2024-07-28 19:04:29
New Delhi : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday walked out of the NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. She alleged that despite being the only representative of the opposition, she was interrupted during her speech. Mamata Banerjee also alleged that her mic was switched off. However, government sources rejected her allegations and said that the time given to Mamata to speak was over.
‘Microphone turned off after 5 minutes’
Mamata said that her microphone was switched off after five minutes, while other chief ministers were allowed to speak for longer. The Trinamool Congress chief said that this is insulting. I will not participate in any meeting from now on. After coming out of the meeting, she said that I have boycotted the meeting and come out. (Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister) Chandrababu Naidu was given 20 minutes to speak. The chief ministers of Assam, Goa, Chhattisgarh spoke for 10 to 12 minutes. I was stopped from speaking after five minutes. This is unfair.
What is the government saying?
Government sources said it was wrong to say that Mamata’s microphone was turned off. They said that according to the clock, her speaking time was over. Sources said that as per alphabetical order, Mamata’s turn to speak would have come after lunch, but she was allowed to speak as the seventh speaker on the official request of the West Bengal government, as she had to return to Kolkata early. PIB’s Fact Check Unit shared Mamata Banerjee’s statement on social media platform ‘X’ and said, “It is being claimed that the West Bengal Chief Minister’s microphone was turned off during the 9th Governing Council meeting of Niti Aayog. This claim is misleading. The clock only showed that her speaking time was over. Even a bell was not rung to mark it.
Mamata’s mic was not switched off, everyone got the same time. She had asked for time before lunch, in writing…we also adjusted. Everyone got only seven minutes.
B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO, Niti Aayog
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Finance Minister replied
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman refuted Mamata Banerjee’s claim that her mic was switched off during the Niti Aayog meeting. She accused the TMC supremo of fabricating a ‘story based on lies’. Sitharaman said “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attended the Niti Aayog meeting. We all listened to her. Every Chief Minister was given time and it was shown on the screens present in front of every table. She said in the media that her mic was switched off. This is a complete lie. Every Chief Minister was given their due time to speak. It is unfortunate that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that her mic was switched off, which is not true… She should tell the truth behind it instead of fabricating a story based on lies,” the Union Finance Minister said.