NEW DELHI : West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee visibly agitated, walked out of the Niti Aayog meeting on Saturday and accused the central government of “insulting” her deliberately by not providing enough time to talk, while NDA members present at the meeting were given ample time to do the same.
The TMC supremo, who did not take the same route as her colleagues in the INDIA bloc to boycott the meeting, pointed out that she was the sole opposition member and called out on the “discriminatory action” to stop her from talking as an “insult” to not only Bengal but also to regional parties.
“I wanted to speak but I was allowed to speak only for 5 minutes. People before me spoke for 10-20 minutes. I was the only one from the opposition who was participating but still, I was not allowed to speak. This is insulting.”
I was speaking, my mic was stopped. I said why did you stop me, why are you discriminating, she added.
“Only I am there from the opposition and you are stopping me from speaking…This is not only the insult of Bengal but also of all regional parties,” the West Bengal CM charged.
Earlier on Friday, Mamata Banerjee demanded Niti Aayog be scrapped and the Planning Commission restored, adding that the BJP is a “tukde-tukde platform,” and she will not allow her state to be divided. Mamata Banerjee said she felt their voices should be raised on a common platform.
“They (BJP) have formed the government but they don’t have people’s mandate. This is the first time after the BJP came in 2014 that they have not formed the government as a single party,” said the Trinamool Congress chief whose party is a constituent of the INDIA bloc.
The Trinamool chief said state governments had power to discuss their issues under the Planning Commission and it was very good at taking care of states in different areas. “But now there is no hope, no scope,” she said.
“I will raise my voice that stop this NITI Aayog. They do not have any financial power. They cannot do anything, only hold meeting once a year to show their face. Please bring back the Planning Commission again,” the West Bengal CM added.
The TMC supremo, who did not take the same route as her colleagues in the INDIA bloc to boycott the meeting, pointed out that she was the sole opposition member and called out on the “discriminatory action” to stop her from talking as an “insult” to not only Bengal but also to regional parties.
“I wanted to speak but I was allowed to speak only for 5 minutes. People before me spoke for 10-20 minutes. I was the only one from the opposition who was participating but still, I was not allowed to speak. This is insulting.”
I was speaking, my mic was stopped. I said why did you stop me, why are you discriminating, she added.
“Only I am there from the opposition and you are stopping me from speaking…This is not only the insult of Bengal but also of all regional parties,” the West Bengal CM charged.
Earlier on Friday, Mamata Banerjee demanded Niti Aayog be scrapped and the Planning Commission restored, adding that the BJP is a “tukde-tukde platform,” and she will not allow her state to be divided. Mamata Banerjee said she felt their voices should be raised on a common platform.
“They (BJP) have formed the government but they don’t have people’s mandate. This is the first time after the BJP came in 2014 that they have not formed the government as a single party,” said the Trinamool Congress chief whose party is a constituent of the INDIA bloc.
The Trinamool chief said state governments had power to discuss their issues under the Planning Commission and it was very good at taking care of states in different areas. “But now there is no hope, no scope,” she said.
“I will raise my voice that stop this NITI Aayog. They do not have any financial power. They cannot do anything, only hold meeting once a year to show their face. Please bring back the Planning Commission again,” the West Bengal CM added.