Hasina’s India tour: Mamata blasts Modi govt for not inviting her

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday lambasted the Indian government for not inviting her to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her four-day state visit to India.

Mamata, who has long been refusing to give her nod to a Teesta water-sharing deal with Bangladesh, also said she was curious to know why the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government was "worried" about her meeting foreign dignitaries.

"I share an excellent relationship with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, but the Centre [central government] did not invite me to be a part of her visit," she said at a special session of her party, Trinamool Congress, at the Netaji Subhash Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.

"I don't want to talk about external affairs or bilateral ties, but I have noticed that the Centre tries to stop me whenever I am invited to any foreign country. I want to know why the union government is so worried about me meeting foreign dignitaries."

Hasina, who wrapped up her India visit yesterday, during an interaction with the media at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on September 6,said Mamata was like her sister and expressed disappointment over not being able to meet the chief minister.

In July this year, Hasina had even written to Mamata saying she was keen to meet her during this visit.

A senior official of the Indian government rejected Mamata's criticism and said the central government does not invite chief ministers to events related to a visiting head of a government.

"Sometimes, chief ministers are invited for state banquets or some other ceremonial events but there was no such occasion during Sheikh Hasina's visit this time," said the official, preferring anonymity.