West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that in case the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regains power at the Center after the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, there would be an escalation in price of cooking gas cylinders. Unpleasant ₹2,000.
The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering during a government program in Jhargram district.
“We have distributed rice for free… If they (BJP) win again, gas price can be increased to Rs.1500-2000. For cooking you have to collect cow dung and wood again. This is the scenario of Delhi. They do not like West Bengal and its indigenous people,” said Mamata Banerjee, according to ANI.
She also issued an ultimatum to the BJP-led central government, stating that the houses under the Awas Yojana should be completed by April-end. She warned that if this deadline is not met, her government would start construction from May.
On Tuesday, Banerjee had set a deadline of April 1 for the central government to complete the construction of houses for the beneficiaries, failing which her government would build around 11 lakh houses for them.
Banerjee was referring to her government's actions to pay MGNREGA workers their arrears of wages, which she said had not been provided by the BJP-led central government. “I asked a young person if he got the money for the 100-day work scheme. He said he was making ends meet ₹30,000. This was the amount that the central government had not paid people like him for the past two years. We have paid 59 lakh people their dues,” Banerjee said.
Shajahan Sheikh arrest: BJP vs TMC
The Trinamool Congress leader, however, chose not to comment on the arrest of party leader Shajahan Sheikh, who is accused of sexual crimes against women and land grabbing in the Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district. Sheikh was arrested early on Thursday.
The BJP and the Trinamool Congress are currently locked in an intense political confrontation over the arrest of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, the main accused in the Sandeshkhali sexual assault case. The Trinamool Congress has taken action by suspending the controversial politician from the party for a period of six years.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said: “…I am happy that good things are happening”.
West Bengal BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh said, “We hope that the truth about Sandeshkhali will come to light through various kinds of agencies and through judicial intervention. The party of miscreants and criminals – the TMC – will face the consequences” .
On TMC's arrest, MP Santanu Sen said Shahjahan's arrest is a proof that Mamata-led Bengal government is following 'rajdharma' administratively. “We had taken action against Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Mallick, and similarly we took action against Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar and now Sheikh Shahjahan has been arrested. On one hand, accused leaders are openly moving in BJP-ruled states and on the other hand, Our government does not spare accused TMC leaders when there is evidence against them. BJP should learn 'rajdharma' from the TMC”.
-With input from authorities
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Published: Mar 1, 2024 08:00 IST