New Delhi, Dec 4: Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan came down heavily on  Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay over alleged corruption in West Bengal during  the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha on Monday.

TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay alleged that the Centre has imposed an ‘economic blockade’ against the West Bengal government by blocking funds for schemes like MGNREGA and PM Awas Yojana, amounting up to Rs 18,000 crore.

Responding to the TMC MP, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan alleged corruption on part of the West Bengal government.

#WATCH | #WinterSession of Parliament | Union Education Minister #DharmendraPradhan says, "In the PM Poshan Yojana (Mid-day meal scheme) they (#WestBengal Govt) have misappropriated Rs 4000 crores and the Govt of India has given the inquiry to the CBI...Over half a dozen minister… pic.twitter.com/5ucL4eIh7A

— Argus News (@ArgusNews_in) December 4, 2023

“Bengal government considers itself to be superior to the governments of the other states! They take money meant for the poor people of West Bengal from the central government, they keep their cut money, that is the reason. All states in the country remain in the financial system, Bengal thinks it is above it, the state government thinks they are above it,” Pradhan said.

“I would like to mention on the floor of the House, in the PM Poshan Yojana – Mid Day Meal, they have misappropriated Rs 4,000 crore. The Government of India has given an inquiry to the CBI, everything will come out,” he added.

“They loot poor people’s money… half of their Ministers are in jail. They are scared their leadership will go to jail,” he further said.

Notably, former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee is currently in judicial custody for his alleged involvement in the teachers' recruitment scam.  His aide Arpita Mukherjee was also arrested after the ED recovered Rs 21.20 crore cash, gold worth Rs 79 lakh, and foreign currency worth Rs 54 lakh from her residence.

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Another TMC MP Mahua Moitra is accused of taking money from a prominent businessman in exchange for asking questions in the Parliament.

The Government is likely to seek suspension of Mahua Moitra's Lok Sabha membership after the submission of the report by the ethics panel in the cash-for-query case.

The Ethics Committee, which probed the 'cash-for-query' allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra is scheduled to lay its report in Lok Sabha druing the Winter Session of Parliament.