The Parliament witnessed heated exchanges on Tuesday as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Centre locked horns over the non-disbursal of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) funds to West Bengal. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, accused the central government of withholding funds for the fiscal years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, labeling the move as discriminatory against the state’s people.
“Why has West Bengal been excluded? Is it because you don’t like Bengalis?” Banerjee charged, questioning the lack of consultation and alleging bias against the state.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan countered these allegations, citing violations of MGNREGA guidelines by the West Bengal government. He accused the state of misusing funds, registering non-beneficiaries, and fragmenting large projects to favor specific individuals. Chouhan also alleged that the state government had renamed central schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, to claim credit, which violates federal norms.
“These irregularities demonstrate that funds were misappropriated, and benefits did not reach the intended recipients. Under such circumstances, allocations can be legally withheld,” Chouhan said, defending the Centre’s stance.
Dismissing these claims, Banerjee demanded that the Centre act against any proven misconduct instead of penalizing the entire state. “For over a year, you’ve alleged irregularities but taken no action. Isn’t denying funds to Bengal a violation of Article 14, which ensures equality before the law?” he questioned.
The fund freeze under MGNREGA has become a contentious issue, with the TMC asserting that it is a political move targeting West Bengal, while the Centre maintains that the funds have been withheld due to non-compliance with the scheme’s provisions.
The debate underscores growing tensions between the Centre and the West Bengal government, with the issue now at the forefront of national politics.
 and the Centre locked horns over the non-disbursal of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) funds to West Bengal. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, accused the central government of withholding funds for the fiscal years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, labeling the move as discriminatory against the state's people.){kind=link}