Cyclone Fani: PM Modi Wanted to Hold Review Meeting in Bengal to Assess Damage, Mamata Govt Says Officials Busy With Elections, Say PMO Sources

BJP and the TMC are locked in an intense political battle in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and the current round of bickering could be seen as a part of this.

New Delhi: Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Monday said that PM Narendra Modi wanted to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Fani in West Bengal but the state government refused to hold a review meeting with him. As per the PMO, the Centre had even written to the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government about the planned review meeting but the state government replied that the officials are busy with election duty.

“PM Narendra Modi is currently in Odisha taking stock of the situation due to Cyclone Fani. He also wanted to do same for West Bengal and the Govt of India had written to the state about a review meeting of PM with state government officials today. However the state government has replied that the govt officials are busy with election duty and hence the review meeting should not be held,” PMO sources said.

Earlier on Sunday, PMO sources had dismissed TMC claims that PM Modi did not call Mamata to inquire about Cyclone Fani updates. “Attention has been drawn to reports in a section of media,that TMC has expressed its displeasure at PM Modi speaking only to WB Governor, about the post-Fani situation in the state. TMC have claimed that the PM had called Odisha and not WB CM. The claim is incorrect,” PMO sources said yesterday.

PMO sources added that two attempts were made by PM’s staff on Saturday morning to connect Modi to the West Bengal CM on phone. The sources further said first time PM’s staff were told that CM Mamata Banerjee is on tour and call will be returned. When the PM’s staff called West Bengal chief minister for the second time, they were again told by West Bengal CM’s office that Mamata is not in office and the call will be returned.

The West Bengal government had attacked PM Modi for dialling governor Keshari Nath Tripathi instead of Mamata to inquire about the situation in the state in wake of cyclone Fani.

This is an attack on a federal structure and a deviation from the Constitution. By calling the Governor he has acted as leader of BJP and not as a Prime Minister. How can he deny the mandate of our people? Mamata Banerjee is the elected chief minister of Bengal. This is unfortunate.” TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee had said.