In Fresh Centre Vs INDIA Bloc Flashpoint, Sitharaman Calls Out Mamata's 'Mic Off' Claim At NITI Meet

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee walked out of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi on Saturday, accusing that her microphone was deliberately switched off when she started speaking about the allocation of funds for the state.

“…I was speaking, my mic was stopped. I said why did you stop me, why are you discriminating. I am attending the meeting you should be happy instead of that you are giving more scope to your party your government. 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…” she alleged.

‘Spreading Falsehood’: Finance Minister Sitharaman Slams Banerjee

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused Bengal CM Banerjee of spreading falsehood. Taking to her official X account, she said, “We all heard Hon. CM @MamataOfficial. She spoke her full time. The screen in front of our tables kept showing the time. A few other CMs spoke beyond their allotted time. On their own request, extra time was allowed without any fuss. Mikes were not switched off, not for anybody, particularly, not for CM, WB. Mamata ji has chosen to spread falsehood.”

“I was happy she attended. Was happier when she said she is speaking for Bengal and in fact for the entire opposition. I may agree or disagree with what she had to say. But now with her saying baseless things outside, I can only conclude that she is making an effort to keep I.N.D.I alliance happy,” she added.

What Eyewitnesses Told News18

Eye witnesses (CMs) who were present in the meeting, told Network 18 that once Banerjee’s time of seven minutes was over, there was a small bell, which rang after which she caught up jiffy and just left.

They further said that she did not even wait for anybody, including Rajnath Singh, who was asking chief ministers to even give her a minute or two extra.

In fact, a couple of other chief ministers who had exceeded that time asked for an extension and they were given so by Rajnath Singh, they added.

Many NDA ruled chief ministers felt that this was a pre-meditated move by Mamata Banerjee to create a controversy.

BJP Leaders Slam Bengal CM’s Move

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar strongly condemned Bengal CM’s walkout and called it ‘pre-planned.’ Taking to X, he said, “So the walkout by CM @MamataOfficial was pre-planned. It’s sad that a CM, who could have spoken for the people of Bengal, chose drama over substance in Delhi. This shows she is not serious about the needs of Bengal and is only interested in theatrics.”

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also took to X and said, “In the NITI Aayog meeting, I spoke for exactly 7 minutes and 30 seconds, exceeding the allotted time of 7 minutes.”

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday played down West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s allegation that her mike was turned off when she was speaking at the NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi, stating that it was “not a national issue.” Puri, while speaking at a press conference in Ahmedabad on the Union Budget, organised by the Gujarat BJP said, “I was not inside, and don’t know how much time was given (for her to speak).”

“But it is also said in Parliament that the mike has been turned off. It so happens that the mike is turned on when speaking. I do not know much about it. I have no idea how long she spoke. But I am certain that this is not a national issue, whether you spoke for 15 minutes or 18 minutes,” he added.

Opposition Supports Bengal CM

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stood by Mamata Banerjee’s move and said that the treatment of the West Bengal CM today at the meeting was unacceptable. He said, “It (NITI Aayog meeting) muzzles all divergent and dissenting viewpoints, which are the very essence of an open democracy. Its meetings are a farce to be reckoned with. Its treatment of the West Bengal CM today, although typical of the NITI Aayog, is unacceptable.”

PM Modi Chairs NITI Aayog Meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired  the ninth governing council meeting of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) on Saturday, to discuss making India a developed nation by 2047 on agenda.

In the meeting, the prime minister said that Viksit Bharat is ambition of every Indian. States can play an active role to achieve this aim as they are directly connected with the people.

The meeting also focussed on the recommendations of the third National Conference of chief secretaries, which was held in December last year.

The council with prime minister as the chairperson, comprises of all state chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and several Union ministers.

However, several opposition-ruled states’ chief ministers, including Tamil Nadu’s MK Stalin, Himachal Pradesh Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, have decided to give it a miss as a mark of protest against the Union budget which, they alleged, was “anti-federal” in spirit and “extremely discriminatory” towards their states.

However, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, decided to carve a niche away from the opposition alliance with her decision to attend the NITI Aayog meeting. But she walked out of the ongoing meeting accusing that her microphone was deliberately switched off when she started speaking about the allocation of funds for the state.

Following are the top updates:

– Several INDIA bloc chief ministers, includes Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin of the DMK, Kerala Chief Minister and CPI (M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann of the Aam Aadmi Party and all three Congress chief ministers — Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh’s Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Telangana’s Revanth Reddy, have decided to boycott the meeting after they slammed the Centre for its biased budget to accommodate allies JD(U) and TDP.

– On boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting, Stalin said, “The budget presented by the Finance Minister seems like a vengeful act against the states and people who boycotted the BJP. She has prepared a budget to take revenge against those who voted for the INDIA bloc. The union BJP govt is disregarding Tamil Nadu continuously.”

– However, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, decided to carve a niche away from the opposition alliance with her decision to attend the NITI Aayog meeting.

– Banerjee said that she would join the meeting and use the opportunity to register her protest against a “discriminatory budget” and the “conspiracy to divide West Bengal and other opposition-ruled states”.

– According to TMC, the Centre owes Bengal Rs 1,76,000 crore and the state is struggling to pay Awas Yojana and MGNREGA dues. Party insiders believe the Aayog meeting will be the right platform for the chief minister to raise the issue.

– “The attitude of their ministers and BJP leaders is such that they want to divide Bengal. Along with economic blockade, they want to impose a geographical blockade. Different leaders are giving different statements to divide Jharkhand, Bihar, and Bengal. We condemn this. We want to record our voice and I will be there to do so,” Banerjee said.

– Mamata Banerjee also slammed the public policy think-tank brought by the Modi government and demanded the scrapping of the Aayog and restoring the Planning Commission. “Since the NITI Aayog has been planned, I have not seen a single work being done because they don’t have any power. Earlier, there was a Planning Commission. As a chief minister… at that time I saw there was a system. 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,” Banerjee said,” she said.

– Additionally, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren also stood by the alliance’s decision to boycott the meeting. The suspense prevailed over his participation in the meeting. He cited state’s neglect in the Union Budget as a major reason. The state owes Rs 1 lakh 36 thousand crore from the central government.

– However, the BJP slammed the opposition parties for boycotting the key meeting. Party leader CR Kesavan hit out at the opposition and said that they are betraying the very spirit of cooperative federalism, wrecking the well-being and harming the interest of the respective states and people by trying to use them as political pawns. “The obstructive opposition, with its shameful boycott, is indulging in dangerous, divisive federalism. This is not just irresponsible or untenable, the opposition’s behaviour is undemocratic. The fundamental difference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the crooked Congress and the INDI alliance is this. For the prime minister, ‘desh’ comes first comes first. But for the INDI alliance, hatred comes first. This is very unfortunate….” he said.

– On Congress and opposition CMs boycotting NITI Aayog meeting, Union MoS L Murugan said, “MK Stalin always gives false hope to the people of Tamil Nadu. He is always confused and he wants to create a political drama in the name of NEET…MK Stalin is boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting, and this is a total failure of democracy.”

– Chief ministers from the BJP-ruled states are set to attend the meeting. However, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, an NDA ally, has not confirmed his attendance yet.

(With inputs from agencies)