Mamata asks opposition to join her in meeting Modi

Kolkata, Feb 26 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Thursday called upon the opposition to accompany her in meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to press the demand for a debt-waiver for the cash-strapped state.

Speaking on the governor's address in the state assembly, Banerjee said she would be "happy" if the opposition parties joined her.

"I will be going with my MPs. If you, including the leader of opposition, join us, we will be happy," she said.

Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra, of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, later said the opposition can go with her only if the assembly passed such a proposal.

Banerjee Wednesday said in a Facebook post that she has written to Modi urging a waiver of debt burden and sought an appointment to discuss the issue with him.

"Our state needs immediate relief from the debt burden, so that growth and development efforts continue unhindered. I have, therefore, written to the prime minister to consider waiver of the debt burden on us immediately," she said on her official Facebook page.

"I have sought an appointment to meet him along with a delegation of my Members of Parliament to discuss this issue," she said.

Banerjee said Rs.28,000 crore was deducted every year towards the repayment.

Over the past nine months after the Bharatiya Janata Party led regime took over the reins at the centre, Baenrjee has avoided calling on Modi to discuss any issue related to her state.

She has repeatedly skipped meetings and also stayed away from the centre's parleys with the chief ministers on the Niti Aayog, which has replaced the Planning Commision.

Political observers feel her call to the opposition to join her on the trip is an intended face-saver to stave off speculations that she has compromised her earlier strong stand of keeping Modi at arms' length.