Mamata To Meet PM Modi On Dec 20 Over Release Of 'Rs 1.15 Lakh Cr' Financial Dues To Bengal

Mamata previously said she has sought an appointment with PM Narendra Modi as she would be in Delhi from Dec 17-20.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on December 20 over the release of financial dues to the state, reported PTI citing officials. Mamata on Sunday claimed the Centre owed Rs 1.15 lakh crore to West Bengal, and the BJP-led NDA government should either release the funds or vacate office, reported PTI. She sought PM Modi's appointment for the same and now she will meet him on Wednesday (Dec 20).

"Funds to the tune of Rs 1.15 lakh crore due to Bengal will be sought... We will raise the slogan that (either) give the poor people's money or leave the chair," the chief minister said, while addressing a public meeting in Alipurduar, quoted PTI. She also announced 70 projects worth over Rs 93 crore.

"I will be in Delhi along with a few MPs. I have sought an appointment with the Prime Minister between December 18-20 to seek the release of our dues," Banerjee said in the meeting. The Bengal CM further said that her government could have included more people under its social welfare schemes had the Centre cleared the state's dues.

"... I always keep my promise, unlike the BJP, which had promised to reopen all closed tea gardens... I could have offered social schemes to more people if we had received our dues," the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said.

Elaborating on pending dues, she said Centre has held funds to the state including 100 days of work under MGNREGA, housing, and the state's share of GST collection. However, as per a PTI report, the BJP leadership in the state has often claimed that the release of funds to Bengal under MNREGA was suspended as the state government failed to submit accounts of monetary assistance provided earlier.