PMO refutes alleged TMC claim against Modi

KOLKATA: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has refuted an alleged claim by Trinamool Congress leaders that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken only to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi about the situation in Bengal following the cyclonic storm Fani.

Trinamool leaders have allegedly said that the Prime Minister had called up Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, but did not contact Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. However, the PMO said that two attempts were made on Saturday morning from the Prime Minister's staff to connect him to the Bengal Chief Minister on phone.

"The first time, the staff attempting to place the call was told that the Bengal Chief Minister is on tour and the call will be returned. On the second occasion too, the staff attempting to place the call was told by the Chief Minister's office that the call will be returned," the PMO stated.