West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to attend INDIA Bloc meet on December 19 & meet PM Modi on December 20

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will attend INDIA Bloc meeting on December 19 and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 20 for Bengal's dues in MGNREGA and other central schemes as she embarks on a four-day Delhi tour starting from today. Meanwhile, slamming BJP for its maligning campaign against Bengal over alleged Parliament security link, Banerjee said on Sunday there was a major security lacuna in the Parliament and the probe should be impartial .

While talking about the security breach, Banerjee, on her way to New Delhi today, said, "It was a grave security lapse in the new Parliament. This is a very serious matter. Let them [Centre] investigate the matter. We don't compromise our security... Our leaders raised their voices against this but they were suspended. Derek O'Brien, including 14 other Opposition MPs were suspended from the Parliament for raising this issue," Banerjee iterated.

Commenting on one of the arrested person Lalit Jha and his alleged Bengal connection, Banerjee said, "He has no connection with Bengal. He has some connection with Jharkhand or some other states, I am not sure about this. We want an unbiased investigation and we don't believe in making absurd comments. Unlike others, we don't make mindless comments."

Earlier, BJP Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had said that Bengal is the breeding ground of anti-national activities.

"Today, I am going to Delhi and I have a meeting with my party MPs tomorrow. I will attend the INDIA alliance meeting on December 19 and meet the Prime Minister at 11 am on December 20. I will meet him along with a few party MPs. Following this, I will return to Bengal. They [Centre] have stopped our funds and not disbursing our dues. Bengal is the only state whose funds have been withheld," Banerjee said.

Banerjee elaborated that funds have been stopped for "Banglar Bari" (PM Awas Yojana renamed by Bengal government) scheme. "We have finalised a list of 11 lakh beneficiaries but our funds have been withheld. They [Centre ] have done the same for the Grameen Sadak Yojana. Although these are Central Government schemes, they do not bear the whole cost. The amount is shared by both the Centre and the state government."

Banerjee also claimed that "they (Centre) have stopped the funds for the health department also because they want us to paint everything saffron."

Banerjee noted that Trinamool National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, along with other MPs and the leaders of our party have been protesting against this (fund blockade). "Even I had staged a dharna here and we staged a dharna in the Legislative Assembly as well."

Abhishek Banerjee, along with Trinamool MPs, had staged dharna in New Delhi followed by protests in front of Governor House in Bengal. The Trinamool delegation, led by Abhishek Banerjee, had submitted deputation to the Governor on the issue.

"I have met already met the Prime Minister thrice regarding our MGNREGA and other dues. I am going to Delhi to meet him and discuss it again."