Mamata Banerjee gears up to host multi-state border security meet with Rajnath Singh
Rajnath Singh scheduled to hold a meeting in West Bengal on border security with chief ministers of five states, sharing their borders with Bangladesh.
In Short
- The meeting is scheduled on December 7th.
- Banerjee has always had maintained a good relation with Singh.
- Banerjee is careful not to kick up a row on the eve of Rajnath's visit.
With union home minister Rajnath Singh scheduled to hold a meeting in West Bengal on border security with chief ministers of five states, sharing their borders with Bangladesh, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee like a perfect hostess is not crossing swords with the Centre, even though the state is supposed to get Rs 13,000 crore on account of various centrally sponsored schemes.
Banerjee has always had maintained a good relation with Singh. So his coming to Bengal and holding such an important meeting in Bengal has acquired a different dimension.
The meeting is scheduled on December 7th.
After a long administrative meeting at the state headquarters at Nabanna, Banerjee said that central fund for schemes such as MNREGA, National Rural Livelihood Mission, drinking water and national disaster are pending.
However, she said nothing about taking up these cases with the Centre. The caustic barbs were missing.
The chief minister also said nothing as to what would the state's next course of action-- whether the Parliament would see stormy debate from the Trinamool Congress MPs or if she would take it up with Mr Singh.
Banerjee is careful not to hurt her guests or kick up a row on the eve of Rajnath's visit.
West Bengal is the only state which has not got any financial assistance from the Centre on account of flood. Though the government is aggrieved about this, it will not raise the issue at the union home Minister's meeting.
With the BJP raising a strong anti-Trinamool Congress pitch, Rajnath Singh and Banerjee's meeting is likely to dampen the spirit of the saffron party. However, Mamata is keeping the windows of rapprochement open, in case the secular front fails to materialise.
A week ago at India Today Conclave East Mamata said that she maintains good relation with some people in BJP, not all. Rajnath Singh happens to be one with who Banerjee had been through thick and thin.