New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MPs on Wednesday staged a symbolic protest in the Parliament complex, demanding the Union Government release a white paper on funds allocated to West Bengal under MGNREGS and PMAY.
The protest, held during the ongoing Winter Session, saw MPs from both Houses holding blank white placards and raising slogans, highlighting what they claim as delayed or denied central funding to the state.
White Paper Demand Highlighted by TMC Leaders
Speaking on the protest, Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev reiterated the party’s long-standing demand, citing a challenge issued by Trinamool national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in March 2024.
“In March 2024, Abhishek Banerjee challenged PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to release a white paper on allocations made to Bengal and invited an open debate. It has been 21 months, but the government has yet to provide clarity on what has been allocated,” said Dev.
She added, “Today, we protested with white papers in hand to remind the Modi-Shah government that Bengal continues to be deprived while false claims are made in Parliament to malign the state, simply because they cannot win elections in Bengal.”
Trinamool Flags Pending Central Dues
The TMC has repeatedly alleged that the Centre owes West Bengal around ₹2 lakh crore, including ₹52,000 crore under MGNREGS. MPs have used protests during the Winter Session to press for payments of these central dues.
According to the Ministry of Rural Development, as of March 8, 2022, when MGNREGS operations were halted in the state –
- Pending liability stood at ₹3,082.52 crore
- Wage component: ₹1,457.22 crore
- Material component: ₹1,607.68 crore
- Administrative component: ₹17.62 crore
In contrast, the Trinamool Congress claims the actual dues, including work already completed, are higher:
- Wage component: ₹3,700 crore
- Non-wage component: ₹3,200 crore
The party also estimated projected dues during the period the scheme was not implemented, totaling –
- Wage component: ₹28,400 crore
- Non-wage component: ₹16,400 crore
- Bringing the total alleged central dues to around ₹51,700 crore.
Previous Protests and Continuing Demands
This protest is part of a series staged by TMC MPs in the Parliament complex during the ongoing Winter Session. The party has consistently demanded payment of pending central funds for social welfare schemes, particularly MGNREGS and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), to ensure rural development and employment benefits reach West Bengal residents.
