Mukherjee wants discussion with PM before announcing Bengal package

Kolkata, Oct.23 (ANI): Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, said on Sunday that he would discuss with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before he announces a financial package for West Bengal.

Mukherjee was addressing mediapersons in Kolkata.

"I will not comment on that (financial package for Bengal). She (Mamata Banerjee) had given a speech yesterday and had a discussion with the Prime Minister. I will discuss with the Prime Minister and then I will speak," he said.

Mukherjee's statement came a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told the 56th meeting of the National Development Council (NDC) in New Delhi that West Bengal needed special financial attention because its economy had been crippled during over three decades of communist rule.

The meeting of the NDC also saw Prime Minister Manmohan Singh say in his concluding speech on Saturday that while it was true that the government supported the country's poorer states, it was not a sign of discrimination against the others.(ANI)