TMC Tables Motion Against Centre, Accuses It of “Political Revenge” and Funds Withholding
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has launched a scathing attack on the Centre, alleging “political revenge” and withholding of funds meant for West Bengal. In response, the party tabled a motion in the Assembly, initiating a heated debate that led to the Opposition BJP staging a walkout in protest.
During the motion’s discussion, the TMC accused the Centre of withholding funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). However, the BJP countered by stating that the Centre seeks to prevent large-scale misappropriation of funds under the pretext of their utilization.
The Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, highlighted that the Centre had requested the state government to provide an audit report for the MGNREGA, which was not provided. He further claimed that rampant corruption in the PMAY project led to the suspension of payments by the Centre.
A contentious moment arose when Minister of State for Finance, Chandrima Bhattacharya, suggested that the ‘PM CARES Fund’ should also be scrutinized. This statement sparked a ruckus and resulted in the BJP’s walkout from the Assembly.
Speaker Biman Banerjee expressed disappointment over the undignified behaviour of some members and expunged a phrase used by a BJP MLA during the debate. Subsequently, the motion was passed by voice vote in the absence of the Opposition MLAs.
During the debate, Adhikari raised concerns about the MGNREGA beneficiaries, claiming that undeserving individuals had been included while deserving ones were excluded. He accused the TMC government of selecting beneficiaries based on political considerations and renaming several central schemes.
Bhattacharya stressed the importance of collaboration between the Centre and the state in a federal set-up, urging for governance by the people and not any political party or individual. She refuted corruption allegations and stated that all requested reports were submitted, yet the Centre refused to release the funds for the job scheme.
The TMC’s move to table the motion is part of their efforts to exert pressure on the Centre. Earlier, during a rally in Kolkata, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee called for peaceful sit-ins outside BJP leaders’ houses in the state. However, the Calcutta High Court restrained the party from holding its planned protest, citing potential inconvenience to the public.
Abhishek Banerjee had previously alleged that the Centre had blocked significant funds under the MGNREGA and PMAY schemes, while spending large amounts on other projects. The TMC’s motion seeks to address these concerns and hold the Centre accountable for its actions in the state.
News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh
