West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that if the Union government does not clear dues that it owes to the state, it may have to stop paying the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Banerjee alleged that the Narendra Modi government was not releasing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) funds.
She called upon Adivasis in the state to protest it while attending a tribal outreach programme in Jhargram.
“The 100-day job guarantee scheme funds are mandatory. In spite of that, a year ago, I went and met the Prime Minister regarding this. Should I fall at your feet and beg?” she asked.
“They [Union] threaten to stop funds to Bengal, we can also stop GST. You cannot collect taxes here and withhold our legitimate dues. You are denying the people of Bengal what is their due,” the Chief Minister said.
She had said that the Union owes Rs 17,996.32 crore in funds for schemes like MGNREGA, Awas Yojana and Gramin Sadak Yojana.
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