Mamata writes to Modi about "steady reduction" of funds, BJP

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concern over "steady reduction" of central funds to the state and "inordinate delay" in their release.

The BJP called the letter a "political ploy to befool people" ahead of civic polls in the state.

In her letter, Banerjee asserted that despite the decline in central funds the state's GSDP grew by 10.4 per cent against the national GDP growth of 5 per cent in 2019-20.

"I write to you with deep concern regarding steady reduction of central funds to the state and also inordinate delay in release of funds to us from the Government of India," Banerjee wrote.

She said the state is yet to receive its share of central funds totalling Rs 50,000 crore till January, 2020.

This "extradordinary situation" is creating major difficulties in meeting obligations for the welfare of the state, she said.

The letter said, "You will, no doubt, appreciate that both the central and the state governments are expected to fulfil the constitutional obligations and the commitments to the people, so that respective governments run smoothly ... However West Bengal is being deprived of the huge outstanding dues."