Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday upped the ante against the BJP-helmed Centre for holding back funds under the 100-day rural job scheme while asking common people to launch agitation against the Union government on the issue.

“If this continues (holding back funds under the MGNREGA), I should ask you to hit the streets with bows and arrows and dhamsa madol (traditional musical instruments of adivasis) and ask questions to the central government why Bengal is being denied dues… I will be standing with you,” the chief minister said at a government programme in Jhargram’s Belpahari on Tuesday.

The chief minister’s comments, political observers said, are significant for several reasons.

First, this is the first time the chief minister has asked common people to launch agitation against the Centre since Delhi stopped the release of funds under the scheme since April alleging financial malfeasance.

Second, she chose Jhargram, a tribal belt, to launch the attack on the Centre over the issue as people of the Jungle Mahal were the worst sufferers of the Centre’s decision as many of them were heavily dependent on the scheme to earn livelihoods.

Third, Mamata has now put the ball in the Centre’s court as the BJP has been planning to launch a campaign that the funds under the scheme were stopped only because Trinamul Congress leaders had allegedly stolen portions of the grants.

“The chief minister has now decided to counterattack the Centre that was putting pressure on the Trinamul-led state government alleging funds were misappropriated. She has now decided to cite the plight of common people to counter the Centre. This will put the ruling party in Delhi under pressure as the saffron camp is also eyeing the rural polls to corner Trinamul,” said a political observer.

Sources in the administration said the state government had already initiated several measures to ensure proper implementation of the scheme to get the funds. But when all the efforts apparently failed, the chief minister decided to turn the tables on the BJP.

Mamata also pointed out that her government had taken enough measures to ensure funds under the scheme.

“I had met the Prime Minister one year ago on this issue…. Now, should we fall at their feet? Getting funds under the scheme is our constitutional right.”