Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she took up the issue of the debt crisis of the state as her government had to give '28,000 crores as interest pa
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she took up the issue of the debt crisis of the state as her government had to give '28,000 crores as interest payments to the Centre out of its total revenue of Rs 40,000 crores.
“How can we take up development work under such a financial squeeze ” she said.
Asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given any assurances, Ms Banerjee said Mr Modi promised to look into the matter.
Ms Banerjee also expressed solidarity with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue of the court case in the National Herald matter, saying it makes her “sad” and that she “feels bad” that Mrs Gandhi was asked to appear in court.
“Sad that Sonia was asked to appear in court. Persons who have been in politics for such a long time... it is not good that they appear in court. I feel bad about it,” she told reporters here.
The West Bengal chief minister added, however, that she since it was a decision by the court, “I will not comment about it”.
West Bengal had boycotted the Niti Aayog’s first governing council meeting that was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
