New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has firmly denied West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees claims that she was not allowed to speak at the recent Niti Aayog meeting. Banerjee had alleged that she was silenced, but Sitharaman provided a detailed account, asserting that Banerjee chose to leave the meeting voluntarily.What has Sitharaman saidSpeaking at the Business Today Conclave, Sitharaman clarified the sequence of events, emphasizing that Banerjee was given her full allotted time to speak and did not request any extension. The Finance Minister expressed her astonishment at Banerjees subsequent comments to the media, describing them as completely untrue.Sitharaman recounted the events at the Niti Aayog meeting that she was really happy to see the West Bengal Chief Minister attending the Niti Aayog meeting. When she started to speak, she said, I am speaking for Bengal and I am also speaking for all Opposition. I am quite happy that she has taken it upon herself to be the voice. We heard her for the full allotted time.Sitharaman explained the timing system used during the meeting that at every table, there is a screen with a clock that begins a countdown when someone starts speaking. When the clock reaches zero, it turns red after 30 seconds. At this point, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was running the meeting, taps his mic to indicate that the speakers time is up.Allowance for Extra TimeSitharaman highlighted the flexibility in the meetings timing and said that every CM had the option to ask for more time by simply saying, One more minute. There was never a refusal, and they were allowed to continue. The West Bengal Chief Minister spoke for her allotted time. If she needed more time, she could have indicated so, and no one would have stopped her.
