Patna: Union Minister Chirag Paswan has refuted allegations made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who claimed she was not allowed to speak and that her microphone was switched off during a NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi on Saturday. Speaking to journalists at Patna airport on Sunday, Chirag dismissed Banerjee’s allegations as “completely wrong.”
Chirag clarified that there was a time constraint at the meeting and that Mamata was reminded when her time was up. “No one controls the microphone; it was purely a matter of time management,” he explained, adding that Mamata’s abrupt exit was unwarranted. He suggested that if she had additional points to make or felt aggrieved, she could have conveyed this during the meeting.
He further noted that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman were present and keen to hear Mamata’s views, particularly on the budget. Chirag suggested that Mamata’s actions seemed premeditated, possibly as an attempt to divert focus from important discussions on issues such as support for the poor, youth, and women.
Highlighting the NITI Aayog’s role as a platform for addressing state concerns, Chirag pointed out that significant budget allocations had been made for Bihar, including Rs 11,000 crore for flood relief. He questioned the criticism from opposition parties like the RJD and Congress, suggesting that their opposition might not align with the best interests of Bihar’s development.
