Is the Bengal Government Misusing Central Funds for Police Modernization?

Kolkata, Aug 6 (NationPress) The Chief of the BJP’s Information Technology Cell and the party’s central observer for West Bengal, on Wednesday, accused the Mamata Banerjee-led state government of misappropriating Rs 120 crore of Central funds designated for the advancement of police modernization initiatives.

“Mamata Banerjee employs the so-called professional West Bengal Police force as her own Gestapo, yet she has utterly failed to implement the Police Modernisation Schemes — Rs 120 crore in central funds squandered over the past five years! Despite numerous requests and sufficient central allocations, the West Bengal Government has significantly faltered in executing vital national schemes aimed at enhancing law and order,” Malviya stated in a social media post made on Wednesday evening.

In his remarks, Malviya elaborated on the minimal funding received by the West Bengal government over the last five years under the Assistance to States for Modernization of Police (ASUMP) program.

He attributed this to the West Bengal government’s repeated failures to provide timely utilization certificates (UCs) and action plans as required by the scheme.

He pointed out that year after year, the Union government allocated funds for the program, but due to non-compliance and increasing unspent balances, the situation persisted. As of April 2022, Rs 69 crore under this scheme remained unspent, while Rs 39 crore was unutilized as of April 2023, and Rs 11 crore as of April 2024.

He further noted that a total of Rs 119 crore was effectively blocked from being utilized for the modernization of the West Bengal Police, which he claims is not due to bureaucratic delays but a deliberate failure in governance.

“The Trinamool-led Government is actively compromising police effectiveness, public safety, and national security by neglecting protocols that every other state adheres to. While other states are equipping and modernizing their police forces, West Bengal is sitting on unspent crores, crippling its internal security system,” Malviya added.

In another social media release posted on Wednesday evening, Malviya harshly criticized Mamata Banerjee for her comments earlier that day regarding her administration's decision not to take action against four election officers in the state, despite the Election Commission of India (ECI) directing their immediate suspension and filing of complaints due to their involvement in the wrongful addition of names to the electoral rolls of two Assembly seats. This should be seen as the commission's first warning to all involved in the electoral process in the state.

“From protecting criminals and corrupt officials to justifying fraudulent voter data manipulation in Moyna, Baruipur Purba, and beyond — Mamata Banerjee is no longer merely ignoring the issues. She is now spearheading the assault on fair and free elections. Despite explicit orders from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to file FIRs against EROs and AEROs for inserting fake voters, Bengal’s Chief Minister is refusing to comply. Instead, she openly defies the ECI,” Malviya’s statement regarding the matter stated.

According to him, such remarks from the Chief Minister represent not just defiance but a potential constitutional crisis. “The system is flawed. The law is ridiculed. Democracy is under siege,” Malviya concluded.