The West Bengal BJP leadership has claimed that Union Minister of States (MoS) Patil, is unaware of the extent of corruption in the implementation of MGNREGA in West Bengal and the ground reality as he is a junior minister. Following comments by the BJP Bengal leaders, Patil claimed today that he has heard about corruption and never commented that it was “corruption free”. Patil said, “During my visit next month, I will visit various Panchayats and will look into the corruption issues.”
“Patil is a minister of state and not well aware of the facts and ground realities. You have to speak to the union cabinet minister in charge of the department,” West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said on Thursday, speaking on corruption related issues.
BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh claimed that “The central team come, stay in hotels and spend leisurely time here and submit reports in a way that block development officers wanted them to do. So, it is quite natural that he (Patil) will not be aware of the ground reality,” Ghosh said.
The ruling Trinamool seized the opportunity and claimed the state BJP has been lying about corruption in the implementation of the scheme in the state and should not make “false allegations”. Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said Patil had spoken the truth and the state BJP has been caught lying about corruption in MGNREGA. “The union minister himself has said he is not aware of any corruption. BJP should apologise for making false allegations,” Ghosh said.