Kolkata: In a rare solidarity to corner the NDA at the Centre, ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and Opposition Left parties and Congress today came together on alleged dilution of MGNREGA and other issues.
Trinamool, Left parties and Congress also jointly moved a resolution in the Assembly expressing concern over attempts made by communal forces to create disturbances in the state.
The issue-based convergence by these parties in the assembly against the Centre came on the last day of the winter session. The development prompted the lone BJP legislator in the House Samik Bhattacharya to allege that these parties have set up a “anti-Modi mancha” on the floor of the House.
While participating in the discussion on the resolution regarding MNREGA, Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim alleged that as BJP could not reap substantial electoral benefits in the polls in West Bengal, the NDA government has stopped sanctioning funds for several projects under JNNURM.
“We support this motion opposing curtailment of MGNREGA projects. The Centre is giving away tax rebates to corporates and curtailing funds for 100-day work scheme. This has to stop,” said Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Surya Kanta Mishra, who is from CPI(M).
Congress member Manas Bhuniya said the move to curtail MGNREGA projects is done with a political ploy to erase out the party and its good work. “I would request the BJP government to fight Congress politically. It should not make the poor people of rural India suffer by curtailing MGNREGA,” he said.
BJP member Bhattacharya dismissed the allegations saying, “We don't believe in partisan politics on the issue of development. If it is needed, we along with other political parties will go to Delhi to appeal for the cause of Bengal.
But this motion was brought on the basis of apprehensions and media reports.” The motion was adopted by the House by voice vote. Participating in a discussion on the resolution under Rule 185, Hakim wondered why Muslims as a group were being called terrorists.
“Not all Muslims are terrorists. There has been a growing tendency to dub Muslims as terrorists,” he observed. The resolution said that there was attempt to disturb communal amity and peace by communal forces and noted with concern that there were also attempts to communalise the issue following reports of arms training camps in some parts of the state.
The BJP MLA, who staged a walkout from the Assembly, said appeasement politics in the name of secularism should stop.
