"Didn't Abstain From PM Meet": Bengal Bureaucrat To Centre's Notice

For allegedly missing PM Modi's meet along with Mamata Banerjee last Friday, the bureaucrat was transferred to the Centre just a day before his retirement.

The Bengal bureaucrat at the heart of the latest clash between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly replied to the Centre's notice accusing him of skipping the PM's meeting last week. Former Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay is believed to have written to the Centre that he did not "abstain" from PM Modi's Cyclone Yaas meeting and that he was there "till the Chief Minister was there". He has said "as per the directive of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee", he left the meeting for a review of the damage caused by Cyclone Yaas in Digha town, according to sources quoted by Press Trust of India. For allegedly missing PM Modi's meet along with Mamata Banerjee last Friday, Mr Bandyopadhyay was transferred to the Centre just a day before his retirement. Mamata Banerjee refused to release him and Mr Bandyopadhyay chose to retire instead of reporting to Delhi, after which he was appointed Chief Adviser to the Chief Minister.