 "West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee")
Accusing the Centre of destroying federalism and pushing the states towards destruction, the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday ridiculed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking credit for development carried out by her government.
Addressing a mammoth rally in the city, the Trinamool Congress supremo also accused the Modi government of unleashing central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Department (ED) that, she said, led to over 80,000 industrialists leaving the country.
"The Centre is interfering in everything. It is destroying the federal structure. We too are an elected government and the Constitution has specified both the Centre and the state's roles. But they are interfering in our working and constantly threatening us," Banerje said.
"Because of the Centre's erroneous polices, the states have been pushed towards destruction. The Centre must remember that it is because of the states that the Centre is existing," said Banerjee.
Taking a jibe at Modi's pet schemes, including the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign, the Trinamool chief claimed that funding for most of the central schemes has either been stopped or the state's responsibilities increased.
"They Centre are doing nothing, but taking credit for everything through advertisements. It is the state government which is carrying out development, but the entire credit is going to Modi," Banerjee said.
"Modi keeps talking about 'Swachh Bharat', but where is the cleanliness? The cleanliness is only in the advertisements. When it comes to actual work, it is Bengal. Four of our districts are leading the country in cleanliness," she said.
"Their MPs are adopting only few villages under the Adarsh Gram Yojana, but it is being projected as if they have adopted all the villages. This is nothing but fooling the people," said Banerjee.
She also said that funds for at least 39 central schemes have been stopped while in 59 other schemes, the state's contribution has been enhanced from 10 to 90%.
"The Centre is not consulting us and preparing the schemes whimsically. In most of the schemes the state had to contribute just 10% funds, this has now been enhanced to 90%," she said.
The Chief Minister also expressed her displeasure over the Centre's decision to make Aadhaar cards compulsory for certain formalities.
"At least 800 villages in Bengal don't have banks. Over one crore people in Bengal don't have Aadhaar cards. How can they make it compulsory when one crore people in Bengal will not get pensions, subsidies or scholarship. Let them first set up banks and talk big," she said.
She said that 80,000 industrialist have been compelled to leave the country due to hounding by the CBI and the ED.
"I am saying this on record. If you don't believe me, go to the various embassies and find out. There you will realise that no black money came to India, rather it's the white money that has left the country," added Banerjee.
