Banerjee Takes on Amit Shah in Rs 2 Lakh-Crore Bengal Fund Battle
The TMC MP from Diamond Harbour invited Shah for a public debate.
In a fiery rebuttal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee sharply criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s ‘Sonar Bangla’ pitch for West Bengal, accusing the BJP-led central government of withholding Rs 2 lakh-crore in legitimate funds owed to the state.
The escalating war of words, ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, underscores deep-seated tensions between the TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over governance, financial disputes, and political promises. Banerjee’s remarks came in response to Shah’s comments made during the inauguration of Durga Puja celebrations at Santosh Mitra Square in Kolkata on September 26, 2025.
Banerjee challenged Shah’s credibility, questioning the BJP’s track record in delivering prosperity in other states. He pointedly asked whether the BJP had achieved a ‘Sonar Bihar’, ‘Sonar Gujarat’, ‘Sonar Maharashtra’, or ‘Sonar Uttar Pradesh’, alleging that West Bengal’s funds were being diverted to BJP-ruled states.
The TMC MP from Diamond Harbour invited Shah for a public debate on any platform of the minister’s choice, vowing to present “facts and figures” to substantiate claims of the Centre’s financial neglect. This confrontation highlights the TMC’s narrative that the BJP is deliberately starving West Bengal of resources to undermine the Mamata Banerjee-led state government.
Addressing local concerns, Banerjee also responded to criticisms about waterlogging in Kolkata caused by heavy rainfall. He defended the state government’s efforts, noting the unprecedented 300 mm of rain in just four hours and questioning how Shah could navigate the city if conditions were as dire as claimed. The TMC leader emphasized that the state was managing the crisis effectively under challenging circumstances, contrasting this with the Centre’s alleged inaction on financial dues.
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Shah, during the Durga Puja event, had expressed his vision for a ‘Sonar Bangla’, praying for a post-election government that would make West Bengal safe, prosperous, peaceful, and abundant, echoing the vision of poet Rabindranath Tagore. However, the TMC has dismissed this as empty rhetoric, accusing the BJP of using cultural events to push a political agenda while ignoring governance issues like corruption, which the BJP frequently levels against the TMC.
As the assembly polls approach, this clash over funds and development promises signals an intensifying battle for West Bengal’s future.
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