Mamata slams PM for replacing MGNREGA, says Karmashree job scheme to be named after Mahatma Gandhi

“If they can’t show respect to our national heroes, we will. We know how to honour our national icon Mahatma ji and others like Netaji, Tagore, Nazrul, Ambedkar, Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel, and Rajendra Prasad,” she added.

Stating that India’s political and religious leaders have universally vouched for brotherhood and harmony, the chief minister hit out at PM Modi. “I want PM Modi to live a long life. But, please don’t do anything wrong that might give you a befitting reply in the future. Please remember, if we are one, our country is strong. Division is not the solution to the problems; peace, harmony, friendship and humanity are,” she said.

Under the Karmashree scheme, the government claims to provide up to 75 days of work to beneficiaries, despite what Banerjee described as the Centre blocking funds under the MGNREGS.

The CM said her government aims to increase the number of workdays under Karmashree to 100 in the future. “We have already created lots of workdays under ‘Karmashree’, which we are running with our own resources. Even if central funds are stopped, we will ensure people get work. We are not beggars,” she said.

The BJP-led NDA government has replaced the UPA-era Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGA), which ensures 100 days of employment in rural areas, with the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill.

Targeting the BJP without naming it, the TMC supremo said, “According to Niti Aayog, our government generated two crore jobs. We also reduced unemployment by 40 per cent. Don’t you think it is enough pride for each and every body who are defaming Bengal only for political purposes? Instead of being negative, always be positive. Think positive, speak positive. Be diligent and sensible before saying or attacking anybody. Silence is a big strength, and jealousy has no cure.”

She further said, “Some people want to defame Bengal. They don’t realise how Bengal has transformed and become a world-class destination. After becoming chief minister, I went to Singapore, where I heard rumours about Bengal’s downfall and lost glory. From that day, it became a personal challenge for me to prove that Bengal would one day lead the world. I thank and respect the leaders of industry for their commitment and for taking part in this endeavour,” she added.

Banerjee assured that the Bengal Global Business Summit would be held after the elections, pointing to the SIR exercise currently underway.

Alleging widespread disinformation, she said, “Bengal is a peaceful state. Yet, fake news is being circulated to malign us. On social media, images from other states are being passed off as incidents from Bengal. These campaigns are driven by vested interests, with paid individuals spreading misleading videos to defame the state. I challenge them: what Bengal has achieved, no one else can. Show me one other place that provides 95 social security schemes for the poor, from birth to death.”

Highlighting industrial growth, Banerjee said West Bengal ranked first in MSMEs and was witnessing significant expansion in the IT sector. She added that work in the Deocha Pachami coal block project had begun and that it would generate one lakh jobs.

RPSG chairman Sanjiv Goenka, addressing the Business and Industry Conclave 2025, praised Banerjee’s “decisive leadership,” saying it had enabled rapid investment. He said the group had invested Rs 26,500 crore in recent years, including a proposed 5,000 MWh energy storage facility worth Rs 12,000 crore.