED PASCHIMBANGA
After storming to power for the first time in 2011, the CM had called for an all-party meeting where it was discussed that West Bengal's name would be changed to 'Paschimbanga' that will help address the 'alphabetical issue'.
Accordingly the proposal was also sent to the Centre, following an all-party agreement.
In 2014, the then joint secretary (Centre-State) in ministry of home affairs Suresh Kumar had reportedly informed the state government that a bill - West Bengal (Alteration of Name) Act, 2014 - would be tabled in parliament in that regard and accordingly the final call would be taken.
However, even after two years now, nothing has progressed on the matter and the bill was never brought to the table in the House. Sources said Banerjee has already instructed her government machinery to get on the job and do whatever is required on a war footing.
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