BJP asks Mamata to 'respect federal structure', attend PM's meet

Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her decision to not attend the chief ministers' meet called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow even as it asked her to rise above ‘partisan politics’ for the development of her state.

Maintaining that she should forget political differences in matters of development, BJP Secretary Shrikant Sharma said Modi's priority was the progress of the entire country and Mamata should not drag politics into it.

"The meeting (of chief ministers) is development-oriented. Modi believes India will develop only when its states develop. She should respect our federal structure and participate in the meeting forgetting party politics," he told media persons in reaction to reports that the West Bengal chief minister is going to stay away from the consultation.

Modi will be seeking the views of chief ministers regarding the structure, scope and role of the new body that will replace Planning Commission in the changed economic scenario under the new government.

The TMC supremo's decision to skip the meeting follows increasing belligerence by her party against the BJP as the saffron outfit tries to corner her over probes into the Saradha chit fund scam and Burdwan blast.

"Mamata should participate in the meeting setting aside political differences. This will be in the best interests of West Bengal," he said. Sharma, meanwhile, said that the recent spate of terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir hinted at increasing frustration among terrorists and their Pakistan-based masters over the high turn-out in the ongoing polls in the state.

"People are voting against guns and terror and for development by pressing EVM buttons. It has frustrated terrorists and their Pak-based masters. They are launching attacks in desperation and our soldiers are giving them a fitting reply," he said.