Accusing the Centre of double standard over release of funds for flood relief, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that while the Centre acted within seven days in the case of Tamil Nadu, the State has not got a single penny even months after braving the floods.
Addressing a public rally at Arambagh in Hooghly district, Ms. Banerjee said that she was not envious of the others and was happy that the other States were getting funds. She, however, asked: “Are lives in Bengal less precious?”
The remarks made by Chief Minister come after the Centre sanctioned Rs. 940 crore to deal with the flood situation in Tamil Nadu.
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Nearly 100 people had died and several districts of south Bengal were flooded in August 2015. Ms. Banerjee had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi then seeking funds for flood relief.
The Trinamool Congress chairperson also urged the government at the Centre to rise above politics and work for the people in the country.
“Is it that Tamil Nadu is more friendly and West Bengal is not?” she asked.
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Raising questions over the Swachh Bharat cess imposed by Centre, Ms. Banerjee said while others are taking credit for it, the real work is done in Bengal. “Three of out four top districts under Swachh Bharat are from West Bengal. Hooghly is one of them,” the Chief Minister said.
Debt burdenMs. Banerjee once again raised the issue of debt burden of the State. Without proper flow of funds, how was it possible to implement various development projects in the State, she asked.