Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said despite Centre’s indifference in paying dues the state government and to carry on with the social welfare schemes, the government has announced 3 per cent DA to its employees.

Addressing the legislators at the Assembly, she said the state government could easily save Rs 20,000 crore by stopping the pension for the state government employees.

“But, I cannot be so inhuman. Many states have stopped giving pension to the employees. Teachers are getting pension on time. During the Left Front regime they had to run from pillar to post to get their pension. Now, things have changed since we came to power in 2011.”

Miss Banerjee added, “I am carrying on with the welfare schemes. I cannot do anything more and if severing my head makes you happy, go ahead. The employees are comparing the DA with their counterparts from the central government. The central government employees have different pay scales. One should be sensible. The state government has looked after its employees well, they should realise. We get Rs one lakh crore from the centre and to pay the DA we spend Rs 1.64 lakh crore,” she maintained.

Chandrima Bhatacharya, minister of state for finance said the Bengal government has waived off agriculture income tax for the farmers till March 2025.

“Our chief minister has come to power through peasants’ movements and she knows the sufferings of the farmers more than anyone else. She thanked the chief minister for taking such a decision.”

Mrs Bhattacharya said under the settlement dispute scheme, 28,697 cases have been disposed of and another 25,000 cases are pending where the interest and penalty will be waived. By the settlement of the cases the state government has earned Rs 594 crore, she said.

The Chief minister came down heavily on a section of the vernacular television channels and said, “There are some television channels that show concocted reports. Does any media has the guts to carry stories against the Prime Minister? The day they do it, rest assured the ED and CBI would be sent to the houses of their owners. The worst part is when the reports shown in the television are proved to be wrong, the television media does not apologise.”