Supreme Court Ruling a Major Victory for West Bengal's Poor

The Supreme Court's decision to support the Calcutta High Court's directive on resuming MGNREGA in West Bengal is seen as a significant win for the state's poor and a setback for the BJP-led central government. Trinamool Congress leaders criticized the Centre for politically motivated deprivation of funds and touted the court's ruling as vindication.

The Supreme Court's endorsement of the Calcutta High Court's directive on MGNREGA is being hailed as a significant triumph for West Bengal's impoverished communities, challenging the central government led by BJP. The apex court dismissed the Centre's appeal against implementing the job scheme, citing no reason to interfere in the previous ruling.

Trinamool Congress leaders, including State Minister Pradip Mazumdar, accused the BJP government of depriving West Bengal workers as a form of political revenge, stemming from the BJP's electoral losses. Mazumdar highlighted discrepancies in the Centre's approach, noting that states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra faced no such funding cuts despite alleged financial irregularities.

Both Mazumdar and TMC MP Pratima Mondal emphasized the importance of justice and fairness, noting that the state had to cover wages from its coffers to mitigate hardships. This legal victory, they assert, reveals the BJP's neglect of West Bengal's poor and underscores a broader pattern of prejudice against the state's populace. With a 2026 assembly election on the horizon, Trinamool leaders anticipate the people's verdict.

(With inputs from agencies.)