Mamata Banerjee meets PM Modi even as BJP mocks her

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

During the meeting, the Trinamool Congress leader raised the issue of renaming the state. The West Bengal Assembly has passed a resolution to rename the state as 'Bangla'.

Describing her meeting with the prime minister as fruitful, Banerjee told reporters that renaming West Bengal has been her government's prime agenda. "...hence we have proposed the renaming keeping 'Bangla' in mind. The prime minister has assured all help," she said.

She said the prime minister was also extended an invitation to inaugurate Deocha Pachami, the second-largest coal block in the world, after Durga Puja.

Responding to a question on the National Register of Citizens, she said it is part of Assam Accord, hence there is no provision of its implementation in West Bengal. "Neither has any proposal come nor will it be done," she asserted.

The Prime Minister's Office had earlier tweeted pictures of the two leaders at the official residence of Modi.

The last time the two leaders had met was at the convocation ceremony at Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan on May 25, 2018. Banerjee did not attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony when he took over the reins for the second time in May this year and had also kept away from the NITI Aayog meeting in June.

Several BJP leaders had mocked Banerjee for seeking an appointment to meet Modi.

BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha had said, "We all know the kind of language she (Banerjee) had used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Lok Sabha elections and afterward. She never had any regard for the federal structure and had even said she never had any regard for the federal structure and had even said she does not feel the need to respect Modiji as prime minister."

"Now all of a sudden why and for what she is going to Delhi is an open secret. It also brings out her nature of an opportunistic politician, who can go to any extent to get her purpose served and forget it once the job is done," he said.

According to another senior BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, Banerjee was going to Delhi to save herself and her party leaders from the clutches of the CBI, which is investigating the multi-crore chit fund scam in Bengal.

Banerjee on Tuesday had met PM Modi's wife Jashodaben at the Kolkata airport before boarding her flight to New Delhi and they exchanged pleasantries.

The appointment for the meeting was sought by the chief minister's office last week.

With inputs from PTI.