New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee defied protocol in a review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the post-cyclonic situation in the state and is misleading on the controversy surrounding chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Government sources said on Tuesday.
After PM Modi landed at Kalaikunda last week, Banerjee left for Digha after meeting him briefly and did not attend the review meeting over the damage caused by Cyclone Yaas. Mamata maintains she took the Prime Minister’s permission before leaving but Govt sources say that the PM Modi had not given permission to Banerjee to leave the meeting.
CM’s statements Vs Facts (Attributed to Govt sources)
Statement: I was informed late about the PM’s program and meeting. I cut short my schedule for the PM’s program.
Fact: The PM’s visit was to assess damage due to Cyclone Yaas, so it cannot be finalised before the Cyclone comes. In fact, the same timelines for followed when PM visited WB last year after Cyclone Amphan. This time, Both Odisha and WB were informed at a similar time. However Odisha managed the program very well, which was before the WB visit.
Statement: I waited to meet the PM
Fact: PM landed at Kalaikunda at 1359 hours. Mamata Banerjee landed at Kalaikunda after the PM at 1410 hours. It is clear that PM was kept waiting for Mamata Banerjee as he landed much before her. This was also confirmed by TMC MP who tweeted that there was no big deal in PM being kept waiting. Upon descending from the chopper, she reached the meeting building, which was around 500 metres away. After meeting the PM, she departed for her next journey at 1435 hours. So in effect, she travelled 500 metres to and fro, met PM and departed in 25 mins. She left before the PM left, which is clearly contrary to accepted practices and protocol. It is clear that Mamata Banerjee’s statement of being made to wait is entirely false and that she made the PM wait.
Statement: My programs were already fixed. This is not necessary that every time the Chief Minister has to receive, sometimes there are other programs also.
Fact: Mamata Banerjee had agreed to attend the meeting. However she changed her mind after coming to know that the LoP was going to be part of the meeting, which she also mentions in her letter. Hence it is clear that her pre-decided schedule was not an issue at all. This was also confirmed by the Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal who has tweeted that Mamata told him that she would boycott the meeting if LoP of WB attends the meeting.
Statement: Shocked and stunned by unilateral order on Chief Secy; order without prior consultation with the State; order legally untenable, unprecedented, unconstitutional.
Fact: The order is perfectly constitutional since Chief Secretary is an All India Services officer. He chose to ignore his constitutional duties, as a result of which no presentation was given to PM and no officer of WB government attended the PM’s review meeting.
Chief Secretary’s retirement shows that Mamata Banerjee is on the back foot. She knows that facts of the matter are against the Chief Secretary and his behaviour was such that it will invite strict disciplinary action as he is an All India Services Officer & it was his duty to ensure that the review meeting takes place as scheduled. All India Officers are not expected to be part of politics. Mamata knows all this & his retirement is a last bid to save him.
Mamata Banerjee has done a big U turn in a matter of hours. From requesting PM to confirm the extension of Chief Secretary for 3 months, to retiring him now.
Statement: Chief Secy sent messages to a senior officer accompanying you to sort this issue or arrange a PM-CM meeting before that meeting; we got no positive response; My Director (Security) was also in touch with SPG in this regard.
Fact: Mamata Banerjee chose to boycott the review meeting because the LOP of WB was present. No issue was created by GoI on this, because what mattered was Cyclone relief activities. It was suggested to her that PM will meet her immediately after the review meeting as that was the reason for which he traveled to WB. Sensing that she may have to wait till the review meeting gets over, she chose to prevent other officers too from attending the meeting and in effect cancelled the review meeting scheduled by the Prime Minister.
Statement: I entered the meeting with Chief Secy to give the report; you personally took it from my hand; I then expressly sought permission from you for us to leave for Digha where a meeting was due. You expressly permitted us to take our leave.
Fact: PM did not give permission to Mamata Banerjee to leave the meeting.
