Finance Minister Sitharaman accuses TMC of withholding central schemes benefits for political gains

Central Schemes withheld: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made serious allegations on Tuesday, accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Bengal of deliberately depriving the poor of the advantages offered by central government schemes for political reasons. Sitharaman further asserted that issues such as a “poor law and order situation” and “corruption” were causing the state to stand out under the rule of the Trinamool Congress.

Highlighting what she described as “economic mismanagement” by successive state governments in West Bengal, Sitharaman remarked that the culture of syndicated crime and extortion had become synonymous with the state. She emphasized, “It is corruption, poor law and order, and extortion that are making the state stand out under the TMC rule.”

Responding to TMC’s allegations of the Union government withholding MGNREGA dues for Bengal, Sitharaman questioned the feasibility of releasing funds “when there are 25 lakh fake job card holders.” She firmly stated, “It is public money, not private property.”

In 1947 when India attained independence, West Bengal’s share in the country's total industrial production was 24%. By 2021, it had declined to 3.5%.
Every time I read these numbers for Bengal, my heart sinks with grief.

Many industry leaders have gone out of the state. The… pic.twitter.com/leIb1PggvB

— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) February 27, 2024

TMC withholding central schemes

In her address at a program organized by ‘Khola Hawa,’ a cultural group affiliated with the BJP, Sitharaman expressed concern over the denial of central government schemes, including Ayushman Bharat, to the common people for political reasons. She questioned the TMC, saying, “Why are you (TMC) denying something to the common people for the sake of politics? Why are you denying Ayushman Bharat to the poor?”

Sitharaman reiterated the commitment of the BJP-led central government to make eastern India the growth engine of the country. She emphasized the need for rigorous implementation of various Union government schemes to ensure that farmers and fishermen benefit from them, pointing out the importance of not hindering these initiatives for political gains.

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