'Her Speaking Time Was Over': Centre Fact Checks Mamata's 'Muted Mic' Claim

New Delhi: Government sources have refuted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claims that she was not allowed to speak during Niti Aayog meeting. Banerjee had alleged that she walked out of the meeting because her mic was turned off, which she claimed silenced her. However, government officials have countered her allegations, stating that Banerjee was provided the full duration of her allocated speaking time without any interruption. The Press Information Bureau (PIB), centre's fact-checking unit also countered Mamata's claim, saying,"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."     

What Mamata Banerjee Claimed?

Banerjee said her microphone was stopped after five minutes, while other chief ministers were allowed to speak for longer durations. "This is insulting. I will not attend any further meetings," the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said. "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, and Chhattisgarh spoke for 10-12 minutes. I was stopped from speaking after just five minutes," she told reporters after coming out of the meeting of chief ministers chaired by Modi.

"This is unfair. From the opposition side, only I am representing here. I attended this meeting because of the greater interest that cooperative federalism should be strengthened," she added. Banerjee said she mentioned during the meeting that the government presented a politically-biased budget and asked why the Centre was discriminating among states.

"The NITI Aayog has no financial powers. How will it work? Give it financial powers or bring the Planning Commission back," she said. "I was stopped from speaking after five minutes. I said this is unfair. I am the only one present from the opposition side, I am attending this meeting because of the greater interest," she said.

Banerjee said she mentioned at the meeting that certain states were overlooked in the Union Budget for 2024-25. "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," Banerjee said.

She also pointed out at the meeting that central funds are due to West Bengal under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Prime Minister Awas Yojana. Banerjee said she wanted to speak more but her microphone was switched off after five minutes. "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," she said.

What's The Truth?

Government sources have rejected West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that she left the Niti Aayog meeting due to her microphone being turned off. According to officials, Banerjee's speaking time had concluded, and it is incorrect to suggest that her microphone was deactivated. The sources highlighted that the meeting's clock indicated that her allotted time had expired.  

They further added that alphabetically, her turn would have come after lunch but she was accommodated as the seventh speaker on an official request from the West Bengal government as she had to return to Kolkata early.