TMC's Kalyan Banerjee calls Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan 'dalal' over central funds, BJP demands apology

Banerjee claimed that Central funds for West Bengal under schemes such as MGNREGA and PMAYG were pending for the past three years. He alleged that the funds were not released as BJP has failed to win the state in the 2021 assembly polls.

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Tuesday accused Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of acting as a "dalal (broker) for the rich" as he slammed the Union government over pending central funds for West Bengal.

The BJP immediately hit back with Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary demanding an apology from the West Bengal MP for using "derogatory" language against Chouhan.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Banerjee alleged that central funds for West Bengal under schemes such as MGNREGA and PMAYG were pending for the past three years. He accused the Centre of discriminating against the state as the BJP had failed to form a government there.

"Shivraj Chouhan is a 'dalal' (broker) for the rich... He doesn't work for the poor and that's why he was removed from the post of Madhya Pradesh chief minister," the MP from West Bengal's Serampore alleged.

The Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member repeated his "dalal" jibe several times.

During Question Hour in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, DMK and Trinamool Congress MPs protested against the alleged delay in payment to some states for the rural employment scheme MGNREGA, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings till 12 noon

"They have not given us funds for the last three years. They are saying there are some discrepancies... (that) there are 25 lakh fake job cards (under MGNREGA)... We have told them to carry forward criminal proceedings against the fake cards, but they can't deprive 10 crore people of West Bengal of the funds," Banerjee told reporters.

Banerjee alleged that the funds were not released to West Bengal as the BJP has failed to win the state in the 2021 assembly polls.

"Shivraj Chouhan and PM Narendra Modi are against Bengal. They want to form a government there and are failing. They will never come to power there. BJP leaders say don't give funds to Bengal," he claimed.

Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Chaudhary, however, dismissed the allegations and said Banerjee should apologise for using unparliamentary language.

"This is not a good thing, such language by a senior MP does not suit him. PM Modi is working on the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. There is no discrimination against any state and everyone is getting their share," Chaudhary told PTI.

"Unfortunately, the West Bengal government changes the names of central schemes and indulges in corruption. Using such language against a minister is not right. Banerjee should apologise," he said.

In the Lok Sabha, the government asserted that it has never discriminated against any state in the release of MGNREGA funds.

"Be it Tamil Nadu or West Bengal, the Modi government has never discriminated against any state. The pending MGNREGA dues, including material costs, will be released soon," Chouhan said.

"Under UPA, from 2006-07 to 2013-14, only Rs 111 crore was allocated for person-days in West Bengal, while under the NDA, we have created 239 crore person-days and allocated Rs 54,515 crore," the Union agriculture minister said.