Delhi theme: balance - CM hopes Modi will consider demands positively

Mamata and Modi in Delhi on Wednesday. (PTI)

Devadeep Purohit, TT,New Delhi, Aug. 12: Amit Shah criticised the Bengal government in Calcutta, but Mamata Banerjee chose not to get dragged into political controversies in Delhi. Mamata accused the Centre of not "giving anything" till now to Bengal, but added that Narendra Modi would consider her demands "positively". The chief minister said she was against the decision to suspend 25 Congress MPs from Parliament, but added she was opposed to regular House disruptions.

Mamata stuck to the theme that has marked her Delhi trip and did a balancing act, a skill rarely displayed by the mercurial leader, during a formal interaction with the media in the capital after meeting the Prime Minister.

The chief minister rolled out a set of demands - a Rs 21,000-crore package for rehabilitation in 12 flood-affected districts, a special meeting of the Niti Aayog to be attended by all chief ministers to decide on a plan package, modernisation of the Damodar Valley Corporation to increase its water-holding capacity, release of Rs 3,000 crore under the Backward Regions Grant Fund and disbursement of Rs 43,000 crore for infrastructure to connect India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

During her last trip to Delhi in March, Mamata had made several demands, ranging from a moratorium on interest payment on debts to more funds from the Centre.

Asked if the Centre had delivered on the demands, Mamata said: "We haven't got anything from Delhi as of now."

She, however, added that this time she was hopeful. "It seems the response is positive. Now, let's see what happens," she said.

The answer assumes significance against the backdrop of Mamata's earlier allegation that the Centre was depriving Bengal of its dues despite collecting taxes from the state. She had also said the state would not seek anything from the Centre if the Bengal government was given the power to collect taxes - a proposal not viable in the India context because of the clear demarcation of the roles of the Centre and the states.

Today, Mamata was more conciliatory in her approach. "The state doesn't have an RBI. The beauty of the federal structure is, we have to place our demands before the Centre," she said at the news conference at the residence of her nephew, MP Abhishek Banerjee.

The chief minister was equally cautious while taking questions on BJP president Shah's comments on Bengal. "Ask someone in Bengal Trinamul, some block president or state president. Don't ask such political questions here. I have come with a development agenda," she said.

The answer stood out because Mamata had always hit back at BJP leaders whenever they made snide remarks about Bengal.

"Given the fluid political situation in the capital, she is trying to maintain a neutral position," a source close to Mamata said.

Another possible reason for her equanimity could be her desperation for central assistance ahead of next year's Assembly elections. The CPM has accused her of going soft on the Centre to save herself and her party from the CBI investigation into the Saradha scam.

Although Mamata has been mellow on the BJP of late, she has also tried to keep the Congress in good humour by expressing her support to its protest against the suspension of 25 party MPs.

Trinamul MP Dinesh Trivedi's comments in Parliament today after the war of words between the treasury benches and the Congress underscored Trinamul's strategy. Instead of taking sides in the battle between the BJP and the Congress over the Lalit Modi controversy, the Barrackpore MP gave a statesman-like speech, stressing the need for debates in Parliament.

Later in the day, Mamata made her party's stand on the issue of disruptions in Parliament clear, decrying both the suspension of the Congress MPs and the regular disruptions in the House.

Mamata today attended a tea party at the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, where leaders from the NCP, JD(U), RJD, Samajwadi Party and the National Conference were present.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal did not attend the event although he was expected to be present. The tea party was being seen as another attempt to form a non-BJP, non-Congress federal front.

Before going to the meeting, Mamata said in response to a question: "A federal front is good for the country."

Sources present at the event in Pawar's residence said some decisions were taken at the meeting of "like-minded leaders".

"It has been decided that those present at the meeting will co-operate in elections by helping each other. The first experiment will be in Bihar, for which Mulayamji has pledged support to the JD(U)," a source said.

The venue of the next meeting will be JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav's residence on September 22. The venue will suit Kejriwal as, sources said, he stayed away from today's session because it was held at the home of Pawar, whom the AAP had called a tainted minister.

"It was discussed that the Congress would be considered for the forum," the source said.