“A narrative based on falsehood”: Nirmala Sitharaman and PIB Dismiss Mamata Banerjee’s Allegations of Mic Being Turned Off at NITI Aayog Meeting

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday dismissed allegations made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who claimed her microphone was intentionally turned off during the 9th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi. Banerjee alleged she was unfairly given only five minutes to speak, unlike other chief ministers, prompting her to walk out of the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The incident has sparked a heated political controversy, with the BJP and Congress at odds over the matter.

"CM Mamata Banerjee attended the NITI Aayog meeting. We all heard her. Every CM was given the allotted time and that was displayed on the screen which was present before every table...She said in the media that her mic was put off. That is completely false. Every CM was given their due time to speak...It's unfortunate that the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has claimed that her mic was switched off which is not true...She should speak the truth behind this rather than again build a narrative based on falsehood,” said Nirmala Sitharaman. The Union Finance Minister stated that the timing of each speaker was clearly displayed on screens placed at each table, and Banerjee’s allotted time had simply expired, she also added that it is unfortunate that the West Bengal Chief Minister has chosen to propagate what she described as falsehoods.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check also weighed in on the matter. The PIB dismissed Banerjee’s claims as misleading, stating that the clock only indicated that her speaking time had concluded. They noted that there was no bell rung to signal the end of her speech, contradicting her assertion that her microphone was switched off. “It is being claimed that the microphone of CM, West Bengal was switched off during the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog. This claim is #Misleading. The clock only showed that her speaking time was over. Even the bell was not rung to mark it,’ posted PIB on social media platform “X”. Furthermore, PIB Fact Check clarified that Banerjee was scheduled to speak after lunch based on alphabetical order but was moved to the 7th position due to an official request from her government for an early departure.

The Congress hit out at BJP's attempt to fact-check West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that she was not given sufficient time to speak at the NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Banerjee had walked out of the meeting, alleging that she was unfairly cut off during her speech. “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. 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,” said senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stating that the NITI Aayog “has not advanced the cause of cooperative federalism in any manner.” Condemning the alleged treatment meted out to alliance partner and Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee, Ramesh said, “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.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee exited the NITI Aayog meeting in protest earlier today, feeling “disrespected” after being allotted only five minutes to speak. She claimed that other state chief ministers were given significantly more time, upwards of 15 minutes, while her own time was cut short, leading to her abrupt departure from the meeting in New Delhi. “I was the only representation from the opposition. I told them while you are in Government, you have to take care of all. Their chief ministers spoke for 12 minutes, 15 minutes but during my turn, they stopped me in five minutes. This is their political bias. The budget has already deprived the states not ruled by the BJP. I informed them that Bengal’s dues are pending for three years” said Mamata Banerjee.​