Centre running parallel govt through governors: Mamata Banerjee

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday accused the Centre of running a parallel government in states through governors, and creating a communal charged atmosphere.

At a chief ministers’ conclave on cooperative federalism organised by the Delhi government, she said, “They are using the governor to run a parallel government and scuttle the work of elected chief ministers. I can understand that law and order in Delhi is under the home ministry, but how can the West Bengal Governor write to the Centre seeking central forces for municipal elections there?”

“People from the BJP are threatening us with arrest, saying the Election Commission is under them. The Prime Minister should look into this. One cannot bulldoze states in the name of governance,” she added.

“They (Centre) are making things communal, looking at the religion of people killed in accidents to vitiate the atmosphere. If two people die in West Bengal, the NIA is rushed to the state, but when 100 people died in Madhya Pradesh not a word is said because it has a BJP government. This is not good governance,” Mamata Banerjee said.

She advised the Centre to restrict itself to making policies and administering sectors such as defence and railways and “nothing else”. She also slammed the Centre for disbanding the Planning Commission, which she said was the brain child of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

“The government is running without any planning. They have also disbanded the National Development Council where the CMs used to get a common platform. You have formed NITI Aayog and made your own man its chairman…it’s not about our ideological differences but we are having issues in functioning,” she said.

Ten things Mamata Banerjee said at Cooperative Federalism Conclave

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today attended a conclave on cooperative federalism, organised by the Government of Delhi led by Shri Arvind Kejriwal.

She appreciated the Delhi CM for the initiative and said that such a conclave of chief ministers on cooperative federalism may happen in Bengal in the future.

Here are 10 things that Mamata Banerjee said at Cooperative Federalism Conclave:

  • Parallel governments are being run everywhere. I respect the Central government. I know my jurisdiction. They must also remember their jurisdiction. State government is also elected by people.

 

  • The Centre is trying to fry fish in its own oil  – Maacher tele machh bhaja (regarding devolution of funds to the State).

 

  • Last year two people died in a bomb blast during Durga Puja in Bengal and the Centre sent NIA. Last month so many people died in Madhya Pradesh and there is no action; the Centre is hiding.

 

  • We do not have a negative attitude. We will support the Central government in positive decisions. But no parallel government will be tolerated in the state. There must be a laxman rekha.

 

  • During elections in India money flows like water in hose pipe. Hose pipe funding. We will request all political parties to sit together and discuss electoral reforms and state-funded polls.

 

  • The Centre sends CBI to raid the house of a CM. What if a CM raids the PM’s house, what will become of our democracy?

 

  • Achha baat kehne se aur swachhata ki baat karne se kuchh nahi hoga. Kaam karna padega.

 

  • Only announcement of funds does not matter. We are not getting a single penny. I have personally come to Delhi many times in 4 years.

 

  • Some ruling party leaders are instructing news editors to carry news against certain Opposition leaders and threatening to arrest them. This is not the spirit of federalism.

 

  • We can have the next meeting on cooperative federalism in Bengal. All CMs are welcome.