Days after Trinamool Congress snapped ties with UPA government opposing Centre's recent reform initiatives like foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail, US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell today called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
However, neither Banerjee nor Powell spoke to media after the meeting. When contacted, public relations office of the US Consulate at Kolkata, told Business Standard, it was a “courtesy call” as a part of Powell's scheduled visit to the city.
Incidentally, after a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on May this year, Banerjee had dismissed any discussion on FDI in retail. However, US consulate General here had issued a statement after meeting saying issues ranging from US investment in West Bengal including in the retail sector, US-India relations and regional affairs were discussed during Mamata-Hillary meeting. The statement had prompted West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra to write a strongly-worded letter to US consul-general Dean Thompson saying investment in retail sector was not discussed.