'You weren’t even there': Sitharaman slams Jairam Ramesh on Niti Aayog meeting statement

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday slammed Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on social media platform X after he had termed the alleged treatment of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the NITI Aayog meeting as "unacceptable".

"Since it was established ten years ago, NITI Aayog has been an attached office of the PMO and has functioned as a drumbeater for the non-biological PM," said Ramesh on X.



The Congress leader, in a had accused the NITI Aayog as a "drumbeater" of PM Narendra Modi. He added that the body was partial and was not professional and independent.

"It has not advanced the cause of cooperative federalism in any manner. Its functioning has been blatantly partisan, and it is anything but professional and independent," he added.

"It muzzles all divergent and dissenting viewpoints, which are the very essence of an open democracy. Its meetings are a farce to be reckoned with. Its treatment of the West Bengal CM today, although typical of the NITI Aayog, is unacceptable," Ramesh said.



In a reply, Sitharaman said that that Ramesh was not even present at the meeting. She claimed that Banerjee had spoken for full seven minutes that was allocated for each CM. She further said that a few CMs were given extra time on their request, without making a fuss.


"Jairam, you weren’t even there! We all heard Hon. CM Mamata Banerjee . She spoke her full time. The screen in front of our tables kept showing the time," she wrote on X.

"A few other CMs spoke beyond their allotted time. On their own request, extra time was allowed without any fuss. Mikes were not switched off, not for anybody, particularly, not for CM, WB," Sitharaman added.

Sitharaman then accused Mamata Banerjee spreading false information about mics and said that the mics were not switched off for anyone.


She added that the claims by Banerjee were done only to keep the INDIA bloc happy.

"But now with her saying baseless things outside, I can only conclude that she is making an effort to keep I.N.D.I alliance happy," said Sitharaman.


Earlier, Banerjee had claimed that she had not been given enough time to speak in the NITI Aayog meeting.