TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee calls Shivraj Singh Chouhan 'dalal', BJP hits back

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Tuesday accused Union agriculture and rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of working for the wealthy and acting as a "dalal (broker) for the rich".
He criticized the Union government for not releasing central funds to West Bengal under schemes like MGNREGA and PMAYG.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Banerjee alleged that funds had not been given to West Bengal for three years. He claimed this was because the BJP could not form a government in the state.
"Shivraj Chouhan is a 'dalal' (broker) for the rich. He doesn't work for the poor and that's why he was removed from the post of Madhya Pradesh chief minister," Banerjee said. He repeated the remark multiple times.

During Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, MPs from the DMK and Trinamool Congress protested against what they said was a delay in MGNREGA payments to some states. The Speaker adjourned the session until noon.
Banerjee, in his statement, further alleged that the Centre’s claim about 25 lakh fake job cards under MGNREGA was being used as a reason to withhold funds. He said, "They have not given us funds for the last three years. They are saying there are some discrepancies... (that) there are 25 lakh fake job cards (under MGNREGA)... We have told them to carry forward criminal proceedings against the fake cards, but they can't deprive 10 crore people of West Bengal of the funds."
He claimed that the BJP’s failure to win West Bengal in the 2021 assembly elections was the reason for the delay in funds. "Shivraj Chouhan and PM Narendra Modi are against Bengal. They want to form a government there and are failing. They will never come to power there. BJP leaders say don't give funds to Bengal," he said.
The BJP responded, with minister of state for agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary demanding an apology for the remarks made against Chouhan. "This is not a good thing, such language by a senior MP does not suit him. PM Modi is working on the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. There is no discrimination against any state and everyone is getting their share," Choudhary said while talking to news agency PTI.
He also said, "Unfortunately, the West Bengal government changes the names of central schemes and indulges in corruption. Using such language against a minister is not right. Banerjee should apologise."