Rajnath Condemns Mamata’s Move To Arrive Late for Cyclone Review Meet Chaired By PM Modi

Asserting the “Prime Minister and Chief Minister are not just individuals but institutions”, Singh said such behaviour towards Prime Minister Modi is “painful”.

(File Photos/ Getty Images)

New Delhi: Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday condemned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s gesture to arrive late for the cyclone Yaas review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leave in haste during his official visit to the state and said “this is an unfortunate example of placing political differences over constitutional duty”.

Asserting the “Prime Minister and Chief Minister are not just individuals but institutions”, Singh said such behaviour towards Prime Minister Modi is “painful”.

“Today’s developments in West Bengal are shocking, the Chief Minister and Prime Minister are not just individuals but institutions. Both undertake public service resolutions and take an oath of allegiance to the Constitution,” he said in a tweet posted in Hindi.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader further said such behavior towards the Prime Minister is “painful”

“This kind of behavior with the Prime Minister, who came with the wisdom of giving assistance to the people of Bengal in the time of disaster, is painful. This is an unfortunate example of placing political differences over constitutional duty, which is also going to hurt the feelings of the root of the Indian federal system,” he tweeted.

The Defence Minister’s outburst against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo comes as she arrived late for the cyclone review meeting and left in haste despite the Prime Minister’s presence.

ANI reported sources close to the West Bengal Chief Minister as saying that the TMC chief and the state’s chief secretary arrived late by 30 minutes for the cyclone review meeting despite being in the same premises. Sources added that Banerjee upon entering the review meeting handed over the papers related to the cyclone impact and left stating that other meetings were lined up and left.

Sources said that Banerjee was asked to reach 20 minutes later from the original schedule and later her chopper was moved around for 15 more minutes, adding she was asked to wait when she reached as the review meeting had started already.

“The CM along with Chief Secretary entered and greeted the PM. They spoke to each other, the CM handed over the notes of damages, took his permission and came to Digha. The PM was also told that there is a review meeting in Digha,” ANI reported sources close to West Bengal Chief Minister as saying.