Bhubaneawar, March 23: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik Thursday said that their discussion just focused on the need for strengthening the country’s federal structure.
“It was a courtesy call and there was no in-depth discussion at all about serious political matters. We just said the federal structure in India should remain permanent and strong,” said Patnaik, who happens to be the BJD president after the meeting with the WB CM at Naveen Niwas here.
Banerjee said she “strongly supports and appreciates” Naveen Patnaik’s’s view that the country’s federal structure should be strengthened.
“We held discussion on the safety of nation and its people and democratic rights. I support and appreciate Naveen Patnaik’s view on federal structure in India should remain permanent and strong,” said Banerjee.
Both the CMs also discussed issues of mutual interests, with Mamata Banerjee maintaining that Naveen Patnaik is a tall leader and their neighbouring States maintain “good relationship” and enjoy a “golden legacy”.
On the request of the Bengal chamber of commerce, Banerjee sought the Naveen Patnaik Government’s cooperation for supply of iron ore for her State’s industries. “An industrial corridor may be developed to boost our economy,” she said.
Wrapping up her three-day Odisha visit, the Chief Minister of the neighbouring State called on Patnaik before leaving for Kolkata in the afternoon.
During their meeting, Odisha CM cleared the allocation of two acres of land at Puri for a Bengal Government guest house for tourists coming from that State to stay there for the darshan of the deities at the Jagannath Temple.
