Now Mamata seeks Ficci's help to set finances right

After futile efforts to wrest a financial package from the Centre during the past United Progressive Alliance-II and present National Democratic Alliance regime, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday turned to an industry body to plead for the state's case.

"After coming to power three-and-half years back, we have got political freedom and no economic freedom.

"So I request you to please raise your voices before the Centre," Banerjee said in Kolkata at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s National Executive Council.

She said that her government after 35 years of Left rule had for the first time implemented the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act to discipline the state's finances.

"The earlier government (Left Front) did not do that.

“But in spite of that, the Centre was taking away money from the exchequer for the legacy which we have inherited.

"If somebody commits a mistake, why should we be punished? This is thwarting the development of the state in every way," she said.

West Bengal, Banerjee said, cannot be compared with other states and despite all hurdles it had an increased revenue generation over the last three years from Rs 21,000 crore (Rs 210 billion) to Rs 40,000 crore (Rs 400 billion).

"But accrual to the state exchequer is negative because the Centre immediately takes away the money," she said.

Image: Mamata Banerjee; Photograph: Reuters