BJP interfering in federal structure, TMC complains to Prez

Trinamool Congress today submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee, accusing the BJP-led central government of interfering in the federal structure of the country and pursuing a "vindictive" and "step-motherly" attitude towards the state.
A delegation of 10 TMC MPs from Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha today met Mukherjee at Raj Bhavan here and handed over the memorandum to him.
"Today we met President Pranab Mukherjee and submitted a memorandum, where we have clearly stated about the interference of the central government in the federal structure of the country and the state," TMC leader in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who led the delegation, said.

"We have also told him about the vindictive and the step-motherly attitude that the Centre is pursuing towards West Bengal," Bandyopadhyay told reporters after the meeting.
He also charged the Centre with withholding funds of various developmental projects.
"The Centre is not releasing the funds worth Rs 1,700 crore. It is trying to interfere in various development projects. In most of the cases, except two projects, it is issuing circulars and diktats on how the project is to be implemented and how the money is to be spent. We condemn it. Our Country has a CAG to look into all those aspects. The Centre is conspiring against the state government," he said.

"The President said he will look into the matter," said Bandyopadhyay who was accompanied by Mukul Roy, Abhishek Banerjee, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Subrata Bakshi and others.
The TMC's decision to submit a memorandum to Mukherjee comes days after party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of bulldozing the federal structure and running a Presidential form of government.