) cases in West Denial of GST dues will crush

earl.6 lal<l1 federalism, says Bengal FM

,deaths. toll is 3,176
'Planned strategy to destroy economic health of the States'
infections.
A total of 43,436 samples monetise the borrowing."
were tested for the infection SHIV SAHAY SINGH
day re- KOLKATA Mr. Mitra said except
of CO- in the past 24 hours. The to-
West Bengal Finance Minis- some, about 15 big States
:al case tal samples tested so far in
ter Amit Mitra on Sunday had objected to Ms. Sitbara-
,tate al- West Bengal, which has one
of lowest tests per million took a dig at Union Finance man's suggestion that they
s in the
the to- population among larger Minister Nirinala Sithara- should borrow and empha-
to co- States, is now 18.45 lakh. man's "Act of God" remarks, sised that the Centre should
and said asking States to bor- borrow instead. He also
: being Doctor succumbs row for the shortfall of the pointed out that o n March
:overy Meanwhile, another doctor GST revenue was a "planned 14, Ms. Sitharaman had said
H.96% of the Kolkata Municipal strategy" to destroy the eco- the Centre is duty-bound to
in the Corporation (KMC), who nomic health of the States Amit Mitra compensate the States.
was at the forefront of the and crush federalism. "Now what they are say-
~were fight against COVID-19, died "In the name of 'Act of are "completely unaccepta- ing is just the opposite," he
taking due to the viral infection. God', a huge debt is being ble" and has put them in a said. Citing a statement
1,280. Raqibuddin Ahmed, a thrust on the States, which "Catch 22' situation. He said made by GST Network foun-
fected doctor employed with the will destroy their financial the argument that borrow- der Nandan Nilekani before
infec- city's civic body, was active health, crush federalism and ing by the States would not the GST Council, Mr. Mitra
as, re- in containing the spread of then the brute power of cen- impact their yield and the said Mr. Nilekani had said
ng its pandemic in borough num- tralism will come to the macroeconomy was a twist- the revenue loss due to frau.
e dis- ber 15 of the KMC. So far play," he said at a virtual ed one. "The rate at which dulent transactions was
more about 20 doctors have died press conference. the States will borrow is U0,018 crore. "So is this an
1ours, in West Bengal due to CO- Mr. Mitra said the options higher than at which the Act of God or an act of
d 428 VID-19 infection. made available to the States Centre borrows and it can fraud," the Minister asked

Visva Bharati suspends three of its officials

Former officiating V-C amongst those expelled for tampering with documents
~

or a SHIV SAHAY SINGH

joine<;l the protesters who
the KOLKATA
were also opposed to the Un-
As- The Visva Bharati adminis- iversity's decision of not
J(A- tration has suspended three holding Poush Mela (winter
2nt- officials, including former of- carnival) this season.
r1cy, ficiating vice-chancellor Sa-
bujkali Sen, for allegedly 'Willing to hold Mela'
; of ~ring_ wit~ a resolu;i~
co- On Friday, the university
-oftlie umvers1ty executive
·est, gave hints that they are will-
council meeting.
:on- ing to organise the Mela this
University officials said
va- the decision was taken on year with everyone's cooper-
tur- Friday on the basis of the re- ation. A press statement on
and port of an inquiry committee Friday said the controversy
s~t up to probe the aHega- over organising the Mela is
for ~1ons. The commission. led unjust and the institute nev-