As Modi roams the world, his government prevents Mamata from going to Rome

Ministry of External Affairs has denied permission to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to attend a global peace meet to be held in Rome next month.

The meeting is being organised by Community of Sant'Egido Marco Impagliazzo. The event is to be attended by religious heads and dignitaries from various countries, including the German Chancellor.

Banerjee told a public rally yesterday that she is the only Indian and only Hindu lady to be invited to his international event, but the External Affairs Ministry has denied her permission on the ground that the event is “not commensurate for (attendance at) the level of the Chief Minister”. The invitation to Banerjee was extended in July.

Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament Dr Subramanian Swamy has questioned the government’s wisdom in preventing Banerjee from attending the event. Swamy tweeted, “Why was Bengal CM Mamata prevented by Home Ministry from attending an international conference in Rome? Which law prevented her going?”

Swamy has sought Modi’s intervention in the matter, stating that it is a right of a citizen to travel.