Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday (Feb 11) sharply criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led West Bengal government in the Lok Sabha, accusing it of presiding over a “bomb culture” instead of ensuring law and order in the state.
Replying to the debate on the Union Budget 2026–27, Sitharaman took on TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee over his remarks on GST and broadened her attack to issues of governance, fuel pricing, and crimes against women.
Rebuttal on GST remarks
Responding to Banerjee’s claim that “there was GST even after death to light an incense stick,” Sitharaman said the statement was misleading.
“In Bengal GST after death is a very sad thing to say,” she remarked, adding sarcastically, “maybe cut money after death is a norm in the state.”
Her comments triggered sharp exchanges in the House as treasury and opposition benches sparred over taxation and fiscal policies.
Attack over fuel prices
The Finance Minister also questioned the West Bengal government over petrol prices in the state.
“If you want to reduce burden on common man in the state, why is petrol Rs 10 more expensive,” she asked, directly targeting the Mamata Banerjee-led administration.
Her remarks came amid broader discussions on inflation and fiscal measures in the Budget.
Sitharaman further criticised the state government over the RG Kar rape case and other incidents of sexual violence, accusing it of mishandling law and order.
“It is ridiculous that a woman chief minister advised women not to come out at night else they would stand a risk to be raped,” she said, in a pointed reference to the state leadership.
Alleging a breakdown of governance, she asserted, “Bengal is run by the bomb culture, not by law and order.”
The remarks intensified political tensions between the BJP and the TMC, especially as women’s safety and governance remain contentious issues in the state.
Dankuni freight corridor row
Addressing criticism from Bengal leaders regarding the mention of Dankuni in the Union Budget, Sitharaman defended the Centre’s announcement of a new dedicated freight corridor.
“We mentioned Dankuni in this Budget, because we want to have an east-west corridor, which will go from Dankuni to Surat. Leaders of Bengal are so pained with this that they say that when Mamata Banerjee was the Railway Minister, she had announced this and that we are not doing anything new… This is absolutely false,” she said.
She further clarified, “I have announced new dedicated freight corridor from Dankuni to Surat. Mamata Banerjee had announced something from Ludhiana to Kolkata via Dankuni. Nothing came out of it. What I announced is new. So, do not attempt to hog credit in everything…”
Budget highlights and centre’s push
During her address, Sitharaman also outlined the key features of the Union Budget 2026-27. She stated that effective capital expenditure for FY27, including support to states and Union Territories, stands at Rs 17.1 lakh crore, amounting to 4.4 percent of GDP.
The allocation, she said, is aimed at advancing the goal of “Viksit Bharat.” The Finance Minister also highlighted the government’s focus on artificial intelligence in education, entrepreneurship support, infrastructure expansion, mega textile parks, logistics improvements, and industrial growth.
She reiterated that the Centre is willing to work collaboratively with states on skilling initiatives and development projects.
The Lok Sabha had begun discussion on the Budget earlier this week, and Sitharaman is scheduled to reply to the debate in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
