Mamata slams Centre on providing less funds for projects

In a strong attack on the central government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the NDA regime was trying to "save money" by stopping and slashing funds for states' projects but had spent a huge amount on a suit for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She also said her party would launch a movement against the centre unless "interference" in the federal structure is stopped and gave three months time to central government to waive West Bengal's debt inherited from the Left Front rule.

"The central government has stopped and slashed funds for various state government projects. He (Narendra Modi) is trying to save money. What for will you save the money? You want to save the money for a coat and get a place in the Guinness Book?" she said.

The monogrammed suit that the Prime Minister Modi had put on during his meeting with US President Barack Obama last year was named in the Guinness Book of World Records as "the most expensive suit sold at auction" and the government said the money so garnered was earmarked for the clean Ganga mission. The suit had however attracted criticism from opposition.

Banerjee also alleged NDA government stopped giving funds. "They owe us Rs 1,700 crore under 100 Days' work. Centre used to give 90 per cent funds for ICDS. Now they provide only 10 per cent."

Slamming the centre on Aadhar card issue, she said: "Centre wants to make Aadhaar card mandatory. But they have not yet finished registration process. There is an order from Supreme Court which said Aadhaar is not mandatory."

She said the Aadhaar must not be made mandatory for scholarships until 100 percent registration was achieved.

--IANS

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