Centre rebuts Mamata's claim on PM's recent visit to West Bengal

NEW DELHI: Sharing details of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to West Bengal to assess impact of the Cyclone Yaas, the Centre on Tuesday released a point-wise rebuttal of state chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s claim that she was informed late about the PM’s program and meeting.
In response to chief ministers' claim that she cut short her schedule for the PM’s program, the centre said that the PM’s visit was to assess damage due to Cyclone Yaas, so it cannot be finalised before the Cyclone comes.
“In fact, the same timelines followed when the PM visited WB last year after Cyclone Amphan. This time, Both Odisha and WB were informed at a similar time. However Odisha managed the program very well, which was before the WB visit,” government sources said.
Here is the point-wise rebuttal released by the central government sources:
Mamata Bannerjee’s Statement: I waited to meet the PM
Fact: PM landed at Kalaikunda at 1359 hours. Mamata Banerjee landed at Kalaikunda after the PM at 1410 hours. It is clear that the PM was kept waiting for Mamata Banerjee as he landed much before her. This was also confirmed by a TMC MP who tweeted that there was no big deal in PM being kept waiting. Upon descending from the chopper, she reached the meeting building, which was around 500 metres away. After meeting the PM, she departed for her next journey at 1435 hours. So in effect, she travelled 500 metres to and fro, met the PM and departed in 25 mins. She left before the PM left, which is clearly contrary to accepted practices and protocol. It is clear that Mamata Banerjee’s statement of being made to wait is entirely false and that she made the PM wait.
Statement: My programs were already fixed. This is not necessary that every time the Chief Minister has to receive, sometimes there are other programs also.
Fact: Mamata Banerjee had agreed to attend the meeting. However she changed her mind after coming to know that the LoP was going to be part of the meeting, which she also mentions in her letter. Hence it is clear that her pre-decided schedule was not an issue at all. This was also confirmed by the Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal who has tweeted that Mamata told him that she would boycott the meeting if LoP of WB attends the meeting.
Statement: She says she was told to wait for 20 mins in Sagar because the PM chopper was to land, and then they hovered in air for 15 mins more
Fact: She was expected to come in advance, as everyone does when the PM is supposed to land at any airport. The PM's security is taken care off by SPG which is a professional body.
Statement: Shocked and stunned by unilateral order on Chief Secy; order without prior consultation with the State; order legally untenable, unprecedented, unconstitutional.
Fact: The order is perfectly constitutional since the Chief Secretary is an All India Services officer. He chose to ignore his constitutional duties, as a result of which no presentation was given to the PM and no officer of the WB government attended the PM’s review meeting.
Chief Secretary’s retirement shows that Mamata Banerjee is on the back foot. She knows that facts of the matter are against the Chief Secretary and his behaviour was such that it will invite strict disciplinary action as he is an All India Services Officer & it was his duty to ensure that the review meeting takes place as scheduled. All India Officers are not expected to be part of politics. Mamata knows all this & his retirement is a last bid to save him.
Mamata Banerjee has done a big U turn in a matter of hours. From requesting the PM to confirm the extension of Chief Secretary for 3 months, to retiring him now.
Statement: Only few days back, GoI had agreed to extend service of Chief Secy by three months to serve the State at this critical time; order of 24th May granting extension issued after mutual written consultations in accordance with due process.
Fact: The fact that GoI had agreed to extend the service of Chief Secy shows that it is acting in full co-operation and without malice against West Bengal.
Statement: You revised the structure of meeting to include a local MLA from your party; he had no locus to be present in a PM-CM meeting; I didn’t object to you inviting Governor and Union Ministers to the meeting.
Fact: The said MLA is the Leader of Opposition of West Bengal Assembly and also an elected representative of the affected area. There have been numerous meetings in the past in non-BJP ruled states where representatives of other parties have been present.
Statement: Chief Secy sent messages to a senior officer accompanying you to sort this issue or arrange a PM-CM meeting before that meeting; we got no positive response; My Director (Security) was also in touch with SPG in this regard.
Fact: Mamata Banerjee chose to boycott the review meeting because the LOP of WB was present. No issue was created by GoI on this, because what mattered was Cyclone relief activities. It was suggested to her that the PM will meet her immediately after the review meeting as that was the reason for which he traveled to WB. Sensing that she may have to wait till the review meeting gets over, she chose to prevent other officers too from attending the meeting and in effect cancelled the review meeting scheduled by the Prime Minister.
Statement: I entered the meeting with Chief Secy to give the report; you personally took it from my hand; I then expressly sought permission from you for us to leave for Digha where a meeting was due. You expressly permitted us to take our leave.
Fact: PM did not give permission to Mamata Banerjee to leave the meeting.