Mamata Banerjee seeks debt restructuring of West Bengal

New Delhi, July 27: Seeking loan waiver and adequate Central funds for West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here.

"Government should do some plan to restructure the debt. Otherwise all states in the country will be heavily debt-ridden," Mamata said outside Parliament after meeting PM.

Currently, Bengal is facing about Rs 2 lakh crore debt burden. "We have Rs 53,000 crore budget and we have to pay Rs 60,000 crore for loan payment. This is not possible," she said.

Discussing various issues concerning the state, she also raised the flood situation in the state. "State is witnessing heavy rains causing road blocks and damage. Monsoon is on and it will continue for two more months," she said.

Referring to the central flood relief and disaster fund, she said "Last time we had demanded about Rs 9000 crore but the Centre gave only Rs 600 crore and that also in phases."

Asked about Modi's response, she said "PM said I will look into it." The meeting in the Parliament House complex lasted for about 15 minutes.

Before meeting the Prime Minister, Mamata, who is also the chief of Trinamool Congress, met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over lunch at his residence. Submitting a list of demands to Finance Minister she raised the issue of Aadhar card issue.

She reportedly maintained that only 40 per cent people in West Bengal have Aadhar cards and unless it is 100 per cent it should not be linked to DBT.

Asked about her meeting with Finance Minister she said "I discussed economic development issue with him." On Aadhar issue, she also directed party MPs to raise it strongly at all fora and asked the government "not to destroy the fundamental rights of the people."

PTI