Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had illegally and unconstitutionally instructed state government officials to make a list of farmers eligible for funds from the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.
During a poll rally in Hooghly on Saturday, Modi said if the BJP government came to power in Bengal it would transfer the PM Kisan grant amount, including arrears, to the tune of Rs 18,000, to accounts of farmers before Durga Puja.
“You are giving instruction to my workers when election is on. What do you think of yourself? Are you God or Superman?” Mamata said without naming Modi at her rally in Hooghly’s Khanakul on Sunday.
“Yesterday (Saturday) he came for a meeting (campaign rally) and what he said does not behove a Prime Minister. You may make a speech but as a Prime Minister how can you instruct state government officials to prepare a list in violation of election conduct (model code of conduct)? You have no right to instruct officials of my government. It is illegal and unconstitutional,” she said.
Modi, with an eye on the farmer votes, had “issued instructions” to state government officials at a rally in Hooghly’s Haripal on Saturday.
The central scheme of providing Rs 6,000 annually to farmers was a point of conflict between the Union and the state governments as the latter refused to implement initially. Later, the state government asked that the cash be routed through them, a plea the Centre refused.
“…The government officials here, today I urge them as well, whatever happened in the past 10 years happened...now you’ll get the opportunity to serve Bengal. Now till May 2 when the results come out you have time. Wherever polls are over, officials there should start making the list of farmers, check their bank accounts and Aadhaar numbers, so that as soon as the decision is made, the money starts getting disbursed immediately,” Modi had said.
Mamata, who addressed five rallies in Hooghly, Howrah and South 24-Parganas on Sunday, the last day of campaign for constituencies going to the polls on April 6, criticised Modi for his “desperation”. “They will not win 50 seats and dream of coming to power in Bengal. What will happen if I instruct your officials in Delhi?” Mamata said in Baruipur of South 24-Parganas on Sunday.
Mamata attacked Modi for saying that he would attend the swearing-in of the new BJP government in Bengal. “Prime Minister, we will not invite you to our swearing-in. Your presence at the oath-taking ceremony means inviting blood in Bengal…Their (BJP) security deposits will be forfeited in many seats,” she said.
