Addressing a press conference in the state capital on Sunday, Abhishek said, “We have given the call for a rally at Brigade Ground on March 10 because there has been an ongoing conspiracy to deprive Bengal of its rightful due for the past two years. Funds under MGNREGA, PM Awas Yojana, Gramin Sadak Yojana, Mid-day meals, and other schemes have been stopped.”
Calling the blocking of funds by the Centre an “anti-Bengal move”, he said, “Between 2014 and 2019, the BJP had two MPs in Bengal, whereas the Trinamool had 34. The Modi government was in power at the Centre. Nobody was able to block your money. However, immediately after 18 MPs were elected in 2019, Bengal’s funds were stopped because these elected leaders wrote to the central government calling for an economic blockade against Bengal,” he said.
“Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that the state government will pay all the dues without the Centre’s help. We opened help centres in 3,343 areas and asked people to register themselves if they haven’t received wages under the 100 Days’ work scheme. From February 26 to March 1, money will directly be credited to the beneficiaries’ accounts,” said the Diamond Harbour MP.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier announced that her government will pay wages to 21 lakh workers under NREGA, that have been kept pending by the Centre.
Abhishek said that the CM had held several meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve the issue. “Wages of 59 lakh workers were not cleared in the past two years and funds for building houses of 11.36 lakh people were not released by the BJP-led central government. This is why we call them bohiragoto (outsiders), Bangla-Birodhi (against Bengal), and zamindars,” he added.
He also hit out at the Centre over the recent allegations of Aadhaar card deactivations in the state. “The Centre owes Rs 1.60 lakh to the West Bengal government. However, in the last five financial cycles between 2018-2023, Narendra Modi’s anti-people central government collected Rs 4.65 lakh crore from Bengal in the form of taxes. Now, they are talking about cancelling Aadhaar cards. Tomorrow, will they cancel our citizenship through misinformation?” said Banerjee.
The TMC will be organising a rally at the iconic Brigade Ground after five years. he CPI(M) organised the last mega rally at the Brigade Ground in January.