JOIN USWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee repeated her demand for a three year moratorium on interest for the cash-strapped state on the lines of Punjab and set a 15-day deadline for the Centre to fulfil the demand.
She told reporters at State headquarters, Writers’ Building before leaving for New Delhi on Monday that Punjab was given a moratorium on interest from 2000 to 2006 and it was sanctioned on the basis of the recommendation made by the finance commission.
“If Punjab can get it, why West Bengal is deprived of it? Is West Bengal not a part of India? ” Banerjee asked and said that the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, who promised help when they visited the state recently have failed to keep their words.
The relation between Congress and Trinamool has been eroded over the bailout package and an angry Mamata had even warned the Centre against ‘indifference’ towards Bengal” recently. “We have not enough income to pay the interest for the debt bequeathed by the Left Front government. At present, our annual income is 21,000 crore and we have to shell out 22,000 crore to pay interest and part of the loan. We don’t want any mercy but we have been urging the Centre to give an interest holiday of three years,” she said.
She threatened that the consequences would be bad if the Centre fails to fulfil the demand or sanction a compensatory grant.