West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the union budget and said she would protest against the discriminatory budget proposals in the Niti Ayog meeting on Saturday. Her comments come amidst uncertainties whether the Trinamool Congress supremo would attend the meeting.
Addressing presspersons before departing to Delhi, Mamata said, “I will protest against the political discrimination being done against West Bengal in the Niti Aayog meeting. The attitude of their ministers and the BJP leaders is such that they want to divide the state,” ANI reported.
The TMC leader charged the BJP leaders want to create a geographical divide between West Bengal and a few other states. “Along with the economic blockade, they also want to impose a geographical blockade. Different leaders are giving different statements to divide Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. We condemn this,” she said.
Mamata said she was asked to send a written speech seven days ahead of the meeting, before the union budget was tabled and she has done so. "If I get an opportunity to deliver my speech at the meeting and record my protest against the discrimination and political bias against the opposition-ruled states besides the conspiracy that is being hatched to divide Bengal and its neighbouring states, I will do so. Else, I will walk out of the meeting," the chief minister said.
Chief ministers of several opposition-ruled states have decided to boycott the meeting disappointed over union budget.
