• Source:JND

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamn took to the social media platform on X, criticising Congress leader Jairam Ramesh after the latter called the "treatment" of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting "unacceptable".

"Since it was established 10 years ago, NITI Aayog has been an attached office of the PMO and has functioned as a drumbeater for the non-biological PM," Ramesh posted on X.

"It has not advanced the cause of cooperative federalism in any manner. Its functioning has been blatantly partisan, and it is anything but professional and independent," he said. 

"It 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," Ramesh added.

Responding to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, Finance Minister Sitharaman pointed out that the Congress leader was not even present at the meeting. She clarified that Mamata Banerjee spoke for the full seven minutes allocated to each Chief Minister. She also noted that some Chief Ministers granted additional time upon request without any complaints or issues. 

"Jairam, you weren't even there! We all heard Hon. CM Mamata Banerjee. She spoke her full time. The screen in front of our tables kept showing the time," the Union Finance Minister posted on X. 

"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," she added.

Sitharaman also accused Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for spreading false information about microphones, stating that they were never turned off for anyone. She also added that the claims made by the TMC chief were merely an attempt to placate the INDIA bloc.

On Saturday, Banerjee walked out of a NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that she was unfairly stopped midway through her speech, a charge denied by the government, asserting that her speaking time was over.

Banerjee, the only opposition leader to attend the meeting, alleged that her microphone was switched off after five minutes of her speech while other chief ministers, including those from Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Assam, and Chhattisgarh, were allowed to speak for a longer duration.

"This is insulting. I will not attend any further meetings," the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo told reporters in New Delhi after walking out of the governing council meeting of the central government's public policy think-tank.


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