In a bid to crack the Opposition and seek its support to pass critical laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is himself reaching out to key leaders. In the last 36 hours, Mr. Modi has held meetings with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her counterpart from Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, both of whom are in the national capital.
Senior Trinamool Congress MPs acknowledged that the meeting with their leader on Monday could result in a “thaw” in relations with the BJP: indeed, they indicated that the party might help the ruling party in the Rajya Sabha clear the Coal Bill and the Mines and Minerals Bill. However, the party remains adamant in its opposition to the Insurance Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill.
The Biju Janata Dal, however, made it clear that if the government expected support on the Coal and Mines and Minerals Bills then it would have to address all its concerns: “The government must address all our concerns as the current draft Bills go against the interests of Odisha. We stand to lose financially,” a senior BJD MP told The Hindu . Earlier in the day, Mr. Modi first held a one on one meeting with Ms. Bannerjee and then met all the party MPs in the Parliament Library. If this meeting was publicised, the one with Mr. Patnaik was a private affair.
In the meeting with Trinamool MPs, Mr.Modi said that the Centre was willing to fulfil its mandate to help in West Bengal’s development, but made no commitment on a debt waiver or relief from interest payments. He held back from promising a financial package, stressing that the Centre too has inherited a large burden and the Centre and States will collectively have to find a solution.
Later, Ms. Bannerjee told journalists that the PM had agreed that West Bengal's debt was the largest when compared with other States, but had “appreciated our efforts in keeping financial discipline.. and hoped that financial situation will improve.”
Graft charges forced Mamata to meet ModiKolkata Staff Reporter writes:
The Opposition said the mounting corruption charges against Trinamool leaders had forced Ms. Banerjee to meet Mr. Modi. The CPI(M) and the Congress alleged that the meeting came after the CBI arrested several TMC leaders in the Saradha scam.
