Mamata Banerjee Skips Meeting Chaired By Amit Shah

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has skipped the two-day brainstorming session called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The conclave of Home Ministers of all states, that began in Haryana's Surajkund today, is being chaired by the Union Home Minister. Ms Banerjee holds the Home portfolio in West Bengal.

In the Chief Minister's absence, Bengal is being represented by Niraj Kumar Singh, the Assistant Director General of Police (Home Guard), and Ram Das Meena, West Bengal Resident Commissioner.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Chintan Shivir via video conferencing tomorrow.

Among the Chief Ministers from opposition-ruled states who are attending the conference are Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan and Punjab's Bhagwant Mann. Bihar, which recently switched to the opposition camp, has sent its Director General of Police (DGP) to the meeting.

Apart from Ms Banerjee, other Chief Ministers not attending the meet include Janata Dal United's Nitish Kumar (Bihar) and DMK's MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu) - all of whom have been pitching for a joint opposition to unseat the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls - besides Biju Janata Dal's Naveen Patnaik (Odisha).

Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has blamed the Union Home Minister for usurping the powers of state governments and misusing central agencies against ruling parties in opposition-ruled states. TMC is at loggerheads with Mr Shah over several issues and has been extremely vocal in its criticism of the Union Home Minister.

"This is festival time and there are several functions lined up. Bhai Phonta (Bhai Dooj) is on Thursday and Chhat Puja will also take place soon. It will not be possible for the Chief Minister to leave the state. Our Home Secretary and DGP [Director General of Police] will not be participating in the Chintan Shivir for the same reason," an official told news agency PTI.

State Home Secretaries, Directors General of Police (DGPs) and Directors General (DGs) of central armed police forces and central police organisations are also participating in the event. Better coordination between states and the centre is one of the issues on the agenda.

The conference will also discuss matters related to developing an ecosystem for countering cybercrime, modernising police forces, increasing the use of information technology in the criminal justice system, land-border management and coastal security, among other internal security issues.