West Bengal most debt-stressed state: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed hope that the Centre would take steps to treat West Bengal as a most debt-stressed state and respond to the repeated pleas made to it to resolve the crisis.

"We are not begging the Centre for assistance. The Centre should take steps to treat West Bengal as a number one debt-stressed state," Banerjee told a press conference at Writers' Buildings.

Referring to the huge burden of Rs 22,000 crore interest the state was paying to the Centre for the massive loan taken by the previous Left Front government, she said what will we eat if all the money is spent in paying interest?

The chief minister said that the union finance minister has been informed about the financial situation in the state several times.

"The finance minister has assured to consider. I have no idea when it will take concrete shape. I hope the Centre will definitely take steps," she said.