March 3, 2015
Derek O’Brien makes a Special Mention on relief of debt stressed states | Transcript
Full transcript:
There is no denying the fact that my State West Bengal is suffering from huge debt burden since 2004 – 2005, according to the Government records. An office memorandum of the Finance Commission dated October 24, 2005 in which 11 States including Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal were included, in the indicative list of debt-stressed States.
The current West Bengal Government has inherited from the previous Government, which ruled West Bengal for 34 long years, a sum of Rs 2,03,000 crore as the debt burden.
From day one, our Hon’ble Chief Minister has made repeated appeals, to the Central Government to kindly consider the request of a temporary relief, interim relief in the form of moratorium on the principal amount as well as restructuring of the interest amount.
In the report of the 14th Finance Commission, there is no mention of any moratorium. The grant-in-aid announced is like a single drop in an ocean. Sir, through you I want to request the government that the demand of West Bengal about the debt burden, along with other debt-stressed states, should be considered in right earnest and in the right perspective.
