Now Mitra’s turn to point ‘errors’ in Asim claims

Refuting Dasgupta’s charges,Mitra said while the projected receipt of the state government in the current financial year was Rs 59,462 crore,the expenditure would be around Rs 56,000 crore. “In effect,we are spending 94 per cent of our receipts on salaries,pensions,and loan repayment and what our chief minister said in Delhi was absolutely true,’’ Mitra said.

Demanding money from the Centre,Banerjee had said the state government was left with very little money for development after spending 94 per cent on salaries,etc.

On the issue of market borrowing on which also Dasgupta attacked the present government,Mitra said,“The ceiling for market borrowing for us has been fixed at Rs 17,828 crore. The Left Front government took Rs 5,213 crore and it left bills unpaid to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore for which we had to take loans from the market. So the Left Front government itself in 50 days (April 1-May 20) borrowed Rs 8,213 crore from the market. And we in the last six months took Rs 7 crore. But I assure all that we can devise ways and will be able to mobilise more resources,’’ Mitra further said.

Regarding disbursing of dearness allowance,Mitra said it was the Left Front government which did not pay DA to the tune of Rs 4,800 crore and now it stands at Rs 6,900 crore which is payable to the employees. “Though I cannot announce any date now,I can assure you that as soon as the situation improves we will pay the employees more instalments of DA,’’ the Finance minister said.