The Bengal government has contested the BJP’s claims that the Centre released Rs 414.90 crore for rehabilitation and restoration work in areas hit by Cyclone Bulbul.

BJP leaders have cited a release of the Centre’s Press Information Bureau to claim the Narendra Modi government had released Rs 414.90 crore after the calamity last month. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said on Monday that the Centre was yet to release any funds.

On Tuesday, BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha claimed “the Centre had sent funds twice and that the state government “is unnecessarily blaming the Centre”.

However, Bengal junior health minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said the funds had been released in April 2019 — much before Bulbul hit the state. “It was a routine release as a part of the Centre’s responsibility. The Centre is bound to release its share under the SDRF (state disaster response fund). It has no connection with Bulbul,” said Bhattacharya.

On Tuesday, junior Union home G. Kishan Reddy told the Lok Sabha that Bengal had not yet submitted its “memorandum” for more NDRF aid. Though the state has submitted a report pegging losses from the cyclone at Rs 23,811 crore, sources said the demand must be sent in a prescribed format.