West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Meets PM Modi, To request a timely release of funds due to the state on account of the implementation of various schemes.
Source: Bing images
New Delhi: Set in the backdrop of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) raid at former cabinet minister of West Bengal, Parth Chatterjee and his aide Arpita Mukherjee’s residence, Mamta Bannerjee visited the primus inter pares in Delhi.
In general, Mamta Bannerjee has routinely criticized PM Modi and BJP and has often been seen taking a jibe at the latter, however, she seems awfully quiet since the biggest scams and raids took place in the past week.
Banerjee met PM Modi on Friday and raised concern about the fate of West Bengal including GST dues and timely release of funds by the Centre under various schemes. The PMO shared a picture of the meeting, which lasted about an hour.
Banerjee mentioned in a memorandum to Modi that she has repeatedly sought his attention and assistance for urgent release of funds due to the state on account of the implementation of the rural job scheme MGNREGA, PM Awas Yojana, and the PM Gramin Sadak Yojana. The outstanding amount is Rs 17,996.32 crore, she said.
In her memorandum, Banerjee calculated the total amount due to the state under different schemes and benefits. The amount that is due to the state from the central government as of July 31, 2022, has been estimated to be around Rs 1,00,968.44 crore.
Banerjee has time and again accused the BJP-led central government of delaying the payment of Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues to states, especially the ones ruled by opposition parties. Banerjee later went to directly meet President Droupadi Murmu.
Source: Bing images
Banerjee, who arrived here on a four-day visit on Thursday, is likely to attend a Niti Aayog governing council meeting on 7 August to be chaired by Prime Minister Modi. She did not attend the meeting last year.
Banerjee’s meeting with the prime minister came close on the heels of the Enforcement Directorate arresting now-removed West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee and his aide Arpita Mukherjee and recovering huge cash and jewelry in connection with an alleged school jobs scam. However, it was not known if the issue was featured in the meeting.
Banerjee’s meeting also holds importance ahead of the 6 August vice-presidential poll, from which her Trinamool Congress party has decided to abstain. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has fielded former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as its vice-presidential candidate while the opposition parties have nominated Margaret Alva.
