Chief minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP-led Union government here today, blaming it for the for the fund crisis in the state. Attending a condolence programme for recent death of her minister, Subrata Saha, she held an administrative meeting in presence of the chief secretary, Harikrishna Dwivedi today at tribal-dominated Dhumar Pahar area, under Sagardighi Assembly constituency where Saha was the sitting MLA.

She also launched many people’s welfare programmes on the day. Banerjee, also the TMC chief, today articulated her vision of a new look of Murshidabad district. By two to three years, Murshidabad would be changed into a developed district, she said, adding, “Murshidabad has given me a lot. Almost of all the MPs and MLAs belong to our party. Now, it is up to us to return the favour.” The CM admitted that funds crunch stands in the way of development.

The central government has not cleared funds for 100 days’ works, housing scheme, rural road projects etc, she alleged. “Earlier, we used to collect taxes. Now, people pay GST to central government which is supposed to pay back the states’ share in time. It’s the taxpayers’ money which the Centre did not pay,” the CM said. She accused the BJP of conspiracy against the people of Bengal. If BJP thinks that it (govt. funds) is BJP’s own funds or landed property and keeps depriving Bengal, it will not be able to carry on like this any longer, she said. “Today you are in power but tomorrow, if removed from power, you will be a big zero”, the CM stated. “If the BJP plans to deprive the people of Bengal, we shall not spare.

If the whole world stands united to rob us of our food, it won’t be able to do that. It’s because we grow our own paddy, potato and vegetables,” she said demonstrating her confidence like never before. Sharing the dais with TMC MPs and MLAs, including Jakir Hossain, the Jangipur MLA whose house, office and business establishments were allegedly raided by income tax officials leading to recovery of huge cash worth several crores recently, Banerjee vehemently lent her support for Jakir Hossain.

She said, “Keep this in mind that Jakir is an industrialist and a tobacco baron. Legal action is fair if you find him guilty. But, it is not tenable if the action comes simply because he belongs to TMC.” She asked, “How do you overlook that there are around 20,000 bidi workers working under Jakir? Will you pay their wages in their bank accounts? How many bidi labourers have bank accounts?” “I know that Jakir is safe and sound.

He can deal with things on his own. There was an attempt to kill him earlier,” she said. Slamming the TMC party saboteurs, Banerjee remarked, “It is unfortunate that we posted someone here in charge of party affairs, who with malicious intention, set agencies like CBI, ED, IT on him (Jakir). The chief minister today was all praise for singer Arijit Singh. “Arijit is a very good singer. He is a pride of India. He wants to set up a medical college and hospital and he has asked me for help. I shall extend all possible help to him because he is very down-toearth and a man of Ma, Mati, Manush.”