'Constitutional Obligation,' Says Mamata Banerjee After Meeting Amit Shah At North Block

Day after meeting Prime minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his North Block office on Thursday. The Trinamool Congress chief arrived at Shah's office at North Block for the meeting. She met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and raised the issue of renaming the state. Banerjee also invited the prime minister to inaugurate a coal block in the state in the coming days. After meeting the Union Home Minister, Banerjee said that it was her ‘constitutional obligation’. Meeting Shah for the first time at North Block in capacity of home minister, Banerjee said that she discussed range of issues such as Assam NRC and names change of West Bengal with him. “Had come here to discuss the 19 lakh people not included in the NRC. They should all be included in it…concerned about those left out of the list,” Banerjee said. 

On Tuesday, Banerjee had described the meeting with the prime minister as a "courtesy" call. Banerjee had said she would highlight various issues such as central funds due to the state during her talk with the PM.  “The meeting with Prime Minister was good. We discussed changing the name of West Bengal to 'Bangla'. He has promised to do something about the matter,” said Banerjee after the meeting. The Prime Minister's Office tweeted pictures of the two leaders at the official residence of Modi. Banerjee is seen presenting a bouquet to the prime minister. 

The West Bengal assembly has passed a resolution to rename the state as 'Bangla'. She said the prime minister was also extended an invitation to inaugurate Deocha Pachami, the second largest coal block in the world, after Durga Puja.

Responding to a question on the National Register of Citizens, she said it is part of Assam Accord, hence there is no provision of its implementation in West Bengal. "Neither has any proposal come, nor will it be done," she asserted.