West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had a chance encounter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's wife Jashodaben at the Kolkata airport on Tuesday.
Jashodaben, the wife of PM Modi, who had visited Kalyaneshwari temple in Asansol on Monday was waiting at the airport for an evening flight to Gujarat when she met the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson.
Ms. Banerjee was leaving to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday evening.
As they met at airport, Ms. Yadhodaben and Ms. Banerjee hugged each other and exchanged pleasantries. Ms Banerjee also gifted a saree to Ms. Jashodaben. The Chief Minister also offered sweets to Ms. Jashodaben and her relatives who accompanied her.
Upon learning that Ms. Jashodaben was in the State to perform puja at the Kalyaneshwari temple, Ms. Banerjee asked her if she visited other big temples of Goddess Kali in the city — in Kalighat and Dakshineswar. Ms. Banerjee's aide told The Hindu that the Chief Minister requested the Prime Minister's wife to “inform before hand” when she comes to Bengal next time.
Earlier, describing her visit to New Delhi and meeting with Mr. Modi as a “courtesy call” Ms. Banerjee on Tuesday said that it is a “constitutional obligation” that she and the Prime Minister met. The Chief Minister said that she is going to Delhi after a long time and there are a number of routine works lined up related to the State. “The Centre owes us some funds and then there is the issue of lot of public sector units , merger of banks,” she said. Ms. Banerjee also hinted at privatization in Air India and Indian Railways and said that the employees of these organizations have met her in this regard.
Allaying rumours over his marital status, Mr. Modi, in 2014, broke his of silence and admitted that he was married to Jashodaben. The couple is separated now. Mr. Modi used to leave the “spouse” column in poll affidavits blank until 2014.