Mamata Skips Cabinet Meeting, Jharkhand ‘Simple Issue’

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has skipped today’s meeting of the Union Cabinet despite being in Delhi citing that the agenda didn’t concern her, said media reports.

In the meeting presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a decision was taken to impose president’s rule in Jharkhand, a matter Mamata called a ‘simple issue’.

“It (Cabinet meeting) was only for Jharkhand and no other agenda was there – it was one simple issue. There is no difference between the Trinamool Congress and the Congress. We are absolutely comfortable and I have great respect for the Prime Minister,” she was quoted as saying while talking to a news channel.

“Some people are doing conspiracy against us (Congress and Trinamool) and that is most unfortunate,” the minister was quoted as saying.

She said that would be present in a UPA government function this evening to release a report card n its performance, reports said.

“Yes, of course I am going there. There is no difference between me and the government–some conspiracy is going against us,” she was quoted as saying.

“Some times people skip cabinet meetings because of some other work. It is a collective family – there is no problem.”

In response to a question as to whom she suspect is behind the conspiracy against the Congress and the Trinamool, Mamata said, “Maybe other political parties who don’t like us, perhaps the CPI-M,” she replied, adding that she didn’t blame Congress leaders.”

Banerjee declined to comment on her demand for the CBI investigation into the railway mishap in West Bengal on Friday.

The West Bengal government and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram have refused to recommend a CBI probe into the mishap which has been blamed on Maoists.

“No comments. I have a good relationship with Mr Chidambaram. I don’t know who did it – Maoists or others. I want them to be booked,” she was quoted as saying.

(Based on internet reports)