Mamata Renames Karmashree Project After Mahatma Gandhi

Her move was aimed at protesting the BJP-led Centre’s step to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G).

Speaking at a mini-Bengal Global Business Summit conclave at the, Banerjee said, “I feel ashamed that they decided to drop Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the NREGA scheme. Are we now forgetting even the Father of the Nation?”

She added, “We have therefore decided to rename our Karmashree job scheme after Mahatma Gandhi. We seek nothing except respect. If some do not know how to honour Mahatma Gandhi, we will show what true respect means.”

Ms Banerjee elaborated, “We have already created lots of workdays under 'Karmashree', which we are running with our own resources. Even if central funds are stopped, we will ensure people get work. We are not beggars."

She then informed the industry leaders that the job scheme would be extended to a 100-day-work from 75 days. To woo the corporate captains, the CM said, “Let them have the freedom. How can they run their business under the threats of agencies?”

The Trinamul Congress supremo however did not miss the opportunity to attack the Centre on the GST implementation and took a swipe at former state finance minister Amit Mitra, who was present on the dais, for convincing her earlier to agree with the decision.