Mamata invites PM to inaugurate world's 2nd biggest coal block

NEW DELHI: Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee after a 'fruitful meeting' with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, invited him after Navaratra and Durga Puja to inaugurate Deocha Pachami, the second-largest coal block in the world which will see an investment of Rs 12,000 crore.

The Bengal chief minister is also expected to meet home minister Amit Shah on Thursday.

Banerjee also said she raised the issue of renaming West Bengal and added that Modi was not opposed to the idea.

"Renaming Bengal had been our prime agenda; hence we have proposed it keeping Bangla is mind. The prime minister has assured all help. I have told him that the sentiments of the people of Bengal are associated with the issue and we are open to suggestions from the Centre," she said.

The meeting at the prime minister's residence lasted for about half an hour.

Banerjee said the discussion was not political but focused on developmental issues of the state.

She met the prime minister for the first time after he won a second term.

The NRC process did not figure during their discussion.

Banerjee, who is on a three-day visit to the national capital, also said she discussed issues like BSNL, Defence Ordnance Factory, Railway and Coal with Modi.

"We submitted a lot of documents to substantiate the requests we made. Bengal's GDP growth rate is 12.8%, which is highest across the country. We showed him how Bengal is progressing despite a huge debt burden," she said.

The Prime Minister's Office had earlier tweeted pictures of the two leaders at the official residence of Modi. Banerjee was seen presenting a bouquet to the prime minister.

The Bengal Chief Minister pointed out that it was the "constitutional obligation" of the state and the central government to work together, setting aside political rivalries.