MGNREGA Dues Trigger War of Words in Bengal as Abhishek Banerjee Hits Back at Sitharaman's Dig | Exclusive

TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. (PTI)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s criticism of the West Bengal government over payment to MGNREGA cardholders has not gone down well with TMC’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who said the state was being denied its rightful dues.

Reacting to Sitharaman’s ‘Baap Ka Paisa’ comment, Banerjee told News18: “With all modesty and humility, I want to tell the FM that it’s not ‘Baap ka Paisa’ but rather ‘Paap ka Paisa’. Paap (sin) as a staggering Rs 4,65,000 crore was sucked from Bengal in the last five years in the form of direct and indirect taxes, denying the state its rightful dues.”

He added: “This money, earned from the sweat of common people, is squandered on opulent residences for top government officials, luxurious aircraft for government functionaries and peddling fake news.”

Reacting to Banerjee, BJP’s chief spokesperson Samik Bhartacharya said: “When people get rid of this government, only then will they get money for 100 days of work and the truth will come out about MGNREGA and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojona.”

Political experts said TMC wants to make the issue a poll plank for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to counter the BJP’s Sandeshkhali narrative.

Meanwhile, sources within TMC said apart from MGNREGA, the party will also try to project the farmers’ issue. TMC plans to start its Lok Sabha poll campaign from Brigade Parade Ground on March 10, just after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.