Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee hints at debt relief for three states, not just Bengal
The minister said that work had slowed down due to assembly elections in Punjab.
The minister pointed out that chief ministers from Punjab and Kerala had also raised the issue with the Centre and the government was exploring all possibilities. But unlike these two states, Mamata has put the UPA on notice saying that she will be forced to initiate steps if the Centre did not provide relief through a moratorium on loans taken by the state.
The West Bengal chief minister's support is seen to be crucial for the Congress to push its candidate for president, where Mukherjee is himself a contender.
The finance minister on Wednesday said West Bengal was slow to enact a fiscal responsibility & budget management act and therefore lost out on assistance suggested by the Finance Commission.
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