NDTV.com, New Delhi :
Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal, yesterday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time since he took power in May.
Ms Banerjee reportedly asked for financial assistance to ease West Bengal’s debt burden. Sources say PM Modi gave her no assurance on central help but said the state would benefit from the auction of coal blocks in the state and the clean Ganga campaign.
“PM agreed that West Bengal is under maximum debt and has shown financial discipline despite this. PM assured us he would look into it,” Ms Banerjee told reporters after the meeting.
The meeting comes in the middle of the government’s last-ditch attempts to bring the opposition on board on its controversial land bill, which it wants to push in Parliament this week.
Opposition parties led by the Congress describe the government’s proposed bill as anti-farmer. Sources say the government is considering half a dozen amendments to address that criticism.
“We are against the forceful land acquisition bill,” Ms Banerjee had told reporters earlier, amid indications that the government may also consult with her Trinamool Congress party.
Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal, yesterday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time since he took power in May.
Ms Banerjee reportedly asked for financial assistance to ease West Bengal’s debt burden. Sources say PM Modi gave her no assurance on central help but said the state would benefit from the auction of coal blocks in the state and the clean Ganga campaign.
“PM agreed that West Bengal is under maximum debt and has shown financial discipline despite this. PM assured us he would look into it,” Ms Banerjee told reporters after the meeting.
The meeting comes in the middle of the government’s last-ditch attempts to bring the opposition on board on its controversial land bill, which it wants to push in Parliament this week.
Opposition parties led by the Congress describe the government’s proposed bill as anti-farmer. Sources say the government is considering half a dozen amendments to address that criticism.
“We are against the forceful land acquisition bill,” Ms Banerjee had told reporters earlier, amid indications that the government may also consult with her Trinamool Congress party.
