Nirmala Sitharaman Refutes Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Muted Mic’ Claims

Nirmala Sitharaman Denies Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Muted Mic’ Allegations

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has refuted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee‘s claims that her microphone was muted during the Niti Aayog meeting. Sitharaman stated that Banerjee was given her full allotted time and chose to leave the meeting prematurely.

Full Time Allotted to Mamata Banerjee

Speaking at the Business Today Conclave, Sitharaman clarified that Mamata Banerjee was granted the entire duration she was allocated for her speech. According to Sitharaman, Banerjee did not request additional time, but if she had, it would have been accommodated. Sitharaman expressed surprise at Banerjee’s media statement about being prevented from speaking, calling it “untrue.”

Details from the Niti Aayog Meeting

Sitharaman detailed the proceedings of the Niti Aayog meeting, highlighting the time management system in place. “When Banerjee began speaking, she was allotted her full time. The countdown clock on the screen was clearly visible, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tapped his mic to indicate the end of the time. This practice was followed for all speakers,” Sitharaman explained.

No Hindrance to Banerjee’s Speech

Sitharaman emphasized that if Banerjee had wanted to continue speaking beyond her allotted time, she could have easily done so. Instead, Banerjee chose to end her speech and leave the meeting. Sitharaman expressed her disappointment at the inaccurate portrayal of the incident, stating that the Finance Ministry was fully attentive to Banerjee’s speech.