West Bengal’s Chief Minister Gives Ultimatum to the Centre Over Unpaid Dues

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal and leader of the Trinamool party, has issued a one-week ultimatum to the Centre. If it fails to release all outstanding dues within this period, her party pledges to initiate a significant protest. This news comes from the source of Reader Wall.

An Ultimatum for Unpaid Funds

These comments by Ms. Banerjee were made at a Raj Bhavan programme honouring India’s 75th Republic Day. The Trinamool chief has stated, “Should the central government not release the needed funds, a major protest will be initiated by us (TMC).” As per the figures set out by the West Bengal government, the Indian government owes the state ₹9,330 crore under the PMAY, ₹6,900 crore under MGNREGA, ₹830 crore through the National Health Mission, ₹770 crore under PM Gram Sadak Yojna, ₹350 crore under Swachh Bharat Mission, ₹175 crore for mid Day Meals, as well as money from other schemes.

Past Negotiations with the Centre

Ms. Banerjee had a meeting with India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on December 20, 2023, during which she raised the issue of the central government’s outstanding funds. After their meeting, she commented that Mr. Modi had suggested that representatives from both state and central governments convene to resolve these matters. Furthermore, a group of state government officers met their counterparts in New Delhi earlier this week.

These officials have reportedly submitted a thorough report about claimed irregularities found in the 100 days’ work scheme and what measures were employed to manage them. This delegation additionally held a meeting with Shailesh Kumar Singh, the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.

Previous Protests and Pledges for Action

In the November just past, Trinamool Congress MLAs, led by their party’s chief, protested within the state assembly against the central government’s alleged delay in releasing funds. Earlier, the Trinamool’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, led a sit-in protest at New Delhi’s Rajghat on the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth. This was a demonstration against the Centre’s failure to release the requisite funds.

Mamata Banerjee’s declaration of an impending protest follows after her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, pledged to initiate a continuous protest against the Centre over the same issue of unpaid funds. These intentions were expressed by him after discovering minimal public support for such action, and so these efforts have stalled.

In response to this situation, senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said that people had already rejected the failed efforts led by Abhishek Banerjee. Now, he suggested that his aunt, Mamata Banerjee, was attempting to resurrect the same issue. He stated, “After finding that his calls for a movement received no support among the public, the nephew has stopped agitating over the issue. Now, the aunt has decided to bring attention to the same rejected matter.”

Public Reactions

Opinions on this contentious issue have been voiced in the public sphere. While some support the Trinamool’s demands for the central government to meet its financial obligations to West Bengal, others staunchly maintain that such matters have already been dismissed by the public. Consequently, this story continues to develop, and Reader Wall will maintain up-to-date coverage.