Mamata Banerjee seeks Rs 20,000 crore aid; BJP-Trinamool tussle at meet

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sought a relief package of Rs 20,000 crore from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting in Midnapore district’s Kalaikunda on Friday, after submitting a detailed report on the damage caused by Cyclone Yaas that wreaked havoc in West Bengal on May 26.

The Centre-state tussle reached a new height when leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari reached the Kalaikunda airport along with another Central minister Debashri Chowdhury, and attended the PM’s cyclone review meeting along with Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar. Jittery over Suvendu's presence, Mamata Banerjee sought a separate appointment from the PM and met him ahead of the review meeting.

The relief package sought includes Rs 10,000 crore each for the development of Digha and Sunderbans. Banerjee was accompanied by chief secretary Alapan Banerjee during the meeting with the PM.“I have received reports of huge damage and devastation from the government officials from the affected districts. Huge damage has been reported, touching around Rs 20,000 crore. During my meeting with the Prime Minister, I have sought a package worth Rs 20,000 crore, with Rs 10,000 crore each for rehabilitation and rebuilding of Digha and Sunderbans. I don’t know what amount of money I will get,” Mamata Banerjee said at a review meeting in Digha.