BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday lashed out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of using public money to fulfill her political needs.
In a series of tweets, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly questioned the source of funds for holding a function in Bankura district for the beneficiaries of the state’s public distribution scheme on Friday.
The event at Balarampur in Bankura district was presided over by the chief minister.
Questioning the source of money for holding such an event, Adhikary tweeted, “Since the source of funds to meet such egregious expenses is undisclosed, will DM Bankura and @chief_west specify where the funds came from?” midday meal? PM Poshan? Central Grant for the acquisition of land for the National Highway? “Why such extravagance when WB is in a fiscal crisis?”
Also questioning the presence of schoolchildren at the event, he said 700 buses were hired for transporting students, and the poor beneficiaries of the scheme were at the event, alleging that students were being forced to listen to the political speeches of the chief minister at the cost of the public exchequer.
“Rs. 78 lakh has been paid to hire 700 buses for transporting students and poor beneficiaries to attend CM @MamataOfficial’s so-called administrative meeting at Bankura on February 17th.
“When other expenses such as the deployment of 8,000 police personnel, the construction and decoration of the stage and canopy, logistical expenses, and so on are factored in, the total amount spent for the CM’s ‘unproductive’ 40-minute purely political event is approximately 3 to 4 crores,” he added.
Addressing the event on Friday, the Bengal CM, Mamata, announced that her government will help 10 lakh youth in the state find a secure livelihood.
She also announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh each to two lakh youth to start their own, independent businesses.