New Delhi, February 11 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday strongly criticized TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and her party, stating that there is no law and order in West Bengal, and a "culture of violence" prevails there.
Responding to a debate on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, the Minister also refuted the TMC's contention that nothing has been provided for the state in the Budget.
Sitharaman criticized the West Bengal Chief Minister for not improving law and order in the state but instead asking women to stay indoors during evenings.
Highlighting the deteriorating law and order in the state, she said, "In Bengal, it's bombs that prevail, not the law," leading to uproar from the opposition benches.
In this context, she cited a bomb blast in Kaliganj in the state in June 2025 in which a child was killed and a TMC leader was arrested in the case. The state is due to go to the polls in the next couple of months.
On certain remarks by TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, Sitharaman said he was misleading the House by saying that GST is imposed on milk, stationery, and education.
She also refuted his assertions that one has to pay GST even in death, saying there has never been any GST on funeral services.
The minister said there are several proposals in the Budget in which the West Bengal government can participate for the benefit of the state.
On SP leader Akhilesh Yadav's remarks that the Budget does not provide for high-speed trains in Uttar Pradesh, the minister said that two high-speed train corridors go through the state -- Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri.
"I request Akhilesh ji to speak keeping facts in mind," Sitharaman added.
