KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee countered PM Narendra Modi’s charges against her government of blocking a central scheme for farmers owing to its political agenda and denying funds to over 70 lakh farmers in the state under the PM-Kisan scheme, calling them “halftruths and distorted facts” and also questioned the Centre’s motive in disbursing cash benefits to farmers bypassing the state in poll-bound Bengal.
“We always have been ready to cooperate in our farmers’ interest. I myself have written two letters and have even spoken to the minister but they are indulging in malicious propaganda for political gains. The charge of not cooperating is absurd when we are implementing so many schemes along with the Centre. The Centre is violating established practices regarding implementation of central schemes by state governments,” she said.