CM slams Centre’s delegation pick without Trinamool nod
Times of India | 20 May 2025
12 Kolkata: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjeeon Monday criticised the way Centre had chosen MPs for the diplomatic missions aimed at countering the Pakistani narrative without consulting the parties to which they belonged.She, however, reaffirmed her party's unwavering support when it came to issues of national interest."Nowadays they do not inform the parent party but only the parliamentary party though the latter works only when the house is in session; they cannot take policy decisions. No request came to us. We can, of course, consider the request when it comes to us. We are totally ... (committed to) the country's best interests," the CM said at the Kolkata airport before leaving for North Bengal, stressing the difference between expressing dissent over the process and rejecting the mission itself.Her comments followed Centre choosing Trinamool Behrampore MP Yusuf Pathanto be part of the delegations without consulting the Trinamool leadership. "It is not that we are boycotting or not going. It is a wrong notion. But they need to inform the party. They cannot decide the member's name on their own. It is not their choice but the party's. We will definitely send a representative if they inform us. Why would we not? There is no controversy here," she said, adding: "I have said earlier, too, that we will always support the central policy in external matters."Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, too, echoed the party chief's views, making it clear that the party had stood with Centre on matters of national security but would not accept being sidelined in decisions involving its elected members. "We stand with Centre in any decision it takes aimed at combating and curbing terrorism, safeguarding the nation's sovereignty," he said but slammed Centre for bypassing party consultation."We do not have any problem with a delegation. We strongly condemn the way Pakistan is supporting terrorism to disrupt peace in India. That should be raised on the global stage. But it is the party's decision to decide on its representative in such delegations. Instead of parliamentarians, we should be sending family members of the martyrs or survivors of the Pahalgam carnage or members of the armed forces who led Operation Sindoor," he added before boarding a flight to New Delhi for a meeting of the external affairs standing committee."The party nominated me to this committee. Centre cannot decide unilaterally who will represent which party," he said."Centre needs to show its good intent and call for wider deliberations with all opposition parties. They could have asked us to nominate representatives and we would have done that. But how can they decide? The MPs are elected on the Trinamool symbol," Abhishek said, while ruling out any boycott of the programme. "I am putting this on record. Trinamool is the only party that has not politicised the issue. The ruling dispensation and a few opposition parties have tried to politicise it.I condemn this. There cannot be any place for politics when the country is at stake. Our chairperson has said this time and again," the Trinamool general secretary said.