“Over the last three weeks, Biman Bose is being increasingly vocal with allegations that the Centre is depriving West Bengal,” said WBPCC chief Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi at a press conference on Sunday. “If he publishes a white paper on how the Centre has done this, the people can benefit and the Congress can enlighten itself,” he added.
Stressing that the Centre’s help to the state was much greater when compared to other states, Dasmunsi said the state has received 20 per cent of the Rs 70,000 crore grant given to all states. “Besides, the amount given by the Centre for the revival of sick industries is also unusually high. IISCO has already been revived and Bengal Immunity is on its way to revival,” he said.
“I can tell you that more financial assistance will come for other industries as well,” he added. Claiming that the state did not have the necessary infrastructure to utilise the funds provided by the Centre, Dasmunsi said: “If Biman Bose calls us to respond to his allegations, we will tell the people how he is misleading them ahead of the panchayat elections.” He attributed the rise in prices to the government’s “shameless protection” of hoarders and its indifference to the food security issue.