Mamata to meet PM Modi today

Kolkata: Describing her scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in New Delhi as a "courtesy" one, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she would highlight various issues like funds that are due to the state during her talk with the PM.

Talking to reporters at city airport before leaving for the national capital, Banerjee said she would also raise matters like changing name of West Bengal as well merger of public sector banks during the meeting.

Amid the hype surrounding the one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, Banerjee said her visit to the national capital was part of the "routine work".

According to sources in the state secretariat Nabanna, the CM and PM meeting is scheduled at 4:30 pm on Wednesday.

"I go to New Delhi very rarely. I do not go anywhere because I have some responsibilities here. We have to go to New Delhi for some administrative reasons because it is the capital, the Parliament is there, the President, Prime Minister all stay there that's is at times we need to go there. This is a routine work," the TMC supremo said.

"This time, I am going to talk about funds that are due to West Bengal. I will also highlight issues like change of West Bengal's name.

"Will also talk about matters like the merger of public sector banks, issues with Air India, BSNL, Railways where there are several problems. They (employees of these organisations) cannot go anywhere and come to us," Banerjee said before leaving for New Delhi.

After Centre's refusal to clear the West Bengal governments proposal to change the name of the state to Bangla saying the move required a constitutional amendment, Banerjee had in July last sent a letter to the Prime Minister raising the issue again and urging him to expedite the matter.

"I would again request you to kindly accept the wishes of the people of West Bengal, as enshrined in the resolution of the West Bengal legislative assembly and in the proposal pf the West Bengal cabinet, to rename our state as 'Bangla' in English, Hindi and Bengali.

"This re-christening will be in consonance with the history, culture and identity of our state and will reflect the aspirations of our people. I would request you to kindly get this amendment done accordingly in the current session of the Parliament," reads an excerpt from the letter.

Banerjee earlier on Tuesday greeted the PM on his 69th birthday.

Sources said that Banerjee was likely to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday.