Conditions under Modi govt akin to Emergency days: Didi

ENS, | Kolkata | October 18, 2014: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday launched a scathing attack at the Centre saying the way the Narendra Modi-led government was “vitiating the democratic traditions”, it reminded her of the Emergency days.

“Condition under this government reminds me of Emergency. There are definite signs of the democratic traditions being vitiated in this country,” Mamata said addressing reporters here.

Mamata, who had earlier accused the Centre of weakening the federal structure by bypassing her government, said she has concrete evidence to substantiate her claims and made certain points.

100 days’ work scheme: Centre has not yet released funds for 100 days’ work scheme—- in West Bengal alone Rs 900 crore is pending —- and it now wants to restrict the scheme to 2500 blocks in the country. We will carry on our agitation against this. Dilution of 100 days’ work scheme will have a detrimental effect on the downtrodden. The Centre wants to take away a source of livelihood from the poor.

JNNURM projects stalled: The work of the Jawaharlal Nehru Renewal Mission and several other schemes launched by the previous UPA government has come to a halt  as BJP government wants to change their names. Let them have any name, but the schemes should not suffer on such grounds.

Land Acquisition Act amendment: The Land Acquisition Act has been amended but the rules have not been framed, which has made it impossible to pay compensation for any project. Many projects are lying stalled because of this. This is no good governance.

No parliamentary delegation with PM to UN: With the BJP government at the Centre, an age old tradition of the Prime Minister being accompanied to the UN by representatives of other political parties has come to a stop. Earlier, a PM took all-party delegations to the UN with him. This year it was cancelled. This is murder of democracy. Is the Centre giving a message that only BJP delegations will go to UN? No other party will accompany the PM? We want to know why this practice had been stopped ? Is it because of the fear that someone might shoot off his or her mouth ? Is it another form of control and monitoring which one saw during Emergency?

Bypassing state government: Centre directly sent orders on Swachh Bharat to the DMs bypassing the state government. Is this federalism?