'My Mic Was Stopped:' Mamata Banerjee Walks Out of PM Modi-Led NITI Aayog Meet

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday walked out of the key NITI Aayog meeting which was being chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mamata Banerjee alleged that her mic was muted while she was speaking at the meeting.

Notably, Banerjee had attended the meeting amid a boycott call by many Opposition chief ministers. She also described the incident as an 'insult' to Bengal and regional parties.

She said, "...I was speaking, my mic was stopped. I said why did you stop me, why are you discriminating. I am attending the meeting you should be happy instead of that you are giving more scope to your party your government. Only I am there from the opposition and you are stopping me from speaking...This is not only the insult of Bengal but also of all regional parties..."

She alleged that she was allowed to speak only for five minutes, despite her demand for more time to speak. She said that people who spoke before her was allowed 10-15 minutes but she was denied more time.

"I was only one from opposition who attended the meeting still you stopped me. I am attending the meeting. You should be happy for that. You give space to your party only," she further added.

She also slammed the Union Budget for 2024-25, calling it "biased".

"Even Budget also... this is political biased Budget. I said why are you discriminating against other states. NITI Aayog has no financial powers, how will it work? Give it financial powers or bring back Planning Commission,"  said  Banerjee after walking out of NITI Aayog meeting midway.