West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. (Image: PTI/File)
According to Mamata Banerjee, she has sought time from the PM to ask about the pending MGNREGA arrears of her state. Sources said Banerjee has got the appointment
West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee has sought time for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament at 11 am on January 20, a day after the Opposition alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), is scheduled to meet.
According to Banerjee, she has sought time from the PM to ask about the pending MGNREGA arrears of her state. Sources said Banerjee has got the appointment.
Banerjee will be in Delhi on January 17. On January 19, she will attend the INDIA meet.
The CM had earlier said: “I will go to Delhi. I have asked time from Prime Minister and already met him thrice demanding Bengal’s money. If he gives time, we will meet him again.”
The TMC has been campaigning for the MNREGA money. Before Durga pujo National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee had gone to Delhi with party MPs and MNREGA workers to meet Panchayati Raj minister Giriraj Singh. According to TMC, the Minister did not give them time. Abhishek then came back to Kolkata and marched to the Governor’s house and sat on a dharna there.
Abhishek had stated that if the Central Government does not release MNREGA money, Banerjee will protest in Delhi.
As the winter session began, TMC’s Sudip Banerjee raised the issue. Giriraj Singh told Sudip Banerjee that the CM should meet the PM.
The TMC tweeted: “Give Bengal what it is owed or vacate your chair. Smt. @MamataOfficial’s message for the @BJP4India ZAMINDARS!”
The Left and Congress in Bengal, however, raised questions on the plan. Sujan Chakraborty, CPIM leader, said, “This is another tactic of Didi and Modi.”
Suvendhu Adhikary, leader of opposition, said, “If she gives something in writing that should come out.”
The TMC wants to establish the narrative that the Central Government has neglected Bengal because they have lost in Bengal. The BJP, on the other hand, is trying to establish the narrative that Bengal is corrupted that’s why they have not got money.
