Mamata seeks Modi's help in second meeting in over 9 months

New Delhi, March 9: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday met Prime Minister seeking financial assistance from the Centre to ease her state's debt burden. This is the first time since Modi took over in May last year that the Trinamool Congress chief met him for an official purpose.

The two had a brief meeting at a banquet hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee in the honour of Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in December last year.

The West Bengal CM reportedly sought financial help during her second meeting with Modi on Monday but the latter gave her no central help but said the state would benefit from auctioning of coal blocks in the state and clean Ganga campaign.

Banerjee, while speaking to reporters after the meeting that lasted about 20 minutes, said the PM understood her concern and praised Bengal's financial discipline despite the debt. She said the PM had assured her about a better future.

The Modi-Banerjee meeting took place in the middle of the NDA government's final efforts to win the opposition's faith on the controversial land bill, which it aims to push in the Parliament next week.

A number of opposition parties have criticised the Modi government's proposed bill as anti-farmer. Banerjee said her party is against the forceful land acquisition bill.

Banerjee was mocked by the Left after she sought an appointment with PM Modi last week. The Left asked whether the Banerjee, a former ally of the BJP, was planning a Ghar Wapsi (home coming).

Oneindia News