Modi targets Bengal from Varanasi over PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Trinamool hits back

In an address at his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, Modi said, "There is one state which has not implemented the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi because if farmers had got the money then Modi would gain mileage. But after coming to power in the state, we will ensure the money has reached the farmers."

Hitting back at Modi, who will undoubtedly be the key campaigner in the West Bengal assembly polls in 2021, state minister Indranil Sen said, "No one will believe that people have suffered due to Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal Chief Minister). Leave our state, no other state will buy that statement."

However in September, the Mamata Banerjee government had cleared the state had no objection to the enrollment of the scheme if funds are routed through the state citing West Bengal had already introduced a similar scheme.

In a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sept 9, Banerjee wrote, "... the State Government in Bengal has already introduced way before the Krishak Bandhu scheme to provide financial assistance to farmers including sharecroppers."

"... Moreover, the state government provides comprehensive crop insurance facilities to farmers where the entire insurance premium is borne by the state government and is completely free for the farmers."

"However, we will be happy to provide benefits to the farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, and in that case, the Central Government may transfer the requisite fund direct to the State Government for further disbursement with full responsibility, to the beneficiaries, through the State Government machinery."