Kolkata (PTI): The Congress on Sunday accused West Bengal's ruling Left Front of launching an anti-Centre campaign ahead of the panchayat polls and challenged it to release a white paper on exactly how the Congress-led Central government has "deprived the state".

"Over past three weeks, Biman Bose is being increasingly vocal with allegations that the Centre is depriving West Bengal. If he publishes a white paper on how the Centre has deprived the state, the people can benefit and the Congress can also enlighten itself," newly-appointed WBPCC chief Priya Ranjan Dasmunmshi told a press conference.

Asserting that the Centre's help to West Bengal was much greater than that other states, Dasmunshi said the state got 20 per cent of the Rs 70,000 crore grants given to all the states by the Centre.

"Besides, the amount given by the Centre for revival of the sick industries is unusually high. IISCO has already been revived and Bengal Immunity is on way to revival. I can tell you that more financial assistance will come for other industries as well," the Union Information and Broadcasting minister said.

Claiming that the state did not have the necessary infrastructure to utilise all the funds provided by the Centre, Dasmunshi said, "if Biman Bose calls us to respond to his allegations, we will tell the people how he is misleading them ahead of the panchayat elections."

He attributed the price rise to the West Bengal government's 'shameless protection' to hoarders and its indifference to the issue of food security.