Mamata says she'll skip Modi meet on Aurobindo

The decision is seen as a protest against the Centre for not letting her to speak during an event chaired by the PM on the celebration of the 75 years of Independence

CM Mamata Banerjee: File photo

Pranesh Sarkar   |   TT  |  Calcutta   |   24.12.21: Mamata Banerjee has said she will not attend a meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday on the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Rishi Aurobindo.

The decision seems to be her way of protest against the Centre for not allowing her to speak during Wednesday’s meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on the celebration of the 75 years of Independence.

“I will not attend the meeting tomorrow. The meeting is on one subject and we are already working on this subject,” said the chief minister during a meeting held at Nabanna on Thursday where the state government’s plans on how to celebrate 75 years of Independence were discussed.

Mamata asked chief secretary H.K. Dwivedi to attend the meeting on her behalf.

“You just say that we are already working on this subject... I attended the three-hour long meeting yesterday (Wednesday), but they did not allow me to speak,” said the chief minister.

In the meeting held at Nabanna, the cultural clan of Bengal condemned the decision of not allowing the chief minister to speak in a meeting that was held to celebrate 75 years of Independence. They said Bengal’s contribution to the Independence was huge.

“I condemn the manner in which our chief minister was not allowed to speak at a meeting held to celebrate 75 years of Independence... Bengal's contribution to Independence is immense,” said Jogen Chowdhury, artist and former Trinamul Rajya Sabha member.

Other eminent personalities attending the meeting echoed Chowdhury.

The chief minister then rolled out an elaborate plan on how to celebrate the 75th Independence day in Bengal.

Mamata announced that the Independence Museum, which would come up in the heritage part of erstwhile Alipore Correctional Home, which has now been shifted to Baruipur, would have a light and sound show. It would also have a section depicting the history of Independence.

Besides, she requested Jogen Chowdhury to paint a wall in the city to capture the history of Independence on  the lines of murals created by several renowned artists in Santiniketan.

Sources said a wall of erstwhile Alipore Correctional Home could be dedicated for this purpose.

In addition to these, there will be a number of musical programmes to be organised by the state government next year to celebrate 75th years of Independence.

Mamata also said the Centre might not allow any special fund for the programmes, but the state would not think twice before spending on this purpose.

“The Centre does not give us any funds for this purpose. But our departments will hold programmes on their own... I would not think twice before spending for the programme,” said the chief minister.