Mediclaim relief happened because of me: Mamata Banerjee

Claiming credit for the new GST reforms, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said it was she who demanded the removal of GST on mediclaim, which paved the way for reforms, and not the central government. Although West Bengal would lose ₹20,000 crore due to the latest reforms, the chief minister said she is ready to accept it for the benefit of the common people.

"The Central government cannot take credit for the GST reforms. I wrote a letter demanding that medical insurance be exempted from GST. Many life-saving drugs and small items had GST. The central government has not spent a single penny on this. It has all come from the state's coffers. They have been taking the credit, but we have to bear the cost," Banerjee said.

Banerjee claimed that no compensation has been given by the Centre to Bengal or any other state for this loss while compensation will reach in an indirect way to the double-engine states. "Bengal is already deprived of funds. It is not getting any funds from the Centre for MGNREGA and other central schemes..."