Attacking Mamata Banerjee government over its denial of central funds under the PM-Kisan scheme, Home Minister Amit Shah retaliated in Bengal today in an opposition assault on the farm law issue. Ms. Banerjee's government declined to introduce the direct cash transfer system for farmers.
Mr. Shah at the end of his two-day visit to the state during an interaction with the media said that the Bengal government supports the protests by the farmers, but ironically the same farmers of Bengal do not receive the benefits. He also added that the State farmers did not receive money provided by PM Modi.
Ms. Banerjee, one of the BJP-led government's toughest opponents, has been vociferous against farm laws, saying the BJP should either revoke the farm laws or back down.
The president of the Trinamool Congress has consistently said she supports farmers' demands. In a series of tweets, if the laws are not withdrawn, she has also vowed to initiate nationwide protests.
Mamta Banerjee said in one of the tweets that the anti-farmer bills must be dropped by GOI. The government of Bengal will agitate throughout the state and the nation if they do not do so immediately. She along with her party members has been firmly opposing these anti-farmer bills from the very beginning.
The BJP is now retaliating against West Bengal's failure to provide farmers with direct cash benefits. The state had demanded that the money be routed through it - i.e. about 6,000 annually to each farmer. The Centre had refused, saying that if direct benefit transfer were to route money through state governments, it would kill the spirit.
From BJP Chief JP Nadda to West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar- all have criticized the Chief Minister in recent days. Mr. Shah has indicted the Chief Minister on other counts too. He said the government of the Trinamool Congress had ruined the economy of the state.
Mr. Amit Shah stated that the main aim of the government is to give back Bengal its title of Shonar Bangla back. West Bengal contribution for the GDP since independence had always been one-third, but after that it was gradually decreasing .
The contribution of Bengal to industrial development was 30 percent right after independence. Now it's 3.5 percent. Bengal was one of the wealthiest states in the world in 1960. Bengal produced 70 percent of pharmaceutical goods in the 1950s. Now it's only 7 percent. Bengal jute mills that brought jobs have all been closed.
He also responded positively with the entry of a significant number of former leaders of the Trinamool Congress into the party. Without naming Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee's nephew whose rise within the party has triggered a storm Mr. Shah said that he warmly welcomes Suvendu Adhikari to the BJP party and also said that this happens when dynastic politics are at stake.
