Last Update: February 04, 2023, 20:49 IST
Kolkata [Calcutta]India
Union Minister Smriti Irani. (file photo)
The remarks come in the backdrop of the TMC government accusing the central government of imposing an “economic blockade” on the state.
Kolkata: Union Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday denied the allegations of Trinamool Congress that the Center is not providing funds to the West Bengal government. Irani instead claimed that the funds given by the Center were not being utilized by the TMC government in West Bengal.
The remarks come in the backdrop of the TMC government accusing the central government of imposing an “economic blockade” on the state.
“Everyone needs to know the real truth behind the allegations that the TMC government is making. My ministry had provided funds to the Bengal government in the women and child welfare sector. That money is still lying, it has not been spent on the welfare of the women and children of the state,” said Irani, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development.
“Before making baseless allegations, the state government should explain why they failed to spend the money. Around Rs 260 crore is lying unutilised,” he said.
Irani also claimed that there were irregularities in the utilization of funds allocated under the ICDS scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) in West Bengal.
“The West Bengal government had spent the funds allocated under PMMVY schemes in other projects run by the state. We then asked the state government why the rules were flouted, and the state government gave us in writing that they would follow the guidelines in future,” Irani said.
Reacting to Irani’s allegations, senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh termed it as ‘baseless’.
“The allegations are baseless. BJP leaders and Union ministers are trying to mislead the people.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)