Kolkata, June 7: In what can be seen as another episode in the already tense equation between West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the TMC chief in a letter to Prime Minister has excused herself from attending the Niti Aayog meeting. Banerjee, in her letter to PM Modi, called Niti Aayog powerless and added that since "the Niti Aayog" comprises "no financial powers", it would be fruitless for her to attend the meeting. A meeting of Niti Aayog's Governing Council is to be chaired by PM Narendra Modi on Saturday, June 15. Mamata Banerjee Signs Election Strategist Prashant Kishor as BJP Eyes to West Bengal From TMC in 2021.

In a three page letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee said that NITI Ayog has no financial powers to support the state-run schemes and it is fruitless for her to attend the meeting. Mamata Banerjee Roars at Red Road in Kolkata After Eid Prayers, Points at BJP and Says 'Jo Humse Takrayega, Choor Choor Ho Jayega'.

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Letters to the various heads of the state had been written by the CEO of NITI Aayog for the meeting . West Bengal CM Mamata asked the Centre to give additional powers to the Inter-State Council (ISC) and make it the “nodal entity of the country” by adding the role of National Development Council to it.

“The experience of the last four and a half years we had, with the NITI Aayog, brings me back to my earlier suggestion to you that we focus on the ISC constituted under Article 263 of the Constitution. With appropriate modifications, to enable ISC to discharge its augmented range of functions as the nodal entity of the country,” said a part of the letter written by chief minister Mamata Banerjee to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (With PTI Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 07, 2019 01:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).