Right ahead of the party's protests in New Delhi next month against the alleged withholding of funds by the Centre, West Bengal's Trinamool Congress is all set to send over 50 lakh letters from people. As per media reports, the party will send letters to Union Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh.
What is the protest about?
TMC accused the BJP-led NDA government of withholding Rs 15,000 crore of dues to Bengal under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Gramin Awas Yojana.
"West Bengal stands united against the central government's injustice, determined to claim what's rightfully ours. People's power reigns supreme in democracy," TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said on X, formerly Twitter.
People of Bengal are raising their voice against "injustice", and those adversely impacted have written letters to the PM, seeking their rightful dues", the party said on the microblogging site.
"We have people, who are yet to get their dues even after working under the MGNREGA, to write these letters. Till now, we have collected more than 50 lakh letters. They have all sought the release of dues to Bengal under the rural jobs scheme. We are sending these letters to the offices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Giriraj Singh," a senior TMC leader said.
TMC delegation to meet Minister Giriraj Singh
A TMC delegation is scheduled to meet the Union Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh on October 3 and place before him the issue of "non-release of dues" under the MGNREGA, Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya had said on September 23.
The TMC had planned to stage protests in New Delhi for dues under the rural jobs scheme to Bengal.
The ruling party in the state had claimed that despite several requests to the Delhi Police, it was denied permission to hold demonstrations in the national capital.
