Trinamul Congress Accuses Centre of Withholding Funds, Makes MGNREGS Wages a Major Poll Issue

The national general secretary of Trinamul, Abhishek Banerjee, harshly criticized the BJP-led central government on Saturday in Belda, West Midnapore, for failing to release MGNREGS pay in Bengal. He made it apparent that the central government's funding freeze was a key election strategy used by Trinamul to oppose the BJP before the polls.

"They (the Center) oppose Bengal." We will not be able to demand unpaid labor from anyone. But this is precisely what they (the Center) have done," added Abhishek, the other Diamond Harbour MP.

"I traveled for two months. I didn't spend even a single day at home. My wife and kids were at home with me on the road. I advocated for funding through the 100-day work program. Tell me, have you received your proper pay?," he continued.

"Abhishek wanted to make sure Bengalis remembered how the financially stressed state administration paid the almost 59 lakh job card holders their overdue salaries. To pay the debt, the state invested around Rs 2,600 crore. A Trinamul leader stated, "It is evident that our national general secretary would bring it up to corner the BJP before the polls.

Abhishek drew attention to the fact that, despite the state government forwarding names following a three-step verification process, the Centre had not released funds for dwelling units for 11.36 lakh beneficiaries under the rural housing plan.

If the Center did not provide funding, he implied that the state government would release housing unit funds shortly after the polls: "Enough is enough.... We'll stop pleading now. The chief minister may provide funding for housing units in rural areas if she is able to pay the outstanding balances under the 100-day job initiative.

"The chief minister allots around Rs 25,000 crore to support women's welfare. Not even ten rupees were provided by the center for this purpose. Abhishek advised people to reconsider their vote.

He claimed that the BJP MP from Midnapore, Dilip Ghosh, constantly denigrated women and urged people to support June Malia, the Trinamul candidate.

Expressing mockery, he claimed that "they (the BJP)" were waiting for "some of our discards to leave the party" in response to the seeming delay in releasing their second list of candidates for Bengal.

Request an apology

Trinamul leaders on Saturday called for the apology of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari for his "derogatory" comments regarding the injuries of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

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