Bengal could not be made beneficiary of migrants’ job scheme as TMC govt didn’t give data: Sitharaman

By: PTI | Kolkata 

Posted: June 28, 2020 6:18:50 pm

Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman.

Criticizing TMC’s dispensation in West Bengal for allegedly opposing the Center’s pro-people policies, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday that the state could not be a beneficiary of the ‘Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan’ since he had not provided any data. in migrant workers.

Addressing a virtual rally for the people of Bengal, the Union’s finance minister also criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for “her reluctance to allow Shramik’s special train services in the state.” “The West Bengal government has opposed all pro-people policies of the Center … Six states have shared data on migrant workers after their return. West Bengal, however, has not …

“Our prime minister launched a plan that covers 116 districts in the country, but none of Bengal could be included, as the TMC government did not bother to share any data with us.” The Bengal dispensation does not want any of the Center’s welfare policies to be implemented, “he said.

Senior leaders of TMC had recently criticized the Union government for not making the state a beneficiary in the “Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan”, a work scheme for migrant workers.

However, Sitharaman thanked the chief minister for her support of the central government on the issue of the border confrontation between China and India. “I would give him credit for one thing; at least on the border issue between China and India, she (Mamata Banerjee) was at the Center, “Sitharaman said.

Calling the TMC government “anti-people,” Sitharaman said the state was informed of Cyclone “Amphan” 11 days in advance but did not take adequate precautions. Several lives could have been saved if appropriate measures had been taken, he said.

Given West Bengal’s alleged unwillingness to bring migrant workers back, Sitharaman said it was the only state that was not interested in recovering its workers. “Migrant workers will never forget the treatment that you (Mamata Banerjee) have given them. She (Mamata) had said that these special migrant trains brought more cases of coronavirus to the state. It was a ruthless statement, “said the Union minister.

The issue of bringing migrant workers back to West Bengal has become a major political dispute in recent weeks with the BJP and the Center alleging that the state government is unwilling to recover them, a claim rejected by the TMC dispensation.

Criticizing the state government for “mishandling” the COVID-19 crisis in the state, Sitharaman also said that the inter-ministerial core team that visited the state to assess the situation had to face several obstacles.

Indicating that the Citizenship Law (amendment) will be an important electoral board in the assembly’s polls, Sitharaman demanded that Banerjee explain the reasons for opposing the legislation.

“This law was introduced to help refugees, what is the harm in it? Mamata didi needs to clarify why she opposes the AAC, which is wrong in granting citizenship to refugees, “he said.

Calling the Trinamool Congressional (TMC) government in the state a “complete failure,” Sitharaman said the people of West Bengal should give the BJP the opportunity to take the state to new heights.