Controversy Arises as West Bengal Excluded from MGNREGS Data

The Trinamool Congress accused the Centre of excluding West Bengal from data related to the MGNREGS, citing an anti-Bengal sentiment. Funds for the state have been halted since March 2022 due to compliance issues. TMC leader Derek O'Brien questioned the omission, sparking nationwide political discourse.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has accused the Centre of deliberately excluding West Bengal from a vital written response in the Rajya Sabha regarding the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The TMC called this an "anti-Bengal" move by the government.

Funds for West Bengal under the MGNREGS have been stopped since March 9, 2022, as per Section 27 of the MGNREGA, 2005. This halt is due to non-compliance with the Central government's directions, raising concerns about discrimination against the state.

In a query by Derek O'Brien, the TMC's parliamentary leader in the Upper House, regarding pending liabilities, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan provided data excluding West Bengal, further fueling the debate over the Centre’s "Bangla-virodhi" attitude, as articulated by TMC MP Ritabrata Banerjee.