Mamata has her way with financial package; Punjab, Kerala also to gain
Amid pressure from Trinamool boss Mamata Banerjee for financial assistance to West Bengal, finance minister Pranab Mukerjee said a package was being worked out to help the state along with similarly debt-stressed Punjab and Kerala. Replying to the budget debate in Rajya Sabha, Mukherjee said a group of officers had been constituted to look at possible ways to help states that have high debt levels. "We will work out an acceptable solution," the finance minister said in what was by far the clearest indication of Centre's keenness to help West Bengal out with its financial woes.