Central govt should have allocated more funds for Amphan: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat News Co-ordinator Dipankar Bose, veteran Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury spoke on the handling of cyclone Amphan. Chowdhury also highlighted his views on the political turf between BJP and TMC, adding that Left-Congress alliance in the state requires a common agenda.

Hyderabad: Commenting on the handling of cyclone Amphan, which had claimed 90 lives in West Bengal, Berhampore MP and senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the Central government should have been more liberal to West Bengal and its people. In an interview with ETV Bharat, Chowdhury said, "I feel the government should have allocated more funds for Amphan."

The veteran politician also talked about the current political scenario of Bengal and how the ruling party All India Trinamool Congress(TMC) has eliminated secular space in the state.

On Cyclone Amphan

Asked about whether Cyclone Amphan should be declared as a natural disaster by the Centre, Chowdhury said, "Even if cyclone Amphan is declared as a natural disaster, it will not make any difference. Amphan had ravaged Bengal when the state was already reeling under the coronavirus. The most important thing is to make sure that the allocated fund of Rs 1,000 crore should be utilised efficiently. Though the state govt also deployed its resources to tackle Amphan, I don't think it is enough."

Talking about Rs 1,000 crore relief fund, the leader said, "Prime Minister visited the cyclone-affected areas of the area and announced a relief package of Rs 1,000 crore. I think the government should have allocated more funds. Central government should have been more liberal to West Bengal and its people at this hour of crisis."

On political turf between BJP and TMC

Blaming the Trinamool government for eliminating the secular space in the state, Berhampore MP said, "The secular ideology of the Left Front and Congress parties got sidelined after Trinamool government stepped in and the political vacuum was created. At present, Bhartiya Janata Party has emerged as a strong opposition of TMC after bagging 18 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections."

Accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of playing the communal card, Congress leader said, "Banerjee has paved way for BJP in West Bengal. Now, Congress and Left Front parties should come together to fight against BJP."

On Political Alliance in Bengal

While talking about the political alliance in the state, Chowdhury said, "If Left Front joins hands with Congress, it will be a big challenge for TMC and BJP in the upcoming assembly polls."

He said, "The final call on the alliance will be taken by Congress. In 2016, the alliance of both the parties proved fruitful but later on, things did not work out. I think for Left-Congress alliance, a common agenda is needed."

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