CM renews attack on Centre - GST UNDER MAMATA SCANNER

Mamata at the meeting in Pailan, South 24-Parganas

TT, Calcutta, June 2: Mamata Banerjee today criticised the BJP and the Centre over several issues, on and off social media.

From Facebook to an administrative review meeting in South 24-Parganas, the chief minister seized every opportunity to go after the BJP and the Narendra Modi government.

A senior Trinamul leader said Mamata had found fresh wind in her sail after her stand against demonetisation was "vindicated" by the decline of the real GDP growth in the January-March quarter to 6.1 per cent.

Some of the key points raised by the Trinamul chief:

The RTI response on Netaji's death: "I am shocked to see this unilateral decision of the central government without evidence. Netaji (Subhas Chandra Bose) is a great son of the soil. Our state, the country and the whole world are proud of him," Mamata wrote on Facebook.

On Wednesday, the Centre had told a Calcutta resident in reply to a question under the right to information law that it has concluded after considering the reports of various committees that Netaji had died in an air crash in 1945.

Discontinuation of non-NET scholarship: During an interaction with students of Jadavpur University and Diamond Harbour University at the administrative meeting, Mamata said she was aware of the problem.

"The Centre has stopped it. We had no role in it. It is a very unfortunate move and I am aware of the problems it has caused," she said.

In 2015, the UGC discontinued a fellowship for those who have not cleared the National Eligibility Test.

IT department warning: "A financial emergency in this country is still on. Few people had an idea about this. I saw the advertisement today itself in papers.... That means a financial emergency is still on," she said.

The income tax department today warned people against cash transactions of Rs 2 lakh or more, saying the receiver of the amount might have to cough up an equal amount as penalty.

"Nobody has any freedom. Even if you earn, you can't do anything with the money. You cannot even spend the money according to your desire, even for urgent needs," she added.

Implementation of GST: "We will write a very strong letter to the Union finance minister. We will not support the GST in its current form," she said.

On Tuesday, state finance minister Amit Mitra had issued a statement opposing GST rates on some products that are likely to adversely impact Bengal's economy and employment. He said he might attend the next council meeting on June 3.

Law and order in Bengal: "Hurling bombs, brandishing swords, trying to foment tension and divide the people by importing a culture alien to Bengal," Mamata said.

Accusing the BJP-RSS parivar of not being aware of Bengal, its people and its culture, Mamata condemned alleged efforts to divide the people.

"The law and order machinery must be extra careful regarding this," she added.