Trinamool Congress, BJP trade barbs over pending central funds

A war of words erupted between the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the BJP over pending Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) funds. TMC representative Mahua Moitra accused BJP minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti of avoiding a meeting with the TMC delegation.

Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti denied the allegations, asserting that she waited for the TMC delegation for 2.5 hours before proceeding with her prior commitments. The BJP leader further alleged corruption within the Mamata Banerjee-led state government, hinting at a potential scam involving a close associate of the MGNREGA funds.

The focal point of the ongoing dispute is the release of MNREGA funds, with the Bengal government accusing the Central government of deliberately withholding the funds. The issue prompted TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee to stage a rally in Delhi.

On the other hand, the BJP has accused the TMC government of siphoning off central funds meant for the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojna and MGNREGA.

Last month, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded the release of pending central funds to the state. She said the prime minister proposed that the state officials and Centre officials could sit together and clear the issues.