BJP hits out at Mamata, says she’s put arrogance over public welfare

NEW DELHI: BJP leaders, including several Union ministers, hit out at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday for skipping a meeting with PM Modi on cyclone Yaas, with BJP president J P Nadda accusing her of “murder of constitutional ethos and the culture of cooperative federalism”. Union minister Amit Shah accused her of putting “arrogance above public welfare”.
“This kind of behaviour with the PM, who arrived in the state with a sense of helping people of Bengal in the time of disaster, is painful.This is an unfortunate example of keeping political differences above public service and constitutional duties, which harms the basic spirit of India’s federal system,” said defence minister Rajnath Singh.
Shah tweeted, “Mamata Didi’s conduct today is an unfortunate low. Cyclone Yaas has affected several common citizens and the need of the hour is to assist those affected. Sadly, Didi has put arrogance above public welfare and today’s petty behaviour reflects that.”
Nadda said Modi holds the principle of cooperative federalism “very sacred” and has been actively working with all CMs irrespective of their party affiliation to give relief to people but unsurprisingly, he added, Banerjee’s tactics and petty politics have once again come to haunt the people of Bengal.
“When PM Modi stands strong with the citizens of West Bengal in wake of cyclone Yaas, Mamata ji should also set aside her ego for the welfare of people,” he tweeted. Union minister Prakash Javadekar said her decision to skip the meeting with Modi marks a “black day” in India’s rich democratic heritage.