Deliberate misinformation campaign to delay clearing MGNREGA dues to Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

In a statement, the ministry had said funds for West Bengal 'have been stopped from March 9, 2022' as per provisions of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 due to non-compliance of directives of the central government.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged that a “deliberate disinformation campaign” is in place about the Centre’s release of funds to the state, under the 100-day rural job scheme. 

The 15-day extended deadline placed before the Centre by Banerjee on Wednesday for resolving the fund-freeze issue has apparently got pushed further with a party meeting – that was to take a call on a future campaign – scheduled for November 16 deferred to 23rd of the month.

A day after warning the BJP-led central government of a fresh agitation, the chief minister on Thursday took to X and stated, “I detect a deliberate disinformation campaign regarding Central release of funds in MGNREGA.”

Banerjee mentioned that despite several intense “movements” taken up, and submission of “detailed factual records and accounts”, the Centre “has been dragging its feet”. The central government has not released any withheld fund, she said. 

“The misinformation is being spread to befool people and to spread confusion, and to malign the state government,” Banerjee stated. “We need, deserve, and are entitled to our rightful share. We continue to be unfairly deprived, despite leaking of false information here and there.”

The Trinamool Congress, meanwhile, has stated that the meeting announced for November 16 by the Trinamool chairperson on Wednesday is being postponed. “Owing to the World Cup semi-finals that falls on the same day, the meeting is being rescheduled. The meeting will now be held on 23rd November 2023 (Thursday) at Netaji Indoor Stadium,” the Trinamool mentioned on its official X-handle.

Banerjee, on Wednesday, had said that party’s representatives, including the elected members, and ones from rural bodies, will congregate at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata to take a call on the future course of action. Banerjee’s 15-day ultimatum to the Centre followed an earlier deadline of October-end that had been set by party MP Abhishek Banerjee.

“With a firm resolve, we will fight for the rights of the people of Bengal. We will not give up until the BJP-led Central Government releases the rightful dues of our workers,” the party said on Thursday. The Trinamool sources added that at the Bijoya Sammelani meetings (post-Durga Puja gathering) held across the state, party’s leaders assured the people that “the movement for their Mgnrega dues will continue till the end”. The chief minister called on Governor CV Ananda Bose in the evening, but termed the same as a courtesy call.