Centre indulging in 'fiscal federal terrorism', alleges TMC amid feud over funds

Kolkata, Feb 4 (PTI) The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal on Sunday took on the BJP-led government at the Centre, alleging that it was indulging in "fiscal federal terrorism".

Addressing a press conference here, TMC MP Derek O'Brien rejected the claims that the West Bengal government did not provide utilisation certificates for central funds and alleged that the Centre was targeting the state as it was ruled by a party opposed to the BJP.

"This is fiscal federal terrorism... it is nothing but another attempt by the BJP to target West Bengal as they are failing to take on TMC politically," he alleged.

Another senior TMC leader, Kunal Ghosh, claimed that there has been no lack or deficit in the submission of utilisation certificates after the TMC came to power in the state in 2011.

"We cannot take responsibility for the period 2002-03 to 2010-11 when the Left Front government was in power," he added.

Amid a war of words with the BJP over the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on usage of government funds, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier said it was "full of lies" and also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue.

The BJP has seized upon the findings of the CAG report, alleging a staggering "mother of all scams" totalling approximately Rs 2 lakh crore in the Trinamool Congress-governed state.

Banerjee, who staged a 48-hour dharna demanding the release of West Bengal's "dues" from the Centre, has announced that her government would transfer funds directly to the bank accounts of 21 lakh MGNREGA workers in the state by February 21.

West Bengal BJP leader Sajal Ghosh questioned why the state government has not moved the court over the Centre allegedly not releasing its dues.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said the government must respond to the CAG's concerns, stating it has not released a white paper on this. PTI