Mamata Banerjee meets PM Modi, seeks urgent release of funds

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 5

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence today and pressed for immediate release of pending dues for the state.

Meeting comes days after Partha Chatterjee’s arrest

• Mamata’s meeting with the PM has set off political speculation
• The meet comes days after Partha Chatterjee’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate and confiscation of huge cash, gold ornaments and property documents from the residence of Arpita Mukherjee, his associate
• West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said meeting PM Modi would not help Mamata escape action against her. “There is going to be no escape for her this time,” he said

“I request urgent release of funds due to West Bengal for the implementation of schemes, including MGNREGA, PM Awas Yojana and PM Gramin Sadak Yojana. The dues from the central government on these schemes amount to over Rs 17,996 crore,” read the letter she submitted to PM Modi.

“A sum of Rs 1,00,968.44 crore for many development and welfare schemes is also due. With such large amount remaining outstanding, the state is facing extreme difficulty in running affairs and take care of people,” states the letter. Mamata has frequently accused the BJP-ruled Centre of discriminating against West Bengal and not releasing funds. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said, “Whenever a big scam comes to light in West Bengal, Mamata comes calling to PM Modi. She managed to get her nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s name excluded from the chargesheet filed by the CBI in the coal pilferage scam,” Chakraborty alleged.

On Sunday, the West Bengal CM is set to attend a NITI Aayog meeting, which will be chaired by PM Modi. Mamata, who never hides her contempt for the aayog, has skipped the council's meet on earlier occasions. Following the meeting between PM Modi and Mamata, the TMC reiterated its stance to abstain from Vice-President election, scheduled to be held tomorrow.

The West Bengal Chief Minister, who reached Delhi yesterday, also met President Droupadi Murmu.

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