Mamata refuses to comment on Modi government

Kolkata, May 26 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who stayed away from the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, Monday refused to talk about the new BJP-led government at the centre.

Addressing the media persons after chairing a cabinet meeting at the state secretariat here, Banerjee sprung up from her chair in an angry reaction when asked to comment about the new central government.

"I am not here to talk about that government. Please, I cannot satisfy you. This is my press conference after the cabinet meeting and only related to cabinet matters, thank you," a visibly angry Banerjee said before walking away.

Banerjee and Modi were engaged in a war of words during the election campaign.

While Banerjee did not send any congratulatory messages to Modi, she deputed state Finance Minister Amit Mitra and Trinamool Congress national general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Mukul Roy to represent the state government at the swearing-in ceremony to which she was invited.

The Trinamool chief has been criticised by the opposition in West Bengal for sending flowers to then Gujarat chief minister Modi on his victory in the 2002 assembly polls, months after fierce communal disturbances in the western state.