Controversy Erupts at NITI Aayog Meeting: Mamata Banerjee Claims Insult, BJP Denies Allegations

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and other opposition leaders criticized the BJP-led government after West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee claimed she was insulted at the NITI Aayog meeting. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed the allegations as baseless, sparking further debate on cooperative federalism.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced an 'insult' after alleging she was stopped from speaking after five minutes at the NITI Aayog meeting. Raut pointed out that the budget allocation favored BJP-ruled states, prompting Chief Ministers from Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh to boycott the meeting.

'Mamata Banerjee attended the meeting but was not allowed to speak. The West Bengal CM was insulted; her microphone was switched off. This doesn't suit democracy,' Raut stated during an address in Mumbai. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that cooperative federalism necessitates dialogue and respect for all voices.

Stalin criticized the BJP-led Central government, arguing that opposition parties were being treated unfairly. 'Is this the way to treat a Chief Minister? The Union BJP government must understand that opposition parties are an integral part of our democracy,' he said. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed Banerjee's claims as 'baseless,' asserting she spoke her allocated time and accusing her of spreading falsehoods to please the INDIA bloc.

After leaving the NITI Aayog meeting midway, Banerjee accused the Centre of 'insulting Bengal,' adding that the meeting was a deliberate effort to 'malign the opposition.' She criticized the uneven allocation of resources, favoring BJP-ruled states, and called for equitable treatment for all states.