Mamata Banerjee should explain reason for skipping CM's meeting: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee must explain the reason for skipping the meeting held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss restructuring of the Planning Commission.

"Mamata Banerjee, who is an elected chief minister of West Bengal, would have answer and explain why she is choosing to stay away from such an important meeting that other chief ministers are present at," said BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli when asked to comment upon Omar Abdullah and Mamata Banerjee opting to skip the CM's meeting.

Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh are meeting the Chief Ministers today to discuss various aspects relating to restructuring of the Planning Commission. The Prime Minister will seek views of the Chief Ministers regarding the structure, scope and role of the new body that will replace the Planning Commission.

Earlier in the day, Banerjee and Abdullah skipped Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with the Chief Ministers across India. While Abdullah mentioned the ongoing polls in Jammu and Kashmir as his reason for absence, the West Bengal CM reportedly blamed her ongoing tiff with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the same.