Why is the Trinamool Congress Criticizing the Centre for Withholding Funds from Bengal?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Trinamool Congress condemns Centre for fund withholding.
- Allegations of political motivations behind financial decisions.
- West Bengal faces severe floods and landslides.
- Mamata Banerjee criticizes the government's neglect.
- Federal assistance should be apolitical but is viewed as part of a political strategy.
Kolkata, Oct 22 (NationPress) The Trinamool Congress has sharply condemned the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to allocate necessary funds to West Bengal, a state grappling with severe floods and landslides earlier this month.
Through a social media statement, the Trinamool Congress pointed out that while other regions receive financial support after natural disasters, Bengal remains isolated and unsupported.
"The vindictive government has once again forsaken the citizens of Bengal during their time of need. While North Bengal suffers from devastating floods and landslides that have destroyed lives, homes, and livelihoods, the Centre remains silent, offering not a single rupee in relief for our state. Home Minister Amit Shah hurriedly allocated ₹1,950.80 crore to Maharashtra and Karnataka to address their flood emergencies, yet Bengal is left out in the cold," the party wrote in an online post.
The Trinamool Congress suggested that this decision is motivated by the BJP's defeat in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.
"The Modi-Shah duo is using federal funds as a means of retaliation for the setback they faced in Bengal in 2021. While the Centre distributed ₹13,603.20 crore from SDRF and ₹2,189.28 crore from NDRF to other states this year, Bengal is glaringly absent from this distribution. Political vengeance is being disguised as governance," it stated.
It is important to note that the Chief Minister of West Bengal and leader of the Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee, has also criticized the Centre for its step-motherly attitude toward Bengal, accusing the BJP of financial neglect despite the state facing floods, landslides, and other calamities.
Reiterating this viewpoint, the Trinamool Congress added: "This is a calculated act of financial strangulation, aimed at making ordinary people bear the consequences of their democratic choice. To the Bangla-Birodhi Zamindars in Delhi: your attempts to starve Bengal into submission will only strengthen our resolve. The unequal treatment you impose today will be returned at the ballot box with the same measure."