TMC ends dharna as Governor assures to raise demands

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday lifted its dharna outside Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on the fifth day of the demonstration after West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose assured to take up the ruling party’s demands, including that of unpaid MGNREGA wages, with the Central government.

TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee announced to withdraw the protest after a 30-member party delegation held a meeting with the Governor that lasted 20 minutes.

Soon after the meeting, party MP Sougata Roy said, “The meeting was good.”

Abhishek, however, said if they do not get a satisfactory reply on the status of “non-payment” of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) wages by October 31, the party will launch a fresh agitation from November 1 under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

“We are withdrawing the sit-in outside Raj Bhavan for the time being as a gesture of courtesy. We have told the Governor to let us know within two weeks (on the MGNREGA issue). I heard that the Governor has already left for Delhi. I hope he will work for a resolution of the matter,” he said.

The party delegation urged Governor Bose to fulfil his “solemn responsibility” by addressing the “persistent problem of unpaid wages of MGNREGA job card holders”, and to write to the central government for clarification on the issue, it is learnt.

Abhishek, MP from Diamond Harbour, said the Governor promised the party delegation that he would discuss the matter with the Centre within 24 hours.

“The five-day dharna is just a trailer of Bengal’s might. I promise the full picture on November 1 if the BJP fails to provide a constructive response on the state’s dues by October 31. The Governor must secure a written response within two weeks from the Centre as to why they are withholding the wages of 21 lakh workers for the last 2 years,” the MP said.

He added, “Our senior leaders asked me to call off the dharna even as I wanted to remain here for 24 more hours (till the end of the deadline given by the Governor). I want to tell the MGNREGA workers who are yet to receive their wages that we are asking for our rightful due. If we don’t get it, we will find some alternative. If (CM) Mamata Banerjee can give Lakshmir Bhandar to 2.12 crore women by spending Rs 37,000 crore, we can arrange Rs 8,000 crore for pending MGNREGA wages. But the Centre must admit in writing that they are not giving Bengal’s money or these 21 lakh workers haven’t worked under MGNREGA.”

On Saturday, the Governor had met a three-member TMC delegation in Darjeeling, assuring them of taking up the issue with the Centre. Abhishek, however, had maintained that their protest would continue till Bose came back to Kolkata and met their leadership at Raj Bhavan. The Governor’s office on Sunday intimated the party that he would meet them at Raj Bhavan at 4 pm on Monday after returning to Kolkata.

In its memorandum submitted to the Governor on Monday, the party said, “Is it not true that more than 21 lakh people, who devoted their labour and time to MGNREGA in the fiscal year 2021-22, have still not received their rightful dues, even after two years? They are yet to be paid even after all compliances have been adhered to. Why are their wages being withheld and the government is denying them their rightful entitlement, deceiving them in the process?”

It added, “Clause 29 of Schedule II of the MGNREGA clearly states that the workers must be paid within 15 days from the date of closure of the muster roll, or they are entitled to receive compensation for the delay at the rate of 0.05% per day from the 16th day onwards. This means that unpaid workers are entitled to not only their wages at the fixed rate, but also compensation for the delay for the past two years.”

It added, “Your Excellency, we look to you, as the governor of this state, to safeguard the interests of both the state and its people. Over the last two years, our sustained efforts to reach out to all levels of the Union government to recover the funds have been met with zero action and a ‘zamindari culture’ we disapprove of. It is our humble request to you to expeditiously address this matter by urgently writing to the Union government seeking answers to our specific questions.”