After raising the issue of ill effects of demonetisation, Trinamool Congress MLA Samir Chakraborty on Tuesday demanded resignation of all three BJP leaders in the state as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pre-poll assurances were not fulfilled in the recently presented Union Budget.
While discussing on Governor's speech in the Assembly, Chakraborty said that the Prime Minister had given tall assurances while addressing rallies ahead of the elections in the state. No announcement was made in the recently placed Budget for revival of the Railway factory in Kharagpur from where Dilip Ghosh, the state BJP president, was elected as an MLA.
There was no announcement of any financial package for the industries in Asansol from where Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Babul Supriyo became an MP.
S S Ahluwalia is BJP's MP from Darjeeling but financial support for tea garden workers and proper steps for revival of tea gardens are still in a limbo, he said adding that none of these pre-poll assurances given by Modi was fulfilled. For failing to keep words, BJP MLAs should put their resignation as a mark of respect to the common people.
It may be mentioned that Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi had said while inaugurating the Budget Session that "Demonetisation has had its own effect in West Bengal. A large number of people faced hardship and sufferings". Supporting the Governor's remark, Chakraborty said:
"Demonetisation which was announced without tackling Non Performing Assets (NPA) of different banks led to nothing apart from harassment of common people. NPA of the State Bank of India in March 2015 was Rs 35,422 crore and it had jumped to Rs 55,807 crore by the end of March 2016. Similarly, NPA of Punjab National Bank till March 2015 was Rs 15,396 crore and it had increased to Rs 35,422 crore by the end of March 2016."
Raising apprehension that there could be another Budget in the next nine months, he said that the Finance
Ministry gets report of the third quarter in between February 5 to 10. Thus, it can be considered that the Budget was presented based on second quarter's report.
"It seems that there is a conspiracy to change the period of financial year. It would be as same as that
of the calendar year instead of from April to March," Chakraborty said.