PM extends helping hand to debt-ridden WB

27 Apr 2012 Evaluate

West Bengal, the state ruled by Congress’ biggest ally Trinamool Congress is passing through debt turbulence. The huge and increasing debt of state has severely affected its growth as the country’s largest state owed around Rs 183,000 crore last year. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to extend a helping hand and has announced that central government would do everything to bail out the debt-ridden state.

The widening debt and interest payment burden had coerced state to place its demands before Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee which included restructuring of debt. 'The state is on the edge of a precipice. Its financial condition is very bad and the state government is facing grave difficulty,' Minister of State for Urban Development Saugata Roy.

The nation’s fourth most populous state has paid Rs 18,000 crore as interest and Rs 7,000 crore as loan repayment last year. The current state government has blamed the left front party, which ruled state for over 34 years, for this massive debt burden. The state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to meet Singh post meeting of Chief Ministers on National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) next week.

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