West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee revealed on Saturday that she has penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing her desire to schedule a meeting between December 18 and 20 during her visit to Delhi on December 17. The purpose of this proposed meeting is to address the longstanding issue of non-payment of dues owed by the Central government to West Bengal.
In her communication to the Prime Minister, the Trinamool Congress leader outlined her concerns regarding the non-disbursement of funds by the Centre to the state, particularly highlighting the outstanding amounts related to the 100-day work scheme. Banerjee, accompanied by some of her Members of Parliament, intends to discuss these financial matters with Prime Minister Modi during her visit to the national capital.
Furthermore, Banerjee is slated to participate in the meeting of the INDIA bloc in Delhi, a gathering called in the wake of the Bharatiya Janata Party's resounding victories in the assembly elections of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.
Expressing her frustration over the delayed payments, Banerjee remarked that despite the Centre withholding funds, the state has not curtailed any of its ongoing schemes. She specifically pointed out the cessation of funds to the health department, adding that even though West Bengal continues to contribute to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the corresponding share is not being remitted back to the state. This has prompted her to seek an audience with the Prime Minister to address these financial discrepancies and advocate for the rightful allocation of funds owed to West Bengal.
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