Kolkata, 14 March (H.S.): Hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a mega rally at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Saturday, the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) raised five questions for him, accusing the Centre of withholding funds due to West Bengal.

The rally marks the culmination of the Parivartan Yatra organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the state assembly elections.

In a post on X, the TMC described the prime minister as a “political tourist” and sought answers on several issues.

The party’s first question was related to the voters’ list. It claimed that around 6 million voters categorised under “logical inconsistencies” had been referred for judicial scrutiny and asked what steps had been taken to identify illegal infiltrators despite such large-scale verification.

The second issue raised concerned the rise in cooking gas prices and alleged supply problems. The TMC said poor and vulnerable families were facing hardship due to the price hike and asked why no strategic reserves had been created despite global uncertainties.

The third question pertained to alleged dues of around Rs 1.96 lakh crore owed to West Bengal under various centrally sponsored schemes. The party also raised the issue of the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, asking why it had not been fully resumed in the state despite directions from the Supreme Court of India.

The fourth question related to the safety of Bengali migrant workers working in other states. The TMC alleged that workers speaking Bengali were being harassed in BJP-ruled states.

The fifth and final question concerned alleged disrespect towards eminent personalities linked to Bengal’s cultural and spiritual heritage, which the party claimed had been expressed by some BJP leaders.

Meanwhile, the TMC has also put up posters in several parts of Kolkata since Friday night demanding that the Centre release the funds allegedly due to the state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey