Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday attacked the BJP-led Centre over the alleged denial of funds to Bengal and misuse of its agencies, and inflation, reiterating her reasons for the two-day dharna from Wednesday.
“Tomorrow (on Wednesday), I will begin a two-day sit-in agitation to demand the funds from the Centre that is our right. They have to release our pending funds for the 100-day employment guarantee scheme, housing for the rural poor, rural road infrastructure and various other schemes,” said the Trinamul Congress chairperson.
The chief minister will hold the dharna near B.R. Ambedkar's statue on Red Road in Calcutta.
“LPG (cylinder) price has hit Rs 1,150. The Centre needs to answer why they haven’t been able to control rising inflation. If anyone questions them on their gifts to the country, the ED (Enforcement Directorate) and the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) are unleashed to harass them,” the chief minister said while speaking at astate government event in Singur to launch the Pathashree-Rastashree project, under which over 12,000km of roads would be built or upgraded in all gram panchayats in Bengal.
“(From the dharna) we will ask them, why are they killing democracy,” she added.
She said the Centre had been repeatedly depriving Bengal of its share of the GST collected from the state, expressing regret at having helped its passage in Parliament.
“It was a mistake, supporting the passing of the GST (legislation). We had thought that states would stand to benefit. But the Centre has been collecting all taxes, and not giving the state its share,” said Mamata.