Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding immediate release of central funds under MNREGA.
In the letter, the Congress leader said that lakhs of people in West Bengal have been denied jobs and wages under MNREGA due to stopage of central funds since March 2022.
“I am writing to you regarding the devastating plight of MGREGS workers in West Bengal, and their relentless fight for justice. During my recent visit to West Bengal as part of the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra, a delegation of MGNREGS workers from Paschim Banga Khet Mazdoor Samity apprised me of the issues faced by them. A copy of the representation is appended herewith. Lakhs of our brothers and sisters have been denied work and wages under MGREGS due to the stoppage of central funds to West Bengal Since March, 2022,” he wrote in the letter, demanding immediate release of the pending funds.
Gandhi’s letter to Modi on MNREGA funds issue is also seen as an attempt to pacify West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has refused to have an alliance with the Congress in West Bengal for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Banerjee and her party TMC have been raising the issue of MNREGA funds for the last few months. Last year, TMC leaders had also staged a protest against the Modi government over the issue.
Last week, she had announced that the state government will pay the pending MREGA dues of around 21 lakh workers by February 21.
“The state government will clear the dues of 21 lakh MGNREGA workers, whose wages have been kept pending by the central government for the past two years. Their wages will be transferred to their bank accounts by February 21,” Banerjee said in a statement.