Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited West Bengal to assess the damages of Cyclone Yaas. He had chaired a review meeting between the state (Chief Minister and state officials) and Centre (Prime Minister and Centre officials) to take stock of the situation in the state.
However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee and Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay arrived 30 minutes late to the meeting despite being in the same premises, a report by ANI said citing sources.
Upon arriving at the meeting, she handed over some papers and left citing that she had other meeting lined up.
The meeting was attended by West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Ministers Debashree Chaudhuri and Dharmendra Pradhan. There were no representatives from the state government.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah called the conduct of West Bengal CM as an ‘unfortunate low’.
Mamata Didi’s conduct today is an unfortunate low. Cyclone Yaas has affected several common citizens and the need of the hour is to assist those affected. Sadly, Didi has put arrogance above public welfare and today’s petty behaviour reflects that.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 28, 2021
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that what happened in Bengal was shocking. He said that the Prime Minister and Chief Minister are not just individuals but institutions and added that such behaviour with the nation’s Prime Minister in the time of calamity, is painful.
आपदा काल में बंगाल की जनता को सहायता देने के भाव से आए हुए प्रधानमंत्री के साथ इस प्रकार का व्यवहार पीड़ादायक है।जन सेवा के संकल्प व संवैधानिक कर्तव्य से ऊपर राजनैतिक मतभेदों को रखने का यह एक दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण उदहारण है, जो भारतीय संघीय व्यवस्था की मूल भावना को भी आहत करने वाला है।
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) May 28, 2021
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called CM Mamata Bannerjee’s conduct as a disservice to the people of Bengal and added that it has undermined the dignity of both the offices.
A state ravaged by a cyclone has the @PMOIndia visiting to help provide relief. CM and PM are constitutional positions that serve the people of India. @MamataOfficial’s conduct today has undermined the dignity of both the offices. A disservice to the people of Bengal. pic.twitter.com/lPTUdbnhY5
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) May 28, 2021
While TMC supporters questioned the presence of Suvendhu Adhikari in the meeting, many point out that he is a Leader of Opposition who is entitled to attend the meeting as the position is equivalent to that of a cabinet minister.
Suvendu Adhikary has been appointed as leader of Opposition by Bengal Assembly Speaker.
As LoP he has full right to attend CM-PM meeting. pic.twitter.com/llDSWOvMUM
— Rishi Bagree 🇮🇳 (@rishibagree) May 28, 2021
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