West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the central government, accusing it of withholding funds for key welfare schemes and forcing the state to shoulder the financial burden alone.
Speaking at a government programme in Jalpaiguri during her North Bengal tour, Mamata referred to the renowned director Satyajit Ray’s Bengali film Gupi Gain, Bagha Bain.
“I’m not a magician who can make money fall from the sky. It’s not like the film,” she said.
Taking the stage to distribute services and lay foundation stones for new projects, the Chief Minister stated, “The Centre owes Bengal ₹1.75 lakh crore. For four years, they haven’t released funds for housing, village roads or the 100-day work scheme (MGNREGA). Still, we’re doing it all from our own treasury.”
Mamata highlighted that despite the Centre’s non-cooperation, the state has continued to implement its own versions of these schemes—‘Banglar Bari’ for housing, a separate rural roads initiative, and an alternative to the 100-day work programme—all funded solely by the state government.
Issuing a pointed message to critics, Mamata remarked, “Many people don’t understand the value of teeth even when they have them. Don’t insult the government or disrespect Bengal by abusing Mamata Banerjee.”
Her comments came amid heightened political tensions and growing concerns over the state’s financial capacity to maintain social welfare spending.
Although she refrained from commenting directly on the ongoing dearness allowance (DA) row, her remarks appeared to allude to the recent Supreme Court directive mandating that the state pay 25 per cent of DA arrears to employees by June—an estimated sum of ₹12,000 crore. Her statement about not being a magician was seen as a subtle reference to the financial strain imposed by the verdict.
During the court hearings, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the state, warned that paying 50 per cent of the DA dues could "break" Bengal’s finances. The apex court eventually ordered the state to pay 25 per cent within six weeks.
From the Jalpaiguri event, Mamata announced that the second instalment of the Banglar Bari housing scheme would begin disbursement to 12 lakh beneficiaries immediately. The first instalment had been paid last December.
She also declared that another 16 lakh beneficiaries would receive the first instalment in December this year, with the second instalment scheduled for May 2026—just after the next Assembly elections.
The Banglar Bari project alone is projected to cost the state ₹14,400 crore.
Responding to opposition criticism over the recent business conference held in Siliguri, Mamata retorted, “Some people ask how much investment came in. Why should I tell you? Who are you to demand that?”
She cited massive investments in projects such as Deucha Panchami, a coal venture in Birbhum district, as evidence of developmental progress.
The Chief Minister also criticised the Centre’s tax policies. “They introduced GST but don’t give states their fair share. At the same time, they collect road taxes and trade taxes. All this has to stop,” she said.
Adding a political edge to the day, former BJP MP John Barla, who recently joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC), shared the stage with Mamata. The Chief Minister will conclude her North Bengal tour with a high-level administrative meeting at Uttarkanya on Wednesday before returning to Kolkata on Thursday.
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