Centre did the right thing by not giving package to Bengal: BJP

Welcoming the Budget, the state unit of the BJP said that the Centre did not allot funds to West Bengal as there are no Capital expense projects in the state.

“My friends from the TMC are criticising the Budget, saying that Andhra Pradesh and Bihar got so much, while Bengal has been deprived… But where are the projects in Bengal? Where are the Capital (expenditure) projects here? You know that a freight corridor is being built from Amritsar to Kolkata. Have you heard ever from this (state) government that for this freight corridor in Dankuni we will build an industrial park? Have you heard from this government that a port will come up? All the money allotted to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar is for capital investment. Bengal has no such projects where money could be allotted. Also, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar are not foreign land. They are a part of our country. In fact, a large number of labourers from West Bengal go to Andhra Pradesh to earn a livelihood. Then why is TMC so upset?” BJP MLA Ashok Lahiri, who is the convenor of the party’s Economic Cell, said.

“Many believe that a coalition government has its compulsions, and for coalition compulsion, a few things have been done in the Budget,” Lahiri said, adding the Centre is a coalition one.

Accusing the TMC government of adopting “confrontationist” attitude with the Centre, Lahiri said: “Cooperative federalism is missing. The state government is only into fighting and never follows rules. The state government must follow rules… If the Centre has done something out of the rules, then they should challenge it with proof. In such a situation, I would also support their demand,” said Lahiri.

With PTI INPUTS