Last Updated on 27/07/2024 by Ankita Jain
The 9th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog was held in Delhi on Saturday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who arrived to attend the meeting, alleged that she was not given a chance to speak. Government sources have rejected Mamata’s claims. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that Mamata Banerjee has told the media that her mic was switched off, this is completely false.
‘Mamta’s claim is false’
On Mamata Banerjee’s allegations, Nirmala Sitharaman said, ‘CM Mamata Banerjee attended the NITI Aayog meeting. We all heard her. Every Chief Minister was given an allotted time which was visible on the screen on every table. She told the media that her mic was switched off. This is completely false.’
He further said, ‘Every Chief Minister was given adequate time to speak. It is unfortunate that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that her mic was switched off, which is not true. She should speak the truth instead of creating a narrative based on lies.’
Mamata Banerjee left the meeting midway
Mamata Banerjee left the Niti Aayog meeting midway. She said, ‘I have boycotted the meeting. Chandrababu Naidu was given 20 minutes to speak. CMs of Assam, Goa, Chhattisgarh spoke for 10-12 minutes. I was stopped from speaking after just five minutes. This is wrong.’
She said, ‘On behalf of the opposition, only I am representing here and attending this meeting because I am more interested in strengthening cooperative federalism. Niti Aayog has no financial powers, how will it work? Give it financial power or bring back the Planning Commission. I registered my protest and I came out.’
‘This is an insult to me’
Mamata said, ‘I said give funds to Bengal and do not discriminate. I said when you run the central government, you should think about all the states. I was telling about the central fund that it is not being given to West Bengal, then they muted my mic. I said that I am the only one from the opposition who is attending the meeting, you should be happy, instead you are giving more priority to your party and government. This is not only an insult to Bengal, but also an insult to all the regional parties. This is an insult to me as well.’
PM said- Developed India @ 2047 is the ambition of every Indian
At the Niti Aayog meeting, PM Modi said, ‘Developed India @ 2047 is the ambition of every Indian. States can play an active role in achieving this goal as they are directly connected to the people.’ He said, ‘This decade is of changes, technological and geopolitical as well as opportunities. India should take advantage of these opportunities and make its policies conducive to international investment. This is the step towards making India a developed nation.’