Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, May 29, 2025, Alipurduar: :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visit to Gangtok on Thursday to commemorate the golden jubilee of Sikkim’s statehood was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, according to official sources. Instead, he joined the celebrations virtually. During the virtual event, he was scheduled to release a commemorative coin, souvenir, and stamp to mark 50 years of Sikkim’s integration as a state. He also virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for several key infrastructure projects, including a 500-bed district hospital in Namchi, a passenger ropeway at Sangachoeling in Pelling, and a statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Gangtok.While Sikkim celebrated its milestone, the Prime Minister continued his tour in West Bengal, where he visited Alipurduar to inaugurate several development projects, including a city gas distribution project. Addressing a public gathering, Modi underscored the central government’s focus on expanding access to clean energy and fostering a gas-based economy. Highlighting progress since 2014, he noted the expansion of gas pipeline services from 66 districts to over 550, emphasizing that this transformation has improved public health and reduced household costs.
Modi also stressed the strategic and cultural significance of the region, referencing the geographical links between Alipurduar and neighboring Bhutan, Assam, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar. He reiterated that Bengal’s active participation in the journey toward a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India) is both anticipated and vital, and said that the Centre is committed to accelerating infrastructure, innovation, and investment in the region.
However, the Prime Minister’s Bengal visit drew sharp criticism from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). TMC leaders alleged that the central government has withheld over ₹1.7 lakh crore in dues owed to West Bengal. In a video statement, TMC Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, Sagarika Ghose, questioned the timing of Modi’s visit and demanded clarity on when the pending funds would be released. She accused the Centre of political bias against opposition-ruled states and urged the Prime Minister to stop what she described as discriminatory practices.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale echoed these sentiments on social media, alleging that the Modi government had been withholding funds since the BJP’s electoral defeat in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections. Gokhale demanded a white paper from the Centre detailing disbursements under key central schemes, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, since 2021.
The Ministry of Rural Development has stated that MGNREGS funds to West Bengal have been suspended since March 9, 2022, under Section 27 of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, citing non-compliance with central guidelines. A recent parliamentary committee report noted that the prolonged suspension has led to significant distress, including increased migration and disruptions in rural development programmes.
With state elections approaching next year, these developments reflect a growing political confrontation between the Centre and the West Bengal government, intensifying the spotlight on issues of federal cooperation and accountability.
