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‘Don’t need Delhi’s charity, we’ll run own scheme’: Mamata slams Centre on MGNREGA

Chief minister tears up MGNREGA letter, calls it a ‘valueless’ piece of paper

2 min readKolkataDec 10, 2025 06:35 AM IST

Mamata slams Centre, Mamata slams Centre on MGNREGA, Mamata Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee government, Cooch Behar, Kolkata news, WEst Bengal news, Indian express, current affairs

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

Launching a scathing attack on the Centre, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday tore up a note outlining new MGNREGA norms at a public meeting in Cooch Behar, calling it a “valueless and insulting” diktat and said that the state would run its own work scheme without seeking “Delhi’s charity”.

Addressing a rally in Ras Mela ground in the district, Banerjee said, “Day before yesterday, we received a letter stating that starting December 6, we must submit a quarterly labour budget. They (Centre) have imposed a condition. But where is the time to show it? This is December, and the election is due early next year. Then they said training has to be provided.”

“When will you train and when will you give the jobs? This piece of paper is valueless. We will come back to power. Under Karmashree, we are giving 70 days of work. We will increase it to 100 days. We don’t want your mercy. We are not begging. That is why I am tearing the note. I feel it is disrespectful,” she added.

“Bengal has never bowed down and will never do so. Bengal knows how to walk with its head held high,” she said.

The Chief Minister also criticised the Centre and the Election Commission of India for holding the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls and urged TMC leaders to work together to help ordinary people facing difficulties during the exercise.

“The BLAs should continue their work. The party, too, must work in a united manner. When a battle arises, everyone has to stand shoulder to shoulder and fight together,” she said.

“Revise the voter list but do it in a proper manner. AFter being citizens of the country for so many years, do we have to prove our citizenship again? What could be more insulting than this,” Banerjee said.

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“If the state goes into the hands of the BJP, you will not exist, you will not have any respect, you will not have an address. Bengal will become a detention camp,” she said.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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