A Trinamool Youth Congress worker rides his bike with the party’s flag in Kolkata. File image for representation. , Photo Credit: PTI
Three days after Trinamool Congress MPs held talks with officials of the Rural Development Ministry over release of funds under MGNREGA in West Bengal, party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday said he would protest in Delhi and choke the national capital. Will give Mr Banerjee said one crore letters from the people of West Bengal would be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for release of funds.
“If the BJP does not release the funds, we will agitate no matter what we have to do. whether it’s a strike or AgitationWe will do everything to get the money that the people of West Bengal are entitled to. If need be, we will fight till Delhi, I assure you,” Mr Banerjee said while addressing a public meeting in Alipurduar district.
The Trinamool leader said that 1.38 crore families in West Bengal have registered for 100 days of work. “Justice has not been given to these families. We have to reach these people. Let us start our outreach campaign to get the letters signed on 15th April. This program will run across the state,” Mr Banerjee said, referring to the collection of letters.
The Trinamool leader also targeted Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh and said the minister did not give him an appointment even though he was in Delhi. “It is because Giriraj Singh did not have the courage to meet us,” he said.
Trinamool Congress President and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee staged a sit-in in Kolkata on 29 and 30 March, demanding release from central funds. He also vowed to take the fight to Delhi if the funds were not released.
Funds have not been released to the state under MGNREGA since December 2021 after the Center invoked Article 27 of the NREGA Act, which allows funds to be withheld for violation of rules in the implementation of the scheme by the state. The Center has also frozen funds for West Bengal for the financial year 2023-24.
Reacting to the Trinamool Congress leader’s remarks, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shubhendu Adhikari hit back, accusing the ruling party of corruption in the implementation of the MNREGA scheme. Mr. Adhikari said that about one crore fake MNREGA works are running in the state. The Leader of Opposition said that there are similar irregularities in the mid-day meal scheme and construction of toilets in the state. Mr. Adhikari and several other BJP leaders have advocated stopping funds for major welfare schemes in West Bengal.