Mamata Says Will Clear Dues Of 21 Lakh MGNREGA Workers By Feb 21, Accuses Centre Of 'Starving' Bengal

Mamata Banerjee asserted that TMC would go "all out" for Lok Sabha polls, expressing confidence that a collective effort by Opposition parties could lead to downfall of BJP government at the Centre.

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that her government is set to transfer funds to the bank accounts of 21 lakh MGNREGA workers in the state by February 21, news agency PTI reported.

Her announcement came after she sat on a 48-hour dharna on Friday in front of the BR Ambedkar statue in Kolkata, where she demanded the release of "unpaid dues" from the Centre for various social welfare schemes. CM Banerjee also hinted at another announcement regarding unreleased funds for the Awas Yojana, PTI reported.

“We do not want to beg from the BJP nor do we want their alms. By February 21, we will transfer money to the bank accounts of 21 lakh workers who did not get the money from the central government even after working for the 100-day work scheme (MGNREGA) in the last three years. This is my first step,” PTI quoted the Trinamool Congress supremo as saying.

Addressing the gathering, CM Banerjee accused the central government of attempting to “starve” Bengal, vowing not to let them succeed. “Have faith in me. I will try to slowly clear, step by step, those funds which are still stuck,” the news agency quoted her as saying.

Stressing her commitment to the welfare of Bengal, CM Banerjee said her government will keep up the fight for those who are “deprived” in the state.

“This fight is for the people who have been deprived. We will continue our fight and not let a single poor person be deprived in Bengal. Till I am alive, I will fight for you people,” PTI quoted CM Banerjee as saying.

She further asserted that TMC would go "all out" for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, expressing confidence that a collective effort by all Opposition parties could lead to the downfall of the BJP government at the Centre.

"I will play all out and win all out. If all states, all frontal organisations, and all regional and national parties come forward, then I think the fall of the BJP is inevitable," PTI quoted her as saying.

Notably, former India cricketer and politician Kirti Azad, along with social activist Yogendra Sharma, visited Banerjee at the dharna site, showing solidarity with her cause, on Saturday.