The Centre might send some more teams in Bengal to check out the implementation of central welfare schemes, Union minister of state for panchayati raj Kapil Moreshwar Patil said here on Tuesday.
“Two central teams have recently visited Bengal to check complaints made regarding Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. If more complaints reach the Centre, more teams would be sent to the districts concerned. The central government won’t compromise with corruption,” Patil told journalists at the district BJP office.
Last week, central teams visited Malda and East Midnapore. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and several Trinamul leaders alleged the BJP sent these teams with political intent.
The Centre, Patil said, is waiting for the team’s reports before taking the next course of action.
The Union minister of state, when told about the frozen funds under the 100-day job scheme, said the onus was with the Mamata government. It has been over a year that Bengal has not received central funds for the MGNREGS.
“MGNREGS is a central scheme, there are rules the states have to follow. Let us be clear that if any state government violated the rules of the scheme, it will have to bear the cost.... To ensure funds are allocated every year, the scheme should be implemented properly,” he said.
Patil, who reached Malda on Tuesday by Vande Bharat Express on a three-day visit, said that during the next couple of days, he would visit remote villages.
“There are hundreds of complaints from villages across Bengal that genuine beneficiaries are deprived of welfare schemes and there is corruption. I have decided to visit some hamlets of Malda district and talk to people to know if they are getting due benefits,” said Patil.
His remarks irked district Trinamul leaders.
“His comments clearly indicate that BJP is doing politics over development schemes and is trying to build a false narrative. Such strategies won’t work,” said Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury, a Trinamul leader in Malda.