Launching a frontal attack on the Narendra Modi government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today accused it of bulldozing the federal structure in the country and said she would seek the President's opinion on the issue.
"Modi government is bulldozing the federal structure and violating Constitution. It is interfering in the functioning of the state governments. We will seek the opinion of the President," Banerjee told reporters at the 'Nabanna', the state secretariat.
The state government, she said, received a letter from the Centre during the day saying that centrally-sponsored schemes are being rationalised.
"This is being done by force without taking the states into confidence ... They talk about cooperative federalism. I don't know what is cooperative federalism.
"If they interfere into the functioning of the states, there is no meaning of the existence of the state governments. It is a very serious matter," she said.
"Narendra Modi is running dictatorship. The people of the country have lost freedom under Modi.
"They (BJP) are trying to start a Presidential form of government knowing that they will not win next time," the Chief Minister claimed.
Banerjee said the central government should have only four ministries - Defence, External Affairs, Railways and Finance.
(REOP CAL6)
Referring to the recent vandalising of a school by a
builder, Banerjee said the school education department would construct the building.
She also expressed her concern about youth becoming increasingly engaged with electronic devices like mobile phones and laptop.
"Their (youth) brains are getting puzzled playing with mobile phones and using laptops. Sports keeps away negativity from one's mind and helps people to keep away from anti-social activities also.
"It's a necessity to cut down on the weights of schoolbags. We have done it earlier and will work for it in future," the chief minister said adding the government was thinking of introducing sport in school syllabus.
Announcing Rs 50 lakh grants to 13 clubs taking part in the city football league, she said Rs 2 lakh were given to 4,000 clubs while another 8653 clubs were getting another Rs one lakh.
She felicitated Tripura-based Olympian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who was was given a cheque of Rs five lakh by the state government.
Banerjee said 15 new stadia have been built, while renovation work of another 46 have been taken up, the CM said adding 23 new Yuva Abas have been constructed and renovation work was on in 19. Besides, a total 2284 multigyms had been built.
