Kolkata: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee claimed a “vengeful” and “jealous” Centre had compromised the country’s prestige by denying her permission to travel to a global peace conference in Rome on the ground that it was “not commensurate with the level of a chief minister”.
The external affairs ministry formally informed the Bengal government of its decision, triggering a typical Mamata outburst in which she dared the Centre to “stop me”.
“I am not eager to visit foreign countries, but this was about the respect of the nation. This government goes on talking about Hindu interests. But if it really has Hindu interests at heart, why deny the only Hindu woman representative from India permission (to go there)?” she said, pointing out that all other invitees to the event were Christians and Muslims.
“I was going to represent India, it was not a vacation,” Mamata railed at her bypoll campaign in Bhowanipore. “The Italian government had given me special permission. Several heads of state and religious leaders are going to be present at the event and I was the only Indian invited.”
The CM questioned why she had been barred from going to events abroad “whenever I want to go but you all (BJP leadership) can travel as you please”.
In 2018, Mamata didn’t get clearance to attend a Chicago event that was meant to mark 125 years of Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the World Parliament of Religion. A proposed trip to China before that had to be cancelled at the last minute because the Centre didn’t allow her to go.
All official foreign trips by CMs require the external affairs ministry’s nod.
Mamata’s visit to Rome for the proposed event — “Peoples as Brothers, Future Earth” — was scheduled for October 6 and 7. The formal invitation had arrived on July 22, mentioning “her contribution to the cause of social justice and her commitment to the underprivileged and the disadvantaged”, officials said. Times of India
