"Political one-upmanship": TMC hits out Centre over letter threatening to halt state's NHM grants
Nov 06, 2023
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], November 6 : The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal came down heavily on the BJP over a letter from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, threatening to halt the grant under the Centre's National Health Mission (NHM) to the state government until it fulfils all the conditions for the same and ensure compliance with all the guidelines.
In its letter, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated, "It has been observed that the branding of Ayushman Bharat- health and wellness centres in West Bengal has not been undertaken as per GoI's norms and only partial compliance has been observed, especially the colour scheme of branding. As per the department of Expenditure department directions, further fund flow to your state (West Bengal) under NHM will be conditional to the fulfilment of above conditions and full compliance of guidelines by the state."
Hitting back at the Centre, the TMC posted from its official handle on X that the letter was part of a deliberate ploy by the BJP to use its "financial leverage to coerce Opposition-ruled states".
"Another classic example of BJP India's political one-upmanship at the expense of the common people. In a letter to Government of WB, the Centre has threatened to halt its NHM grant until the state ensures that the standardised colour scheme and branding for the facade of Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres is followed," TMC posted on X.
https://twitter.com/AITCofficial/status/1721497583703753053
"This isn't an isolated incident, as they've previously taken similar actions in Punjab. It's a deliberate attempt by the BJP to use financial leverage to coerce Opposition-ruled states!" the ruling party added in its post.
Earlier, on Monday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee targeted the BJP-led central government, alleging that the party was attempting to silence all Opposition parties before the next Lok Sabha elections and send all Opposition leaders behind bars.
"They (the BJP) are attempting to silence all Opposition parties before the next year's elections. They want to arrest all Opposition leaders before the next general elections come around so that there's no one left to challenge them and they can grab all votes," Banerjee said, addressing the reporters at the state secretariat 'Nabanna'.
