Mamata Banerjee Walks Out of NITI Aayog Meeting in Protest

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee exited the NITI Aayog meeting, claiming she was cut off after just five minutes of speaking. She criticized the Union Budget 2024-25 as biased and argued for more financial powers for NITI Aayog or a return to the Planning Commission.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee walked out of the NITI Aayog meeting on Saturday, citing that she was interrupted and stopped from speaking after merely five minutes.

She sharply criticized the Union Budget for 2024-25, labeling it as biased and unfair.

'I have come out boycotting the meeting. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was given 20 minutes to speak. Other chief ministers spoke for 10-12 minutes. I was stopped after just five minutes. This is unfair,' Banerjee told reporters. 'NITI Aayog has no financial powers. Either grant it financial powers or bring back the Planning Commission.'

(With inputs from agencies.)