The state government has accused the Centre of withholding funds under welfare schemes like MGNREGA and the PM Awas Yojana.

Addressing an election rally in Mainaguri in Siliguri, Abhishek said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a public meeting in Siliguri a few days ago. I want to ask him and BJP leaders how many meetings did they conduct for the welfare of people in the nearby districts after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls?”

Citing a BJP tweet where it posted that the Centre had disbursed Rs 5.36 lakh crore to Bengal over the past five years, Abhishek said, “The BJP has given advertisements in newspapers today stating that they have given money to Bengal. I tweeted this morning that if they can produce a whitepaper on the funds disbursed under MGNREGA and PM Awas Yojana, I will debate with them wherever they wish.”

“They tweeted at 12.17 pm saying they would send a BJP worker. Within eight minutes, I asked them to come to Maynaguri with facts. Is anyone from the BJP here? No! They are not here because they are scared that their lies will be caught.”

“If they can produce a whitepaper stating they have given even 1 paisa in three years, I will leave politics. While they are asking for papers from others to prove their citizenship, why can’t they produce papers to prove that they released funds to Bengal?,” he added.