Mamata skips Cabinet meeting, has new excuse

CNN-IBN

New Delhi, 01 June 2010: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee was in New Delhi on Tuesday but did not attend the Union Cabinet meeting, saying the agenda didn’t concern her.

The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh decided to recommend imposing President’s rule in Jharkhand -- a matter the Trinamool Congress chief called a “simple issue”.

“It (Cabinet meeting) was only for Jharkhand and no other agenda was there -- it was one simple issue. There is no difference between the Trinamool Congress and the Congress. We are absolutely comfortable and I have great respect for the Prime Minister,” she told CNN-IBN when asked if she had snubbed her ministerial colleagues.

“Some people are doing conspiracy against us (Congress and Trinamool) and that is most unfortunate,” she said.
The Minister confirmed she would this evening attend a UPA government function to release a report card on its performance. “Yes, of course I am going there. There is no difference between me and the government--some conspiracy is going against us.”

“Some times people skip cabinet meetings because of some other work. It is a collective family--there is no problem.”
Banerjee was asked who she suspected was behind the conspiracy against the Congress and the Trinamool. “Maybe other political parties who don’t like us, perhaps the CPI-M,” she replied, adding that she didn’t blame Congress leaders.

Banerjee refused to comment on her demand for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the railway mishap in West Bengal on Friday. The West Bengal government and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram have refused to recommend a CBI probe into the mishap which has been blamed on Maoists.

“No comments. I have a good relationship with Mr. Chidambaram. I don’t know who did it --Maoists or others. I want them to be booked,” she said.