Mamata Banerjee Urges Central Government to Remove GST on Insurance Premiums
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called on the central government to remove GST from life and medical insurance premiums. She believes this tax negatively impacts people’s ability to take care of their health needs. Banerjee stated, “If Government of India does not roll back the anti-people GST, we will be bound to hit the road.”
Additionally, Banerjee has demanded the release of funds for the 100-day wage employment and housing scheme. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh criticized the BJP for withholding these funds, attributing it to the BJP’s loss in the 2021 Assembly polls. Ghosh highlighted that TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee had requested Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to release a white paper detailing budget allocations to West Bengal, a demand that remains unmet.
Ghosh stated, “The central government has not provided funds for the 100-day wage employment scheme, forcing the Chief Minister to disburse Rs59 lakh from state funds. They cite irregularities to justify withholding funds while BJP-ruled states like UP, Odisha, and MP receive money. We will continue our protest inside and outside Parliament until funds are released for the 100-day wage employment scheme and the housing scheme.”
He added, “In the last four financial years, the BJP has collected Rs4.64 lakh crores in taxes from West Bengal, with pending dues exceeding Rs1.71 lakh crores. We need a white paper on funding for MGNREGA and the housing scheme. The protest will intensify under CM Mamata Banerjee and MP Abhishek Banerjee.”
Doubts Revealed
Mamata Banerjee -: Mamata Banerjee is the Chief Minister of West Bengal, a state in India. She is a political leader and the head of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party.
Central Government -: The Central Government refers to the national government of India, which is responsible for the entire country. It is different from state governments, which manage individual states.
GST -: GST stands for Goods and Services Tax. It is a tax that people in India pay when they buy goods and services, like insurance.
Insurance Premiums -: Insurance premiums are the money people pay regularly to an insurance company to keep their insurance policy active. This can be for life insurance or medical insurance.
100-day wage employment scheme -: This is a government program in India that guarantees 100 days of paid work each year to rural households. It helps people in villages earn money.
Housing scheme -: A housing scheme is a government plan to provide homes for people who do not have proper housing. It aims to improve living conditions.
TMC -: TMC stands for Trinamool Congress, a political party in India. It is led by Mamata Banerjee and is mainly active in West Bengal.
Kunal Ghosh -: Kunal Ghosh is a leader in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party. He is involved in politics in West Bengal.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, a major political party in India. It is currently the ruling party at the central government level.
White paper -: A white paper is a detailed report or guide that explains a complex issue. In this context, it would explain how the budget is allocated to West Bengal.
