West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has received confirmation for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 20 in New Delhi during which she will seek release of the State’s financial dues from the Centre, Trinamool Congress sources said.
The meeting may take place at around 11 am on December 20, they added. It was learnt that the Prime Minister’s Office has scheduled the meeting at the Parliament building.
Banerjee is also expected to attend the I.N.D.I.A. bloc meeting in the national capital on December 19.
Banerjee last met the Prime Minister in August 2022 when she had highlighted concerns related to Bengal’s dues and other issues. According to sources, Banerjee is likely to reach Delhi on the evening of December 17. On December 18, she may preside over a Trinamool Congress Parliamentary party meeting and meet leaders of other Opposition parties. On December 19, she is likely to attend the INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi.
Banerjee, earlier this week, had claimed that the Centre owed Rs 1.15 lakh crore to Bengal on various accounts, including dues for 100 days of work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme.
Banerjee has been raising the issue of non-payment of Central funds for a long time from all fora. She has also repeatedly mentioned that the Centre was taking money under GST but refusing the State’s legitimate demands.
“They stopped the payment of MGNREGA workers. They stopped the payment for houses for the poor (PM Awas Yojana). I already sought the appointment of the Prime Minister…I will go along with some of our MPs. If he gives an appointment, I will go to demand our dues,” Banerjee had said on December 10.
Mamata and her party Trinamool Congress have been targeting the Narendra Modi-led Centre for blocking funds to various Central schemes such as MGNREGA and the National Health Mission. Earlier this week, while on a tour of North Bengal, Banerjee had expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged deprivation of Bengal.
