Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman strongly criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her claim that her microphone was switched off during the NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi. Sitharaman called Banerjee’s allegations a “false narrative” and urged her to reveal the truth.
Mamata Banerjee baselessly accused the organizers of the meeting of turning off her microphone when she began discussing the allocation of funds for West Bengal. Banerjee claimed that her microphone was deliberately turned off, and she walked out of the meeting.
Nirmala Sitharaman’s Response
Sitharaman responded by saying that all Chief Ministers, including Banerjee, were given equal time to speak, which was displayed on screens visible to everyone. She insisted that Banerjee’s microphone was not turned off and that it was unfortunate for a chief minister to spread false information.
The government released a statement refuting Banerjee’s claims, explaining that her speaking time had simply ended. They mentioned that she was allowed to speak earlier than scheduled as a special accommodation. The statement emphasized that no one’s microphone was turned off, and Banerjee was given her due time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the NITI Aayog meeting, which focused on making India a developed nation by 2047. Modi highlighted the importance of states playing an active role in achieving this goal and encouraged policies that attract international investments.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also condemned Banerjee’s actions, criticizing the opposition alliance for their discontent. He argued that the opposition, including Banerjee, was not able to accept the people’s mandate and was creating unnecessary drama.
Opposition leaders reacted strongly to the incident. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin condemned the treatment of Banerjee, questioning the government’s commitment to cooperative federalism. He emphasized that opposition voices are crucial in a democracy and should be respected.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury criticized Banerjee for attending the meeting despite the opposition’s request to boycott it. He suggested that Banerjee attended the meeting only to create a scene and gain attention.
Several Chief Ministers from opposition-ruled states, including Tamil Nadu’s MK Stalin and Himachal Pradesh’s Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, boycotted the meeting as a protest against the Union budget. They argued that the budget was anti-federal and discriminatory.
Banerjee, however, chose to attend the meeting to voice her opposition against what she described as a “discriminatory budget” and efforts to divide opposition-ruled states.
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