Modi supports Jayalalithaa, as Khurshid, Mamata take exception

New Delhi, Oct 23: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Oct 22 said the NDC meetings are "fruitless", a statement which was supported by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, but Law minister Salman Khurshid and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee took exception to it.

Law Minister Salman Khurshid said, "It is no platform for discourse, nor a platform for political speeches, as only national and state level issues are discussed here for evolving ways to tackle them...But if someone wants to turn it politically, I would not like to speak on this."

"At the NDC meetings, there should be discussion on the priorities of states and demands and with respect to national demands. If politicial speeches are made, an appropritae response would be given. Senior ministers are intervening. I am sure, you will get an appropriate comment," he told reporters.

Disagreeing with Jayalalitha's observation on NDC, the West Bengal chief minister said it is not a political platform but one where any state can raise the issue of development.

"This is not a political platform where I can raise my political views. There is a basic difference between a political issue and development issue. I do agree with other states when they raise their developmental issues at the NDC," she said.

Gujarat chief minister Narendra modi, however, supported Jayalalithaa, saying, "one can understand her pain".

PTI