Never sought special package for Bengal: Mamata

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said she had never sought a special package for her state and asserted that her two-day visit to Delhi starting on Monday had no political agenda.

"I am not begging, neither am I demanding a special package (for West Bengal). But I want to know why Bengal is continuously being deprived. Despite all the problems that we are facing, Bengal is number one in performance in the country," Banerjee said. "I am not going to Delhi for anything political. I will meet the prime minister and the union finance minister regarding finances and development of our state," she added. Banerjee is to leave for Delhi Monday evening. She will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday and Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday. The Trinamool Congress supremo, in a veiled threat to the prime minister, said: "We have met the prime minister several times on the issue (of development). If he still does not pay heed, we will see what we can do." She also criticised the central government for allowing the previous Left Front regime in the state to "borrow relentlessly", the fallout of which, she said, was being borne by her government now. "The most debt-ridden states in the country are Kerala, Punjab and Bengal, but our situation is worse than the other two states. We have to pay the centre more than we earn," added Banerjee. IANS