Bengal CM slams Centre over Niti Aayog meet on Eid
KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday slammed the Centre for scheduling a Niti Aayog meeting on the same day as Eid ul-Fitr, and warned that she will not compromise interests of minorities.
Although the chief minister had initially declared that she would not attend the meeting of the government think-tank’s governing council on account of Eid festivities, she reconsidered after it was pushed by a day to June 17. Banerjee is now expected to reach Delhi on Saturday evening.
However, addressing an Eid congregation earlier in the day, she said, “Why do they fix important meetings on Eid? I told them I cannot attend it.”
“They abuse me for loving Muslims. I indeed love them. But in order to love Hindus, do you have to hate Muslims?” she questioned.
The BJP often accuses the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief of actively trying to appease Muslims in the state, who form 27.01% of its population (according to the 2011 census).
Undeterred, Banerjee and her colleagues make it a point to join in Eid festivities. “I told them that Eid may not be on their calendar, but it certainly happens to be on mine,” she told the gathering.
“We celebrate Eid every year. If it’s not on their (the central government’s) calendar, they should change it. Our Muslim brothers are our own, and I will not leave the celebrations on Red Road and go anywhere on Eid day.” The meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.