TMC protests across Bengal over Central dues, BJP MLA supports demand
The Mamata Banerjee-led party on a number of occasions has targeted the Centre over the sufferings of the poor after it did not release funds for the 100 days work scheme.
3 min read
State minister Firhad Hakim along with other TMC leaders at the protest in Kolkata on Sunday. (Express File Photo) The Trinamool Congress on Sunday held demonstrations across West Bengal against the BJP-led government at the Centre for not clearing payments under several welfare schemes to the state government.
The party leaders alleged that the Centre has withheld funds on the advice of state BJP leaders.
“We are sitting here on a dharna from 12 noon to 4 pm to mark our protest against the Centre for depriving the state financially. The Centre is not releasing the state’s dues to the tune of Rs 1,17,000 crore. We want the Centre to stop doing politics and clear the dues. We also mark our protest against the violence in Manipur and Haryana,” said state minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim during his protest in Chetla area of the city.
The Mamata Banerjee-led party on a number of occasions has targeted the Centre over the sufferings of the poor after it did not release funds for the 100 days work scheme.
The party had initially planned to gherao the houses of BJP leaders in the state over their demand on Saturday. However, Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari had moved the High Court against the TMC’s decision. The court had restrained the TMC from going ahead with its programme. The party then changed the programme and the date of its protest.
Meanwhile, BJP’s Gangarampur MLA Satyendra Nath Ray took part in the TMC’s protest in Dakshin Dinajpur district, saying that he supports the demand. “I have come here to support the demand as I believe that the state should get its dues. The state government and the Centre must sit together and resolve the matter. This is the responsibility of elected governments,” he said.
The MLA, however, left the venue after making a brief speech. The TMC welcomed the BJP MLA’s move to join its protest. “We welcome this. They have understood that what we are saying is true. More such leaders will join us in the days to come,” said Firhad Hakim.
The BJP, on the other hand, said the party MLA has acted on his own accord. “It is true that we also want the state government to get its payments. We are not against this. But the TMC has to give details of expenditure to the Centre to get further payments. The MLA has expressed his views and acted on his own accord,” said BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya.
You May Like
