Why are women not receiving money under Annapurna scheme?’: Mamata targets BJP

“Before the election, BJP workers distributed forms and promised benefits under Annapurna scheme without conditions. Today, women are being deprived and discriminated against based on caste and religion by the saffron party,” she alleged.

Banerjee referred to the reported suicide in Malda, alleging that the woman had been denied benefits under the scheme. She also expressed condolences to the family of a young BJP worker from Bankura whose father, she said, died following an attack.

The TMC chief alleged that the state police were being used to target her party workers, claiming that between 12,000 and 14,000 TMC workers were facing false cases, including murder and narcotics-related charges, to pressure them into joining the BJP.

She also hit out at restrictions on political meetings and rallies, saying she would not withdraw from politics because of administrative permissions being denied.

“Those who think I will retire from politics simply because I am denied permission to hold meetings are mistaken. Our fight will not stop until the BJP itself is forced into political retirement,” she said.

Banerjee also criticised recent eviction drives and pavement-clearance operations, referring to an incident in Park Street in which a homeless woman was allegedly stopped from warming milk for her child. She accused the government of pursuing “bulldozer politics” and said the TMC would take responsibility for the affected family’s shelter, food and children’s education.

The former chief minister also raised concerns over alleged harassment of students at Jadavpur University, Presidency University and Asutosh College and questioned restrictions on TMC’s student wing rallies.

Highlighting issues of student harassment at Jadavpur University, Presidency University, and Asutosh College, Banerjee questioned the restrictions placed on TMC student wing rallies on August 15 and August 28. She further expressed concern over the ongoing Census and NRC form data collection, cautioning citizens about potential data misuse in the future.

Calling on TMC workers to identify people who had been deprived of welfare benefits, Banerjee said the party would reach out to affected families and pursue the matter through legal and political channels.

She said that, if required, the party would approach the Supreme Court to protect what she described as the rights of those deprived of government benefits.