Sitharaman Refutes Banerjee's Claims of Mic Cut-off in NITI Aayog Meeting

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s claims that her microphone was cut off during a NITI Aayog meeting. Banerjee accused the central government of giving her less speaking time as 'political discrimination,' allegations which were called 'misleading' by federal authorities.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday dismissed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that her microphone was switched off during the NITI Aayog meeting. Sitharaman asserted that every chief minister was allotted equal time to speak, and such claims were 'completely false.'

Addressing media queries, Banerjee had alleged 'political discrimination,' claiming that at the NITI Aayog meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she was given only five minutes to speak while others received more time.

'CM Mamata Banerjee attended the NITI Aayog meeting, and we all heard her. Each CM was given the allotted time displayed on the screen before each table,' Sitharaman told ANI. She called Banerjee's claim 'unfortunate,' adding that the West Bengal CM should have requested more time instead of leaving the meeting early.

'It's unfortunate that Mamata Banerjee has claimed her mic was switched off, which is not true. We're happy she participated, spoke for West Bengal, and the opposition,' Sitharaman commented. She suggested Banerjee should speak the truth rather than building 'a narrative based on falsehood.'

Meanwhile, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury remarked that Banerjee seemed to be lying, given the improbability of a state's CM not being allowed to speak. 'It's very surprising. Mamata Banerjee knew what would happen; she had the script,' he said.

The central government's fact-checking body also debunked Banerjee's claims as 'misleading.' The PIB stated that only the clock indicated her speaking time was over. A subsequent tweet clarified that Banerjee was accommodated as the seventh speaker at her request, even though her turn would have been after lunch alphabetically.

'It is misleading to claim the mic was turned off. The clock simply showed her time was over,' read a PIB statement on X. The body also noted that Banerjee was given an earlier speaking slot upon request from the West Bengal government.

Banerjee, however, maintained her stance, alleging 'political discrimination' while speaking to reporters after leaving the meeting. 'I was allowed to speak for only five minutes. This is insulting,' she said.

She also suggested that other Chief Ministers were given significantly more time to speak and that her limited speaking time was unfair.

(With inputs from agencies.)