Mamata Banerjee meets PM Modi; not to meet Sonia Gandhi during Delhi visit

New Delhi, Nov 24: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss issues pertaining to her state.

She also told Modi that the federal structure of the country should not be disturbed in any way. "I met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today over a number of state-related issues. We also spoke on the BSF's jurisdiction extension issue and demanded that this decision be withdrawn," she is quoted as saying by news agency ANI. She also spoke to the PM over recent violence in Tripura.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Banerjee said that she invited PM Modi to inaugurate the Global Business Summit which would be held in West Bengal next year.

However, the West Bengal Chief Minister did not meet Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi nor Rahul Gandhi. The exodus of key Congress leaders to the TMC and the West Bengal party foraying into Goa's politics have sparked tension between the two opposition parties.

Banerjee also clarified that she did not seek time with anyone other than the Prime Minister, saying she understood that leaders are busy with the Punjab polls.

Before meeting Modi, the West Bengal CM had a meeting with Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, who was dropped from the BJP's national executive committee recently.

Her visit comes just ahead of the commencement of the Winter Session of the Parliament. The session will start on November 29.

In a notice released in October, the centre extended the jurisdiction of the BSF from 15 to 50 km belt along the border aimed at ensuring "zero tolerance" against terrorism and cross border crimes. Mamata likely to meet PM Modi today; BSF issue, developmental talks on agenda It means the BSF can take action without permission from central or state governments in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam up to 50 km inside the states.

The Trinamool Congress chief had earlier said that the Centre's move was only meant to "torture common people" and written a letter to Prime Minister Modi raising objections over the issue. Mamata's visit to the national capital is seen to be part of her attempts to boost opposition unity against the BJP ahead of the 2024 general elections. She last visited Delhi in July.