Mamata Banerjee meets Manmohan Singh on 22nd February 2012
West Bengal Chief Minister , Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to meet Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh today 22nd february The topic of discussion range from NCTC which she has been opposing and has managed few more chief-ministers to raise their voice against. The National Counter Terrorism Centre which would be a centrally controlled body in various cities to counter terrorist activities would give rights to the body to arrest anyone it finds doubtful , on grounds of terrorist activities. Some states however feel this is against the Federal Structure of the Constitution where the Central Government would intervene into State Affairs and administration. Mamata tops the list of opposers of NCTC. Also issues to be discuss are Farakka Barrage and Gorkhaland.Mamata Banerjee claimed that the Central Government did not reveal that the Farakka Barrage has tow damaged sluice gates which allow Bangladesh extra water during dry seasons. Gorkhaland Territorial Administration issue is also to be discussed under which the implementation of same is yet to happen while the tripartite agreement has already been signed.
Reasons of Conflicts Between Mamata Banerjee and Congress led UPA government in the recent past :
Mamata Banerjee has raised her voice against the ruling UPA in the past on issues relating to the FDI, Pension Bill,Lokpal and Fuel-Price Hike. And it is also noteworthy that relations between Congress and Trinamool Congress have remained tensed in the state of West Bengal after TMC won the elections. In the recent past,Mamata Government has also been denied extra aid from the Government which she felt was mandatory for the smooth running of the state. UPA has so far managed to retain its ally TMC, intact with it but TMC’s tussle with the Central Government and its policies have also been prominent.
NCTC : Mamata strongly believes that this would be against the Federal Structure of the Constitution where the role of Central Government would be beyond guidelines and would hamper State administration procedures.
Lokpal Issue : Mamata Banerjee was upfront on opposing Congress framed Lokpal Bill as she is of the view it would surpass the powers of State Government and would be conflicting.
Fuel-Price Hike: Mamata Banerjee has never entertained fuel-price hike imposed by the Centre.
Change of name of Indira Bhavan to Nazrul Bhavan : Issues related to changing names of Indira Bhavan which was Late Jyoti Basu’s residence and was known as Jyoti Bhavan to Nazrul Bhavan after the name of Bengali poet Kazi Nazrul tensed relations between both party workers . The Congress workers held rallies and protest marches against the change of name.
Mamata since then claimed CPM and Congress jointly act against TMC in the state.
Pension & FDI Bill : Mamata Banerjee never supported Congress’s idea of implementing Foreign Direct Investment into retail sector.
Denial of Extra Central Government Aide to West Bengal has also drifted the parties apart.