Red Road set for Mamata's dharna over MNREGA funds

• Mamata Banerjee declares a dharna under the Ambedkar statue on Kolkata Red Road from February 2 for addressing MNREGA funds
• Earlier CM gave an ultimatum until Feb 1 for clearing state dues, threatening a dharna if not addressed
• The stage for the sit-in at Red Road is already set, with Trinamool leaders actively overseeing the preparations
   

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reaffirmed her intention to stage a dharna under the Ambedkar statue on Kolkata's Red Road, beginning February 2, to address the issue of pending dues under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). The sit-in is scheduled to commence at 1 p.m. and will involve MNREGA workers and those deprived of the housing scheme. The Chief Minister's work on building the stage for this sit-in at Red Road has been completed and Trinamool leaders are constantly taking stock of the sit-in.

While speaking in Malda on Wednesday, the Chief Minister stated, “I have given them an ultimatum till February 1 to clear all dues of the state, failing which I will stage a dharna from February 2. If the dues are not cleared, I know how to get it through a movement." 

"I urge all party leaders and workers to participate in the dharna... I want everyone's support," she added.

Banerjee claimed that the state's dues amount to a mammoth ₹7,000 crore for several central government-run schemes including MGNREGA, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana (PMGAY), among others.