Don't consider Modi as PM, says Mamata Banerjee on refusing review meet over Cyclone Fani

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she did not respond to requests of Narendra Modi to hold a review meeting to take stock of the situation following Cyclone Fani as she doesn’t consider him the country’s prime minister. 

"I don't consider him the country's PM, hence I didn't sit for the meeting. I don't want to be seen with him on the same platform. I'll speak to the next PM. We can take care of cyclone damage by ourselves. We don't need Centre's help ahead of polls," the West Bengal Chief Minister was quoted as saying by ANI.

WB CM in Jhargram earlier today: I don't consider him the country's PM, hence I didn't sit for the meeting.I don't want to be seen with him on the same platform. I'll speak to the next PM.We can take care of cyclone damage by ourselves. We don't need Centre's help ahead of polls. pic.twitter.com/alYGFZZa8E

— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2019

Alleging that PM Modi was trying to do politics over Cyclone 'Fani', Banerjee said "If you (Modi) think you will politicise it (cyclone) you must remember that I too understand politics."

The chief minister said that in 2015, 2016 and 2017 there were floods in the state but no relief was given to it by the Modi government despite several demands by her.

"He (Modi) wants us to go to Jhargram (where he held a public meeting Monday) to discuss the situation related to the cyclone. He will sip tea and I will have to sit beside him and have pictures clicked. Why should I go?" she asked.

"He has come before the elections. He is bypassing the chief minister and calling the chief secretary, who is under the chief minister and not the prime minister," she said.

Earlier, PM Modi day accused her of “playing politics” over cyclone relief. 

“The Centre is involved in relief work but the speed breaker in West Bengal tried to play politics over this situation. I tried to talk to her (Mamata) but her arrogance is so much that she refused to talk to me. I kept waiting with the hope that she will call back but she did not,” PM Modi said at a rally in West Bengal’s Tamluk district.