Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday began a sit-in-dharna here, demanding payment of dues in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) fund to the state.

Banerjee during her recent North Bengal tour announced a sit-in-dharna from Feb 2 to protest alleged withholding of the state's dues of MGNREGA fund by the Centre.

Trinamool Congress MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar alleged that the dues of more than 21 lakh workers of Bengal have been pending for over 25 months now.

Banerjee on Dec 20 called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, along with five MPs, and demanded the release of the pending central funds to the state.

In the meeting, the PM proposed that officials from the state and the Centre can sit together and clear the issues.

Banerjee after meeting the PM told reporters that 155 central teams have already visited West Bengal and the state government has given clarification on issues raised by the Centre.

Meanwhile, state Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday said in New Delhi that all the pending funds for the would-be cleared by the Union government provided the state government meets the requirements laid down by the Centre after he meets with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi.

State education minister Bratya Basu said, "MGNREGA funds are not just numbers, they mpact real lives. Our united call against the injustice done by the BJP to the people of Bengal shall reverberate across the Nation. Nothing will stop our dharna to get what we are rightfully owed."

In the dharna scheduled for 48 hours, a host of ministers, MPs, and many TMC women wing leaders took part in the silent demonstration in which festoons were hung regarding the alleged deprivation of the Centre towards the state.

Mamata strongly condemns the arrest of Hemant Soren:

At the dharna site, Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned the arrest of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

Describing it as "unjust", Banerjee said, "I strongly condemn the unjust arrest of Shri Hemant Soren, a powerful tribal leader."

"The vindictive act by BJP-backed central agencies reeks of a planned conspiracy to undermine a popularly elected government," she said.

"He is a close friend of mine," the Chief Minister said and vowed to stand unwaveringly by his side, "dedicated to protecting democracy in these trying times".

The resilient people of Jharkhand will deliver a resounding response and emerge victorious in this crucial battle, Banerjee iterated.

[With UNI inputs]