Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of Trinamool, accused the central government of deliberately withholding funds for the MGNREGA scheme, which provides rural employment. He criticized Union Minister Giriraj Singh for showing a "step-motherly attitude" towards the people of Bengal. Trinamool MPs, ministers, and leaders left for Delhi to hold a two-day protest demanding the release of wages for workers under the MGNREGA scheme and funds for other central schemes.