TMC doesn't utilise funds given by Centre: Rahul

Congress’ Rahul Gandhi on Thursday slammed the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, alleging that it only worked for the party and had failed to usher in change.

“We want to include and work for the poor, but the government here works for the party. If you are not a Trinamool worker then you do not get any benefit in the state,” Gandhi told an election rally in the Ghatal constituency. “You will get beaten up if you belong to any other party. You will be suppressed and work will not be done in a democratic way,” he added.

He alleged that Congress workers, who were earlier beaten up by Left supporters, were now being assaulted by the ruling party men. “When we worked with the Trinamool, we thought we will remove the Left Front, remove the red flag and bring in a new government that will work for development,” Gandhi said, further adding, “It is a matter of regret that red flags have been removed. Green flags have come, but nothing has changed in the state.”

Countering Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s charge that the Centre deprived the state of funds, Gandhi said, “We sent money which was five times more than what was given by the previous National Democratic Alliance government. They used to give Rs 5,000 crore, but we gave Rs 26,000 crore to West Bengal. She is saying that we are not sending money, but the fact is that they do not utilise the funds.”

The young leader also spoke about how nothing was being done about employment. “People here get only 35 days work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act, while people in the rest of the country get work for 100 days,” he said. “In the last 10 years, Congress has lifted 15 crore people out of poverty by giving them rights. It is a matter of regret that the right to food, which is implemented across the country is not implemented here,” he added.

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He promised that on being voted to power for a third time, a Congress-led government would give them the right to health services, right to shelter and pension for the poor. Gandhi also stressed on the need to increase a manufacturing base in India saying, that even Banerjee’s slipper might have a ‘Made in China’ tag.

On atrocities against women, Gandhi said he regretted that West Bengal topped the list in violence against women. He said to empower women, the Congress wanted to give 35 per cent reservation to them in Lok Sabha, make 2,000 women police stations and have 25 per cent women in the police force. 

Image: Rahul Gandhi told people in Debra the TMC government only worked for the party. Photograph: INC's Twitter page.