In a dramatic turn of events, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee walked out of the NITI Aayog meeting, calling for the abolition of the policy think tank. Banerjee, known for her strong stance against the central government, accused the NITI Aayog of discriminatory practices and alleged that her microphone was shut off when she raised the issue of fund allocation.

Discrimination in Fund Allocation

Banerjee’s primary grievance was the alleged discrimination in the allocation of funds. She argued that the budgetary provisions were biased and did not consider the needs of states like West Bengal. According to her, this unequal distribution of resources hinders the development of states and perpetuates regional disparities.

Microphone Incident

The situation escalated when Banerjee claimed that her microphone was deliberately switched off when she attempted to address the issue of funds during the meeting. “They silenced me when I wanted to speak for my state. This is not just an insult to me but to the people of West Bengal,” she said.

Call for Abolition

Expressing her frustration, Banerjee called for the abolition of the NITI Aayog, stating that it had failed to fulfill its purpose. “NITI Aayog was supposed to be an institution for cooperative federalism, but it has become a tool for the central government to impose its will on states. It’s time to abolish it,” she declared.

Future Boycott

In a stern statement, Banerjee announced that she would never attend any future NITI Aayog meetings. “There is no point in participating in a body that doesn’t respect the voices of states. I will not attend any NITI Aayog meetings in the future,” she affirmed.

TMC’s Response

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has rallied behind Banerjee, condemning the incident and planning to stage protests. Senior TMC leaders stated that they would protest both inside and outside Parliament to highlight the insult to Banerjee and the broader issue of discriminatory practices by the central government.

Political Reactions

The incident has sparked a flurry of political reactions. Opposition parties have voiced their support for Banerjee, criticizing the central government for its handling of the situation. Meanwhile, the ruling party has dismissed her allegations, claiming that the NITI Aayog functions impartially and that Banerjee’s walkout was politically motivated.

The walkout by Mamata Banerjee from the NITI Aayog meeting has brought to the fore the ongoing tensions between the West Bengal government and the central government. With the TMC gearing up for protests and Banerjee’s strong statements against the NITI Aayog, this incident is likely to escalate into a significant political confrontation. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how both the central government and the opposition will navigate this controversy.