Sitharaman slams Bengal over Centre job scheme for migrants

The West Bengal government has been opposing all pro-people policies of the Centre...six states have shared data on migrant workers, following their return. West Bengal, however, did not...

KOLKATA : Criticising the TMC dispensation in West Bengal for allegedly opposing pro-people policies of the Centre, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the state could not be made a beneficiary of the ‘Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan’, as it had not provi ded any data on migrant labourers.

Addressing a virtual rally for the people of Bengal, the Union finance minister also slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for “her reluctance to allow Shramik Special train services in the state”.

“The West Bengal government has been opposing all propeople poli c i es of t he Centre...six states have shared data on migrant workers, following their return. West Bengal, however, did not...

“Our prime minister launched a scheme, which covers 116 districts in the country, but none from Bengal could be

NIRMALA SITHARAMAN, Union finance minister

included as the TMC government didn’t bother to share any data with us. The ruling dispensation in Bengal doesn’t want any of the Centre’s welfare policies to be implemented,” she said.

Senior TMC l e aders had recently criticised the Union government for not making the state a beneficiary in the ‘Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan’, a job scheme for migrant labourers.

Sitharaman, however, appreciated the chief minister for her support to the central government on the issue of the Sino-india border standoff.

“I would credit her for one thing; at least on the Sino-india border i ssue, she ( Mamata Banerjee) stood by the Centre,” Sitharaman said.

Terming the TMC government as “anti-people”, Sitharaman said the state was informed about cyclone ‘Amphan’, 11 days in advance, but it failed to take adequate precaution.

Several lives could have been saved, if timely measures were taken, she said.

On West Bengal’s alleged unwillingness to bring back migrant labourers, Sitharaman said it was the only state that was not keen on taking back its workers. “The migrant labourers would never forget the treatment you (Mamata Banerjee) have meted out to them. She (Mamata) had said that these special migrant trains were bringing more coronavirus cases to the state. It was a heartless statement,” the Union minister said.