JOIN USMamata scales down interest moratorium demand
Two days after issuing a 15-day ultimatum to the Centre to decide on a three-year interest moratorium for West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee scaled down on Monday and said it was only an appeal to the Union government but media portrayed it as a threat.
“It was an appeal that day and not a threat or warning, but the media distorted my statement by interpreting it as a threat and breaking news,” Banerjee told reporters at the state Secretariat here.
Appealing to the media not to deal in lies in the name of “breaking news”, Banerjee said: “Whatever I tell, I tell it as the head of the administration but what you are showing is not right. Don’t tell or write lies”. Urging the press not to distort or sensationalise her statements, Banerjee said “Media has a major role to play. It must refrain from sensationalising any issue which may even cause a riot. If needed I shall put all my press conferences and statements on record,” a furious Banerjee said.
Banerjee on Saturday told reporters: “We have been waiting for one year. I am still appealing to the Centre, but if it continues to remain indifferent, it will be a big issue. I will still wait for another 15 days”.
Warning that the “indifferent attitude” of the Centre might become a “big issue”, Banerjee had said: “We don’t have enough income to pay interest for the debt burden bequeathed by the previous (Left Front) government.
At present our annual income is Rs 21,000 crore and we have to shell out Rs 22,000 crore to pay interest and part of the loan. We don’t want any mercy but we are only urging the Centre to give us an interest holiday for at least three years”.
She also alleged that the Centre deducted Rs 1,500 crore from the state’s share of CST compensation.
“On the one hand, it is cutting Rs 22,000 crore as interest, and on the other it is deducting Rs 1,500 crore from CST compensation. It means the Centre is making the state government debt-ridden to ensure that it cannot function,” she added.