Smriti Irani claims Bengal Govt failed to spend funds by her ministry; Firhad Hakim hits back

The West Bengal government has failed to utilize and spend the huge amount of Rs 270 crore provided by its ministry, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said here on Saturday. She was in Kolkata as part of the party's efforts to highlight various positive aspects of the latest Union Budget. Talking to reporters, the minister said that the state government cannot spend a huge amount of Rs 27,000 crore or Rs 270 crore allocated by its ministry alone.

“The Union government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sending money for women and child development. But the state government is unable to utilize that fund. They should explain their inability on this count,” Irani said.

Hitting back at the Central Minister, TMC leader and Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim Mayor said that the information given by Smriti Irani, who reached Kolkata regarding the amount given for the housing project and women's scheme, is misleading. "The central government does not give money to Bengal and talks about big things from above", he said. At the same time, Firhad said that these days BJP suddenly wants to befriend minorities which will never succeed.