Madhu Trehan: Welcome to Candidates 2014 on facebook Talks Live, here on NDTV. I am Madhu Trehan from Newslaundry. In this multiplatform show, we will get you to engage with leaders who could play a decisive role in government formation at the Centre. To see the latest political trend on facebook, you cancheck out facebook election tracker and track what’s hot and what’s not.

Today, we have the Chief Minister of West Bengal – Mamata Banerjee – to take questions from facebook users there, the audience here and from me. This is not a debate or interrogation. I remind you. This is a town hall meeting, to understand the leaders’ position on policies that affect our lives. And today we are in Kolkata’s beautiful Town Hall.

Didi made history when she became first female chief minister of West Bengal and ousted the left from the state after 34 years. The winds have changed and parivartan of what didi promised. She’s never been an easy ally and is often called temperamental… thoda sa … little bit … no. I take it back. The Centre might be wary of her but they have never been able to ignore her.  Today her party is all set to contest the general election, infact today she has announced her candidates and she also got the support of Anna Hazare. Her party is hopeful of becoming a major player post Lok Sabha polls. I am hoping that she will answer all your questions because I know you have great ones. Please welcome our next candidate Mamata Banerjee.

Mamata Banerjee: Please don’t consider me that as a candidate. You can ask me the question just like a simple person and citizen of this country. And I am obliged of course, because I have my facebook friends also. So I have my facebook followers, my friends. So I am grateful that facebook company is organising this and through this interview at least my friends can see my interview. So and it’s a live interview, so I think I can convey all best wishes to all of my facebook friends, my brothers and sisters.

Madhu: You’re very media savvy?

Mamata: Ahh… not at all. But facebook savvy, you can say.

Madhu: Would you tell your facebook users then and the citizens of India who will be watching this. What do you see as the top three challenges for India? What is India facing that you consider as the top three challenges and how would you tackle them differently if you became Prime Minister?

Mamata: First of all, don’t consider this prime ministership and all this right now because it is a media hype … media hype that you have already given chance that he will be the Prime Minister or she will be the Prime Minister. That is not. I am telling you that please trust your voter first, let the people vote for this. There is a system. People will vote for political parties and it is the main decision that people will be taking. So it is not that today you can decide who will be the Prime Minister or who will be the Home Minister or who will be the Railway Minister that we cannot decide right now. You have to wait for that.

Madhu: But…

Mamata: Yes, you media have an important role to play, so you can gaze. It is your views and you can gaze it always. And that’s why I have to face this question. I will welcome this always.

Madhu: What are the challenges you feel that our country is facing today?

Mamata: That’s why I am telling you that I love my country and that’s why I will love to reply for my countrymen. India actually if you see after the independence also. Before Independence there is a part, after independence there is a part. Up to Indira Gandhi, if you see that part after independence that was ok… smooth…it went smoothly. So before emergency and after that also some incidents took place, it was ok. But when Indiraji died and after that the phenomena started. If you ask me that Rajiv Gandhi, whether he was a good Prime Minister, I will say of course he was an innocent man. He tried his best. But there are some other problems. But if you ask me that Atalji, whether he is good. As a man Atalji was good. One year I have seen him… One year I have seen him… he was a good prime minister. But if you ask me that compare Atalji to others or Indira Gandhi to others that is not. That opinion differs from man to man… individual to individual. And now we are facing this because no new leadership. Country if you see, after the Indira Gandhi, Rajivji came but he was murdered. After that no new leadership built up. Now, if you see every year the election will take place and typical type of some feudal landlords… feudal leaders; they will just run this country. Then why do we expect good things from them?

Madhu: Are you saying…

Mamata: Without … I am not mentioning any name. I am saying there is no new outlook. Outlook should be changed. There is no vision. If there is no vision, there will be no mission.

Madhu: What you are saying is that the country is lacking leadership?

Mamata: Lacking leadership. Lacking leaders who know country very well .That dedicated leadership is not there. I am telling you about the selfless, dedicated leadership… who can devote the time for their country… who can devote their time to the state… who can devote their time for the betterment of this country. It is not easy. You can say so many things before election and after election you take a u-turn. Which we say you say something and do something. It is the hippocratic politics and all this. Ditch the people. I don’t like it. Whatever you say before the election, your commitment is your credential. That is a main challenge today.

Madhu: That’s the one…leadership challenge?

Mamata: Transparency, accountability and credentials lagging behind. Number two – the leadership must be like this that leader must be for the people, not only the political parties. The leader must lead for the united India.

Madhu: So you pointed out the problems, what can be the solutions?

Mamata: Problem. That’s why I have said that this is the challenge you have to change your outlook first. Number two, you have to build up that leadership who can devote for the country. Number three, typical type of policy decision is not required nowadays. You have to set up some new policies which will be economy friendly, industrial friendly, agriculture friendly, country friendly and overall GDP friendly also. If you ask me how, I can say when you say me that I am the Chief Minister, I consider me as a commoner. I will be happy to be like this because chief minister is not my credentials, just commoner is my credentials. And that’s why I want to tell you that if you say that Central Government, their GDP is 4.9%. I have no money. They are taking away all the money after I became the Chief Minister. Rs 70,000 crore taken away from our treasury because my friends from the Left Front government left that debt behind. But instead of that, Central Government… their policies… their GDP rate is 4.9% like this. And our GDP rate is 7. 71%  something. So you tell me how we have done it.

Madhu: Didi…

Mamata: If there is no vision… if there is no action and if there is no mission and if there is no planning, how do you do that? And other thing I am telling you… my challenge is if any government come, I will request them to do it also because we have done in West Bengal. I have done 54 meetings at the grass-root level, where I met the district magistrate, all Zila Adhikaries, where we met all block Adhikaries because they are grass-root level people. If you don’t know the grassroots, you cannot run this country. You have no moral authority. I feel that Central Government also, they can’t sit in Delhi. Sitting in Delhi and giving bhasans (speeches) is not the criteria. I think that you go to Delhi, of course your parliament is there. There are some official programmes and all this, that you do it. But every time I don’t prefer to go to Delhi. I prefer to go to the state.

Madhu : So how will you…

Mamata: I prefer that our government must go to the districts.

Madhu: Can I get a question in?

Mamata: Yes. First, just let me give one minute. You have to meet all the state’s officials, district officials and the block level officials. Then only the leaders will come to know the actual problems of the people. When you will go to the grass-root, you can mix up with the people. I never sit in the VIP lounge.In the flight, I never used executive class. Why? Because I just go through the airport and all this. So common people can talk to me. So some common people can tell me Mamataji please issko thoda dekhona (please look at these). I like it. Sometime they will say Excellent. See sometimes they can say against…

Madhu: Didi please let me ask some questions?

Mamata: Yes… Yes. Ask me the question.

Madhu: One, this sound a lot your simplicity, of course matches very well with Anna Hazare. But before I get to that question. I would like to ask you that how would you resolve policies that encourage investment and growth along with policies for the underprivileged and poor. Is there a conflict there?

Mamata: No conflict. If you have the vision, if you have the planning… if you have the plan of action, you will do everything. I think everything is in your hand, only you have to use your brain. You have to nurture your brain. How do we look at it? We are also doing it. How my GDP rate is high? I think, we are No 1 in India. But you tell me, how we have done it without money? Because we are working hard. And because we have plan for this also. Industry… yes, my investment, it is agricultural, industrial development. My GDP growth is double in West Bengal. If you see my…

Madhu: Double of what?

Mamata: Double of their GDP growth. My industrial development growth, if you see.

Madhu: Which are the new industries that have started in West Bengal?

Mamata: So many. Khatwa… this NTPC. They have already plan to start this a power… NTPC power… megawatt… 500 megawatt power unit.

Madhu: Do you think that in Singur

Mamata: I am telling you. SAIL is … you asked me that’s why, because when you ask me I have to reply that. Rs 20,000 crore SAIL is investing in West Bengal. They are expanding their second world best industry in Durgapur. NTPC, already 10,000 crore they are investing in West Bengal because they are doing their new power company. It was not done earlier. They had some land problem. I gave land from my land bank. 100 acres of land and now the problem is solved. DBC is investing 10,000 crores in Purulia and Raghunathapur. We are investing about more than Rs 2 lakh crore in West Bengal… 2 lakhs crore in West Bengal. So there are so many. You asked me specific so I said specific. But there are so many others also.

Madhu: We will take a question from the audience.

Mamata: Yes…yes…

Madhu: Alokananda Roy…

Alokananda Roy: My question is that most of India problems stems from overpopulation. So how do you propose, what would be your policy to stop that when you are in power?

Mamata: Population is a sensitive issue and government of India is also… they have a plan and also state government, they have a plan. And I think it depend… it depend on the awareness programme also. I think we are doing it. It is of course … we have taken so many action. It is I think Dr Subrata Maitra is here also. We are doing it quietly. I think population, it has been controlled.

Madhu: Is it?

Mamata: From the before. From the before. Yes, of course. Staff state government is doing a good work that may not be visible. They are doing it quietly. If you ask me that.

Madhu: But doing it quietly is not your style is it?

Mamata: Sometimes you have to do it quietly also. When you do a business for an internal matter, do you disclose it to an outsider? You cannot.

Madhu: Yes.

Mamata: No, you cannot. For an internal matter, do you discuss it in the outside?

Madhu: Yes, because if you are a politicians. You are doing public work, the people should know what you’re doing.

Mamata: When I take oath, I say that I will not disclose my government secrecy to the outside.

Madhu: But doing population work is secret.

Mamata: Population is a… I said that population control is a sensitive issue. And the Government of India is also doing for that. I cannot blame every issue. Government of India have a plan of action. State government also have plan of action. It depends on awareness programme also. NGOs are also doing that work.

Madhu: Coming into sensitive issues…

Mamata: Sensitive issue. Every political party has to decide. We have to take to the confidence to the people. We cannot not bulldoze or we cannot go for this firing and all this. It won’t solve. It will only solve when they be aware about the problem.

Madhu: So, talking about sensitive issues, what is your opinion on the Article 370?

Mamata: This is the sensitive issue. I don’t want to discuss it right now. Because I have to talk to the political parties and then. If other government comes, then we can talk to all political parties. Then only.

Madhu: And Uniform Civil Code?

Mamata: Same issue you have asked me.

Madhu :We will now take a facebook question from Rahul Shaw. It is a very short question. What is your development agenda?

Mamata: This is not a small question. It is a vast question.But I said that the new economic policy will be done.It is economic f riendly, agriculture friendly,young generation friendly and it will be friendly for all. Economic police is pro people friendly policy.We chalk out the plan of action.

Madhu: Recently Anna Hazare has supported you.How did this happen? What magic have you done? He had said that he would never support a political party.

Mamata:  Anna ji is a respectable man.And he has raised some issue which is a very valid issue.And I have great respect for him.And when I came to know that Anna ji wanted to talk to me I was overwhelmed because he is a father like figure. If you get his blessings it touches your heart.So it touches my heart.I respect him.So whatever he will say I will listen.

Madhu: So has he asked you to tie up with Arvind Kejriwal?

Mamata: Never

Madhu:  Never?

Mamata: He didn’t say about any one.

Madhu: But if he asked you to? But I think you are too independent.

Mamata: He is a very senior, respected man.He knows what to say and what not to say.He is his guidance and adviser. His and my intelligence might not be same.I respect him because he knows what to say and what not to say.

Madhu : So what is you opinion of the AamAadmi Party and ArvindKejriwal?

Mamata: Why are you asking me about a particular political party.You can ask about all political parties. And how can I talk about AAP .I don’t know them.

Madhu: But because of Anna

Mamata: No I don’t know them.And what I do not know I cannot comment about that.

Madhu:  Time for the inevitable break on the other side after which we will ask Mamata Banerjee about… I am not going to tell you about what I am going to ask because then she will know the answer. So just be back on CANDIDATES 2014.

Madhu: Welcome back to CANDIDATES 2014.We are speaking to the leader of the TrinamoolCongress ,Mamata Banerjee. Didi our country has been plagued with the problem of Maoists and Naxals not only in your state but also in other states. And you have been quite tough.What is your plan nationally on the issue.

Mamata: I am from Bengal. So I know what is Naxal and what is Maoist.There is a basic difference. Naxals are different.Maoists are different. A number of people from the Naxalite movement have joined our party also.Because our party is pro –people .We are a progressive party.So they have already joined.There are some good people also among the Naxals. But Maoists are different.They are different in the sense if somebody wants to kill the people that we can’t support. Killing,blood,torture…capturing the power means they cannot do the job.Capturing the power means capturing the village, bloodshed and all that .Our party does not support that. I will say that in JangalMahal it was a big problem.And earlier it was …I mean before I came to power 300-400 people were killed there every year. But now luckily it is zero. And you have to bring the people with your national stream.Now what we have done in West Bengal should be a model.Even central government also said that Bengal will be the model for the Maoist solution. Now in JangalMahal we are doing all the development work. We have declared the tribal people as part of BPL family.They get Rs 2 per kg worth of rice.We have already set up so many school, collages roads. We have given employment to the BPL families from the JangalMahal.They are now doing their service in the administration.Fifteen thousand people I have taken from JangalMahal.They are now police constables and home guards.And so many people have surrendered also.

Madhu: But what will you do nationally? There are areas in Chhattisgarh where you can’t get in.

Mamata:  That’s why I am telling you. This is a very sensitive issue. Please understand that I can’t give you a one-word answer. So it is a very sensitive issue and I welcome all of them to join the national stream. They are also our people. But they are taking help from the outsiders.I have that information.They are taking training from outside also. I know.So I don’t want to link up all this .Government will plan to set up a policy in the model of JangalMahal.It will solve the problem. And I don’t think everyone is bad. We have to conquer their minds,we have to help them,we have to bring their family in the national stream.And we have to give some compensation so that they can surrender and join the development model.

Madhu: We have a question from the audience. Sandip Roy from Firstpost…

Sandip Roy: Right now 49% electorates of this country are women.And there are powerful women leaders today in India.Do you think that someone like you, Jayalalithaa and Mayawati can come together? It would be a more attractive proposition for people rather than a federal front.

Mamata: I have no objection.Why don’t you ask Jayalalithaa and Mayawati to come together?

Sandip Roy: I was hoping you could call them.

Mamata: I have a very good relationship with them. I don’t quarrel with them. So I am asking from the beginning. If they come together I will be happy.But one thing I must say. I am not a feminist. I am a human behind. I consider myself as a human being. Because if you work for the country you have to work with both brothers and sisters. So if all the brothers and sisters come together from all over the federal state I will be very happy.But you take the lead. I will do the follow up.

Madhu: Didi do you think the feminists in India are too anti men. Do you think a new form of feminism should evolve that allows men to be liberated also?

Mamata: No you see when we are doing some work when all the people are involved I cannot say that I am only a woman leader or a leader of the Muslims or Hindus.When I am working I am for all.

Madhu: So you are not on gender, caste, anything?

Mamata: We must consider ourselves as human being and we have to help the minority, the women,the SC, ST, OBC and other economically beck ward classes who are under the poverty line and really neglected.We have to give them more importance.

Madhu: And what about the reservation bill for women?

Mamata: That we are supporting.

Madhu: But why hasn’t it happened?

Mamata: That you have to ask the Congress party.Why are you asking me?Ask Congress, BJP and others.Why are you asking me? Here I have given 30% women candidate in Trinamool.You must clap for this 30% …that I have given women candidate.

Madhu: This is a politician who demands clapping.(Laughs )….when you deserve it

Mamata: You say 33% reservation for womenbut you don’t give it yourself. First you should allow reservation for women in your party. This time in our list I have given 29% women. You should appreciate this. Out of 42 seats 12 reserved seats are for schedule caste and schedule tribe.Today we gave nomination to 11 women.So this is just like the reservation for Schedule caste and schedule tribe.

Madhu: Considering how many women in politics are so powerful.

Mamata: Women are always powerful. At home they are powerful. How to get food at home without women?

Madhu: But why can’t they push it through? Why can’t people like Jayalalithaa, Mayawati and you push it through ?

Mamata: That you ask them.I will be very happy I said.My facebook friends can take an initiative.

Madhu: I was reading this lovely book of yours which ends with poetry, The Unforgettable Memories.

Mamata: I have written forty five books.There are so many.

Madhu: But you have been an unpredictable allay.  And Atal Bihari Vajpayee once told your mother that your daughter gives a lot of trouble.

Mamata: No no that is wrong.Who told you that?

Madhu: Vajpayee didn’t say that to you mother? We read it in the papers.

Mamata: Newspapers write ups are not God’s words or Allah’s words. So many newspapers carry paid news.

Madhu: But he actually met your mother.What did he say?

Mamata: He was very keen to meet my mother.He was the oldest figure. I told him that you shouldn’t take the trouble. But he said I have to see your mother.

Madhu: Why?

Mamata: May be there was some kind of a fascination. He respected my mother like anything. It was his personal matter.

Madhu: It wasn’t because you were angry and he was worried?

Mamata: No no don’t mix up political issue with a personal issue.That was an absolutely personal issue.

Madhu: There was a personal relationship there?

Mamata: Absolutely. But now also I maintain personal relationship with so many leaders. But politically they hate me. What to do, jealousy. Jealousy has no medicine. What to do? I am sorry. I have to ask Subrata Maitraif homeopathy and ayurvedic or ayush can do it.He should do research on if any medicine is available to cure jealousy.

Madhu: Right now you are being positioned as a potential prime ministerial candidate by your party and many other people.

Mamata: No my party never said. My party you know…they are a simple party. They deliver…

Madhu: It was very subtle.

Mamata: It is Annaji said… Annaji loves me that is why.

Madhu:  But how will you handle allies when you are in that position? You think they will take revenge?

Mamata: Why you are so worried?I can handle so many allies.

Madhu: No I am not worried. I would like to ask you if you have a strategy to handle them.

Mamata:  I have worked with NDA for one year, after that also we supported from outside. That time Atalji was there that is why. Next time I was with them, when I go to join any political party for allies I have some political manifestos before election. I have some commitments, why I left the ministry? Because they had violated commitments and I said if you violate the commitments…manifesto commitment I cannot.

Madhu: Fair enough…

Mamata: And I keep my commitments. Some party say one thing before the elections and they cheat the people. I don’t cheat the people. That if you say why I have to go nagging ,nagging, nagging. I requested them…said don’t burden the people.

Madhu: Nagging, nagging, nagging means?

Mamata: Nagging, nagging, nagging means you have to do this. They never listen to us. This UPA government… they never listened to us. Even as a cabinet minister when I joined the cabinet…I should not say all these. But one matter I can tell you that sometimes they said that you are alone. Yes I have formed my party and yes I am alone, what to do. I amalone but my voice is for the millions of people.

Madhu: So how do you think your allies would view you as a potential ally?

Mamata: It depends. I will never bow down my head where common people issues are there. But I will bow down my head to the people if anything is genuine and justified.

Madhu: We will take an audience question from Mr Subrata Maitra…

Subrata Maitra: Good evening Mamataji, good evening Mrs Trehan. I will ask a simple question that while selecting the brigade for the parliament how much importance are you giving to their ideas and commitments and to those who will fight for the cause of Bengal.

Mamata: Party decide through their manifesto that these are the commitments and whoever will contest the election they have to obey the party guidelines and party philosophy. And one ideology is there, so many people ask me what is your ideology. Our ideology is we are pro people. And we say that “MA MATI MANUSH” in Bengal. “MA MATI MANUSH” means we want to cover as many ma, amma as possible. So MATI is my soil, my motherland, my workingland and everything. So this land we respect. And the third is MANUSH which human beings, all the people the human family. So this is party slogan. So whatever we say according to constitution of government of the people, for the people and by the people can be put asby the poor people, of the poor people and poor the pro people.

Madhu: Ok, next audience question is from Sushweta Karmakar…

Sushweta Karmakar: If you become the prime minister, what will be your ideology for poor people which will be set as an example?

Mamata: You see we are for the downtrodden people always and if I tell you that “Jangal Mahal” first decision to give all the tribal family BPL cards means all they will get is Rs 2 per kg ofrice. You see the closed industry we are giving Rs 2 per kg rice, we are giving for the hilly area people, we are giving for Aila (a cyclone that ravaged parts of West Bengal in 2009).  We are giving them housing, we are giving them loans so that they can stand on their own…on their foot. So housing, bread and butter. We are giving them pattas also…land. I have seen in 2009 and 2010 also only 10,000 were given and within two and a half years we have given 2 lakhs Pattas means their rice. So health for all, education for all and for their livelihoods. Already we are planning the policy and all these. We totally hundred days work and they are so delighted with these, these are very good work and you have to take care of that.

Madhu: Thank you, next question. Do you regret the way Singur played out?

Mamata: No, no not at all. Singur is my mother and I am not and I am proud to say that we fought battle for Singur and we will continue to do that.

Madhu: How will you encourage the industry to come in?

Mamata: There is a misconception that Singur is against industry. It is not true, you cannot bulldoze the people who have their land. After becoming the Chief Minister what I have done? I have set up a land bank, land use policy,land use map. And what we are doing for the industry? We are giving land from our side. Industrialists are purchasing the land wherever they can and we are giving them permission also. In Bengal there is no problem also, so why the Land Acquisition Policy will forcefully capture the land. Do you know the global alarming, do you know how the nature is tortured? That is why the natural calamities are in a big way and we have to suffer for next few years, global alarming is for that, global warming. That is because of you… I am not blaming all but some people who are in power have not thought about nature. They have not taken care of our forests, they have not seen the trees, they are not for our agricultural lands also. If we finish the greenery. That is why this clean green beautification, this forest, this seaside, we have to protect our hilly areas, you have to protect seaside. Arree Ratan Tata ka kya hua ?

I have great respect for all, I cannot say about any individual, this is not my courtesy and this is not a decorum also. We are saying from the beginning…now it is a subjudice case. So it is better not to say anything but from the beginning what we have said I will stick to it. Let them six hundred acres of land, let them set up their industries, and the remaining four hundred acres of land forcefully captured will be returned to the farmers and the landless labours.

Madhu: Ok so we don’t discuss the case but what you think that Gujarat went and got the hundred ports?

Mamata(smiles): Gujarat …You cannot compare Gujarat to Tamil Nadu and Tamil to Bengal. Bihar is having some problem, here I am taking time. Uttar Pradesh  has some different problems, North Easterns have their own problems. Gujarat after the earthquake I was the first person to set up the railway lines there as a railway minister and I went to Bhuj. After the earthquake Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Mininster they have thousands and thousands of crore for the new Gujarat. And Gujarat the population is less than us and in Gujarat they have their 17 big ports and in Bengal we have only 2 ports and that also are drying because central government is not giving any funds.The sorry affairs is this, so one state their population is not like us, the poor people is not like us, they have got enough fund for that. There is a potentiality for industry because of ports. They have private ports as a railway minister I started this, so the geographical location of Gujarat, port background, industrial background is different from Bengal and it cannot be compared with Bengal. And instead of that I am just challenging now when you mention for a particular state and you are gossiping now, rumour is growing now that small scale and medium scale industry their investment is 50%…in Bengal it is 109% ,so Bengal is number one.

Madhu: But how can …

Mamata: You go to bank and ask about investment and compare. What was the investment? My finance minister is sitting here, Mr Amit Mitra. You earlier he worked with FICCI chairman and all these…ask him my information is correct or not.

Madhu: So would you tell today that the choice of people is not between Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi…it is between Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi?

Mamata: No no…I don’t. I have my own limitations, why should I touch them?

Madhu: You have no limitations.

Mamata: Why I will touch them? I have no limitation about the people. But I have some limitations about the leaders of this country. But I will not comment about them because it is not my  nature and not my courtesy also…and it is not my political agenda also.

Madhu: We go to a Facebook question. Barkha Hazarika has asked what is your view of empowering women in politics? I think you have just given 26%…

Mamata: After becoming the chief minister I have given 50% reservation at the grassroot level, the gram sabha, gram panchayat level, the zilla parishad even in municipality we have given this power also. And our party when there is no reservation has given about 30% of seats for the women also. You will be happy also that in our village zilla parishad we have 8 women as Sabhadhipati…out of these 14 men zilla parishad 8 women. So they are the administrator of the district. So like this we can give women empowerment. We have given cultural empowerment, we have started the “Kanyashree” project. We have given for 8,9,11,12,we have given for Madrassa also. They will get Rs 500 scholarship and when they became 18 they will get Rs 25000 for their education and all this.

Madhu: We have two audience questions, one from Paranjoy Halder and one from Krishna Bandhudas.

Question: Ma’am, very good government is running and if you become a part of the new government what will be your plan?

Mamata: Tell me if you have any particular sector in your mind?

Question: Ma’am, youth people.

Mamata: I said that I will set up a talent bank for the youth people. I will search the talent, it is been never done. We will search the talent and we will set up a bank for that so that the youth who are going abroad,outside because here there is no place to work here. The youth will come to our country and they will bring the black money from other people also. If they don’t come back then some vagabonds, some old will run the country. There will be no change nothing, no new policy no new thinking, no new vision, planning and all these. So I will tell them to come back and waiver is in country also. We will set up a bank, and new generation what they want. And I believe Swami Vivekanda’s character building programme and all these. Through character building programmes they will dedicate themselves for the motherland. And country must be devoted to them also. If we donot build the youth generation then what will happen to the country tomorrow? Youth are the future of tomorrow and they are my asset. And I believe that students and youth must be taken care.

Madhu: Who is the second rung of leadership in your party?

Mamata: So many…I have already set up 3-4 generations. Today also I have given nominations to 25 to 30 years old.

Madhu: That means they babies…

Mamata: Yes when I started my movement …I was a student. I am from the student movement. So I accommodated all my students and youth leaders in my party. So they will do the job in next 25 to 20 years. Today also I have given nominations to people who are 25 to 30 to 40 years.

Madhu: Corruption is turning out to be one of the most debilitating factor in India?Do you have any…since you have a new ways…you have any idea of how to tackle it nationally?

Mamata: Yes why not? Without nobody can it. All I cannot disclose now then after election what will you ask me?

Madhu: I want to ask why have not you done it?

Mamata: There are exclusive things I have in my mind. What I cannot disclose it because as we say don’t share your wife with others ,also share give your ideas too. So sometimes you have to give something but not all.So it is totally reserved.

Madhu: What about Anna’s Lokpal?

Mamata: Lokpal is yes we supported it. Absolutely!!

Madhu: We have a facebook question from Gaurav Damani and Rahul Deb:

What are your future plans for strengthening TMC outside Bengal?

Mamata: Trying, we are poorest of the poorest party. My plus point is our credentials and our minus point is our money. My plus point is our credentials means accountability, transparency, sincerity, devotion, dedication and discipline. My minus point is money. We are not the goody goody people so we don’t have money. So without money we are fighting against money power, muscle power, mafia power and what not.

Madhu: What do you mean by goody goody people?

Mamata: But if the goody goody people come I can give them tickets and symbols.

Madhu: But sometimes…

Mamata: But good people must come out, money is not at all a factor sometimes they have to take a stand also. Somebody has to take bell the cat. That’s why I put these electoral reforms that my first choice will be electoral reforms and state fundings. Why not?The politicians became corrupted, they are taking so much money. they are spending lots of black money also.

Madhu: Why did you say that you are not the goody goody people?

Mamata: I cannot do it like this, that’s why. I will say that I am an outspoken person. If you do not like me I don’t care, if you like then also I will say I am thankful. Then also you say me you can care or not care me. You can ignore me also, it is your prerogative of choice. But my choice is that my transparency is my commitment. Our credentials is our credibility, our transparency our accountability, sincerity, dedication, devotion and discipline. And devotion for the people is our credentials. So sometimes you cannot compare money with this. So sometimes you cannot compare money with this. Sometimes you have money but you have no credentials. I can give you the credentials so that the good people can come out and contest the elections. I will give them the symbols, manifesto and party flags. Let the party be high up and the credentials anteanna should be high up.

Madhu:We have to go for a break. One more and then we have a few minutes left with Mamatadi and where we find out…is there room for..well I am not going to say this. You come back and we will let you know the questions.

****Commercial Break****

Madhu:n Welcome back we are in conversation with Mamata Banerjee on Candidates 2014 on Facebook Live. Mamatadidi, can people disagree with you? Is there room for dissent in your party?

Mamata: Yes always. It is a democratic country, why not? I listen to them, I learn from disagreement. Why?

Madhu: Without you walking out of a discussion?

Mamata: Who said that?

Madhu: When you did it with Sagarika Ghose?

Mamata: That was a totally different issue. It is better not to disclose, it is another channel’s story.

Madhu: But do you welcome dissent?

Mamata: That is different story and I don’t wasn’t to discuss it. You asked me so many questions don’t you think you have covered so many.

Madhu: This one…this one I did not ask.

Mamata: You are asking so you are getting reply also.

Madhu: And Dinesh Trivedi…

Mamata: He is contesting elections.

Madhu: You have given him a ticket but at that time you were upset with his railway budget.

Mamata: That is Parliament and it is a party business. I cannot discuss this internal party matter with you,your board, your internal management I cannot discuss. Party is also a disciplined party just like your management.

Madhu: My management?

Mamata: Management means your office has a management. That management of course if anything happens it will take care. So it is a party internal matter, I don’t want to discuss it right now.

Madhu: Can we talk a little bit about the law and situation order around the country and your state?

Mamata: Of course you can

Madhu: Why is this so much violence everywhere, why is this uncontrolled? Why is the state not doing more to control the violence?

Mamata: No it is not that you can blame the state. Of course if there is a communal  dangas and all these…communal riots is too much in UP that we have to control even in Assam also, that they have to control. I donot know they were not able to control. Communal rights is our enemy. And we never support all these. Sometimes the fanatic people also do all these, we have to tackle that. Secondly some reporter coming against the women atrocities. I think West Bengal government is the only government….earlier there was no press or media or TV. Nowadays there are so many medias and TVs coming out. Earlier days women were also not strong enough, to file the diary, in my state FIR was taken at all. But this what I am doing in my state we have started some fast track court, women court, 45 women court in West Bengal, planning is going on. Twenty six police stations we have started. So fast track court we started when central stopped funding we stated from ourselves. So every atrocities case…No no it is not that. In Chennai, in Delhi if you say it is 555, in Kolkata it is 65. I will be happy to say zero. But it is the people who are anti- socials, people who do not know manners and courtesy, we have to create the awareness also. But I must appreciate my girlchild, women also that they are coming out. But sometimes we also have to see that the brothers are also helping  the sisters. It is not that all brothers are wrong. One or two isolated incidents took place.

Audience Question: So the thing it is very easy to blame the government and the system when evil is happening. So as youth I feel equally socially responsible when rape or any other social evil happens. So one thing that the youth always want to get involved into creating the awareness, what the government can do to involve the youth into creating awareness among the states in the country?

Mamata: That is a very good question.

Madhu: Ok go ahead.

Mamata: No he said how to involve the youth. We have started awareness programme in the school level, Next we will do it in the college level then we will start at the university. We started involving even the cultural artists. They are doing some work. Doing drama, songs, creating awareness,

Madhu: We are going offline. We have no control over the camera because the time is up. I do have to ask you that didi you have done so much about everything you have done in West Bengal. Is there anything which you feel that you have not measured up ?

Mamata: There are so many but your time is short  and Delhi also…

Madhu: Now we have time….

Mamata: Now you have time , for that question you had no time? Now you can ask me that question.

Madhu: No I am joking we really don’t have time…but is there anything you would like to conclude?

Mamata: No that’s ok, I was a railway minister. And I have started this public private partnership, I have started this academy,. I have started the port, I have involved my FICCI, Indian Chamber of Commerce and all the state chamber of commerce and CII so that they can come up and they can invest the money. I gave a white paper, I gave a vision for 2020. The statement we have prepared administrative calendar, right to service, it is all in process. In all over states it starts then there will be accountability. What government wants to do that people should know earlier. We have so amny things, within this short span I cannot say. But if you give me more time I can ofcourse say. But today I am more thankful to my Facebook followers and friends. Sometimes I cannot interact with them but I am thankful to them also and the audience also. They will see the interview and I am thankful to them and you also.

Madhu: We made through the hour without offending didi, I am so scared.

Mamata: You cannot because this your rumour and you have proved this your gossip you have proved, this is not correct. That’s why you tried you have failed.

Madhu: Thank you so much. A changing temperament for changing times. A good sign for potential allies possibly? We will back again tomorrow with another candidate tomorrow.

Mamata: We will see the future tomorrow.

Madhu: Is that a threat or a promise?

Mamata: Future tomorrow…it is a promise.

Madhu: So we will be back tomorrow for Candidates 2014 on Facebook Talks Live with me Madhu Trehan on NDTV. Be there, get involved and never do nothing.