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‘I want to know why Bengal is continuously being deprived’

While leaving for Delhi on Monday, West Bengal CM  Mamata Banerjee said she had never sought a special package for her state and asserted that her two-day visit had no political agenda.

On her way to Delhi from Kolkata, Banerjee said: ‘I am not begging, neither am I demanding a special package (for West Bengal). But I want to know why Bengal is continuously being deprived. Despite all the problems that we are facing, Bengal is number one in performance in the country.’

She said, ‘I will meet the PM and the union finance minister regarding finances and development of our state.’ During her stay, she will meet Manmohan Singh on Tuesday and Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday. She will also meet officials from the Planning Commission. State finance minister Amit Mitra, panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee and senior officials have accompanied her.

Banerjee’s visit to the capital to meet UPA bigwigs might open new discussions between the two factions.

After leaving the UPA government , Mamata has opposed decisions like fuel price rise, cap on LPG cylinders and foreign direct investment in retail.  

‘Even though the State Congress is continuing its campaign against the TMC government in West Bengal and joining hands with the Left front on various issues, Mamata Banerjee has no political inclination to align with the BJP,’ said a source.

Interestingly, the BJP, the Congress and the Left are all opposing Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. A Congress leader said, ‘We don’t rule out future alliances with Mamata because she has been a key ally, especially as her secular credentials are unquestionable.’
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