New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday accused the state of 'federal and financial terrorism' after the central government refused to allow Australia's deputy high commissioner to meet three West Bengal ministers during his proposed visit to the state. Because the people had defeated the BJP. In the state
Australia's Deputy High Commissioner Nicholas McCaffrey was scheduled to visit Kolkata and the Sundarbans between June 18 and 21. During the visit, he wanted to meet Commerce Minister Shashi Panja, Information Technology and Electronics Minister Babul Supriyo and Agriculture Minister Swandeep Chattopadhyay.
However, the Trinamool Congress said, the Oceania division of the MEA wrote to the High Commission that they “do not recommend” meetings with the ministers as requested by the Australian side.
At the same time, the Oceania division had “no political objection” to diplomatic meetings with BJP MPs Skanta Majumdar and Dilip Ghosh and Trinamool Congress MPs Derek O'Brien and Jawahar Sarkar.
Sources in the Trinamool Congress said that the Deputy High Commissioner did not come to Bengal as per schedule and his MPs did not meet him when ministers were not allowed.
The Australian side had requested the meetings to discuss opportunities for cooperation and explore areas of economic interest in West Bengal in the backdrop of India-Australia trade talks.
Government sources said they have allowed the Australian diplomat to meet officials at the appropriate level based on the principle of mutual cooperation. He said that Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Australia is not allowed to meet Australian ministers.
When contacted, a spokesperson for the Australian High Commission said, “Australia and India are close friends, with strong strategic, economic and community ties. Australian diplomats have been involved in political, business, cultural and sporting exchanges between our two countries. We do not comment on the specific details of the programs when our officials travel regularly across India to strengthen linkages.”
An attempt to 'despite Bengal'
Setting the stage for yet another round of confrontation, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose said the central government's action was 'absolutely authoritarian' and an attempt to 'spite Bengal'. He said he would strongly raise the 'serious issue' in Parliament after discussing it with India's allies, which he described as 'financial terrorism'.
Addressing a press conference here, Ghose and another MP Sakit Gokhale claimed that the federal structure of the state was being destroyed.
“Representatives of states who want to go abroad are being stopped and the way they are doing it in such a dirty, uncivil manner is very shameful,” Ghose said.
Gokhale termed the development as “federal terrorism”, alleging that several diplomats claimed they were informally told by the central government that they could get clearance for investment only if they chose Gujarat. are
Published June 19, 2024, 12:58 p.m IST