TMC MP slams Centre over delay in GST compensation and unemployment

New Delhi: Days after finance ministers (FMs) of states raised the delay in GST compensation issue, accusing of creating a financial crisis in states, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP and senior leader Manas Bhunia made a scathing attack on the Centre over the issue and the issue of unemployment.

Bhunia claimed that the Union government is reluctant to talk about the current economic status on the floor of the House and noted the lower-than-expected GST collection in October. "As a result, our state of West Bengal is suffering a lot for the last two months. It is not having its share of compensation," Bhunia said.

He further stated that caution had been made against hasty GST implementation as it can create a turbulent economic situation which will affect the economic structure in the federal system.

He also emphasised on the highest unemployment rate according to the data. In a written reply to his question, the government replied with Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, which says that in 2017-18 the unemployment rate is at highest at 6 per cent in all over the country.

Government has also assured in the written reply to Bhunia that it has taken various initiatives to generate employment across the country, encouraging the private sector economy, fast-tracking various projects involving substantial investment and increasing public expenditure on PMEGP, MGNREGS, DDU-GKY etc.

Bhunia also claimed that West Bengal in a better position in job generation and managed to stick to a 4 per cent unemployment rate since the past few years.