Mamata slams Centre for financial non-cooperation

Kolkata, Oct 29: Accusing the previous Left Front government of putting the state in a "debt trap", West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday hit out at the Narendra Modi government for "financial non-cooperation".

The BJP-led union government was not providing funds to the state for various central schemes, she said in her address at an event at Gopiballavpur in West Midnapore district.

"The central government thinks it is doing us a favour by giving us funds. But the truth is, we are not getting funds for various central schemes; rather, the Centre is taking away all our revenue towards servicing of state debts," said Banerjee.

"Not only are we made to pay for the sins of others (Left Front), we are yet to receive funds we sought for rehabilitating flood-affected people in West Bengal," said Banerjee.

The chief minister met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi in August to seek central assistance of Rs.21,000 crore as a rehabilitation package for 12 districts affected by floods.

With an eye on next year's assembly polls, the Trinamool Congress leader enumerated a host of schemes launched by her government and hit out at the opposition for undermining her government's achievements.

"Those who say that no progress is happening in Bengal, I want to tell them that the Gross State Domestic Product of the state was far higher than the country's GDP. Junglemahal, which once spilled blood, is now all about peace and development," she said.

"From agriculture to schools and colleges, from job creation to tourism, we are working for all-round development. I do not believe in politics. I believe in development and welfare of the people," added Banerjee.

IANS