Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated new routes in Kolkata Metro last week. Following the launch, he spoke at a public meeting in Dum Dum. Politically targeting the Trinamool government in the state, the words ‘theft’ and ‘thief’ were heard several times in PM Modi’s speech.
On Tuesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned his ‘adjectives’. Raising her voice from an administrative meeting in Burdwan, she asked, “I respect your chair, but I have to ask, why did the Prime Minister call Bengal a thief?” Mamata’s counter-reply was, “Your double engine government in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra is the biggest thief. You hold meetings with thief chiefs.”
Centre alleges state govt steals funds sent for welfare of poor
On the one hand, the ruling party in the state is vocal about the central government’s deprivation of Bengal, on the other hand, the centre alleges that funds sent to the state disappear with the state government’s indirect support and is not used for welfare of the poor. The centre has repeatedly alleged fund theft by the state government in response to the state’s allegation that centre does not send funds to Bengal. When the prime minister came to inaugurate three new metro lines in the city last week, he reiterated the same. This issue is a big weapon for both the parties – Trinamool Congress and BJP in the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections 2026.
State alleges deprivation from Centre
On Tuesday, during an administrative programme in Burdwan, Mamata Banerjee said, “Why did you call Bengal a thief? The thief is your double-engine government. And you come to Bengal like migrants during elections. You come and hold meetings with the thief leaders.” The Chief Minister through her speech took a jibe at the Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, who was once in the Trinamool.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the Centre again on the issue of deprivation during her speech on Tuesday. She alleged that since the money for central projects was stopped in Bengal, those projects are being continued from the state treasury. The Chief Minister said, “The Centre sent 186 delegations. All their questions have been answered. Despite this, there are allegations of transparency. Bengal is being given zero. Can this be accepted?”