In a recent controversy, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that her microphone was switched off during the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog. Reacting to this, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that the allegation is incorrect and that Banerjee’s speaking time had simply concluded.
“CM Mamata Banerjee attended the NITI Aayog meeting. We all heard her. Every CM was given the allotted time and that was displayed on the screen which was present before every table… She said in the media that her mic was put off. That is completely false. Every CM was given their due time to speak… It’s unfortunate that the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has claimed that her mic was switched off which is not true… She should speak the truth behind this rather than again build a narrative based on falsehood,” Sitharaman told news agency ANI.
Additionally, the Press Information Bureau Fact Check (PIB Fact Check) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting supported Sitharaman’s statement, labeling Banerjee’s claim as “misleading.” “It is being claimed that the microphone of CM, West Bengal was switched off during the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog. This claim is #Misleading. The clock only showed that her speaking time was over. Even the bell was not rung to mark it,” PIB Fact Check posted on X.
Moreover, PIB Fact Check pointed out that Banerjee’s turn to speak came earlier than scheduled as a courtesy. “Alphabetically, CM, West Bengal turn would have come after lunch. She was accommodated as the 7th speaker on an official request of the West Bengal government as she had to return early,” it added.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also weighed in, remarking that he had not seen what transpired at the meeting but criticized the opposition alliance. “I can only say this so-called INDI alliance is not at all an alliance because Mamata Banerjee did not give a single seat to the Congress in West Bengal. They are not able to digest the mandate of the people; they are crying foul.”
Mamata Banerjee, however, stood firm on her claim, expressing her discontent with the meeting proceedings. She asserted that she was cut off after just five minutes, while other Chief Ministers, particularly those from NDA-ruled states, were allowed to speak for much longer durations. “This is insulting. I will not attend any further meeting,” the TMC supremo declared.
After leaving the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee told reporters, “I have come out boycotting the meeting. (Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister) Chandrababu Naidu was given 20 minutes to speak. The Chief Ministers of Assam, Goa, Chhattisgarh spoke for 10-12 minutes. I was stopped from speaking after just five minutes.”
Banerjee further criticized the government for presenting what she called a politically biased budget, accusing the Centre of discriminating against certain states. She also demanded financial powers for the NITI Aayog or a return to the Planning Commission structure.
In her statements, Banerjee highlighted that funds owed to West Bengal under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Prime Minister Awas Yojana were yet to be disbursed. “I said you are politically biased, you are not giving attention to different states. Even the budget is a political, biased budget…. I told them it should be reviewed. I spoke for all states,” she said.
Banerjee reiterated her stance, stating, “I was stopped after five minutes. Others spoke for 10-15-20 minutes. I was the only one from the opposition, but I was stopped. This is insulting. I will not attend any further meetings.”