File Photo: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (Press Trust of India)
As she left for Delhi where she is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said it was her state that first launched a cleanliness campaign and much before the PM's Swachch Bharat mission.
"West Bengal had embarked on the 'Nirmal Bangla Abhiyan' three years ago and we were the first ones in the country having undertaken such a campaign," Ms Banerjee said when asked to comment on the PM's ambitious countrywide cleanliness project, which has attracted global attention.
On a list of 476 cities ranked for cleanliness under the Swachch Bharat mission, West Bengal has done well with 25 in the top 100. Its Halisahar is among India's top 10 cleanest cities, a list led by Karnataka's Mysuru.
Ms Banerjee, who lands in Delhi tonight said about her likely meeting with PM Modi, "Whatever I have to say I had already briefed you people at Nabanna (state secretariat). Nothing to add more."
The chief minister has said earlier that she will discuss the floods in the state with the Prime Minister and seek more central funds to cope with the post-flood situation. She has also assured opposition parties in the state that she will brief them on her talks with PM Modi, once she is back.