1. Mamata Banerjee walked out of the Niti Aayog meeting, alleging her mic was muted.
2. She claimed she was limited to a five-minute speaking slot, unlike other CMs.
3. Banerjee expressed frustration over central funds for West Bengal and alleged discrimination.
New Delhi, July 27: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stormed out of the Niti Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, alleging that her microphone was muted and she was restricted to a five-minute speaking slot.
Banerjee, the only Chief Minister from an opposition state present, voiced frustration over what she claimed was discrimination in speaking time and a lack of central funds for West Bengal.
Banerjee accused the meeting of bias, citing that other chief ministers, including those from Assam, Goa, and Chhattisgarh, received more time to speak.
She also criticized the government for allegedly silencing her when she addressed the issue of funds.
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The Chief Minister labeled the incident as an insult to both Bengal and regional parties, and demanded the abolition of the Niti Aayog, calling for a return to the Planning Commission.
Government sources countered her claims, stating that Banerjee’s allotted speaking time had ended and her turn was scheduled after lunch. They noted that she was given priority due to her need to leave early.
Notably, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also skipped the meeting, with Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha representing the state.
Opposition states have boycotted the meeting in protest against what they perceive as a biased Union Budget that favors NDA allies in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
