Kolkata, Feb 3 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who began her sit-in-dharna at Red Road on Friday, continued her protest demonstration even after seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to ensure that the fund legitimately due to the state be immediately released, party sources said on Saturday.
She spent the night in the makeshift tent where many of her Cabinet colleagues and party leaders joined her in the dharna, which is expected to end later on Saturday evening.
In a letter to the PM, Banerjee on Friday Banerjee expressed shock and pointed out that the report of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) was “erroneous and misleading”.
” In the State Finance Audit Report for 2020-21 of the CAG it has been reported that there is delay in the submission of Utilisation
Certificates of Rs 2,29,099 crore since 2002-03 to 202–21, ” the CM’s letter to PM said.
” However, on scrutiny, it is found that the concerned departments of the state had submitted utilisation certificates on time to the respective ministries of Centre in the prescribed format against the allocations/sanctions made under different schemes by the Government of India, ” the letter mentioned.
Banerjee said as the Centre was satisfied with the utilisation certificates, the subsequent allocations were made from time to time under various schemes.
” The sanction orders issued by various ministries clearly state that there are no pending utilisation certificates of the preceding periods, ” Banerjee clarified.
Banerjee expressed shock that the institution like CAG could make such observations without verifying the reports and catering “misleading” information against her government.
” Considering the seriousness and gravity of this matter, I would request you (PM) to intervene and ensure that the funds legitimately due to the state are immediately released in the interest of the poor people. ”
Banerjee on Friday noon began her two-day dharna to protest against alleged withhold of the state’s dues by the Centre.
The issue is pertaining to the Centre’s alleged withhold of the dues, particularly under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
