West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged that her microphone was muted during a key Niti Aayog meeting in Delhi, which prompted strong reactions from several leaders of the INDIA bloc who criticized the ruling BJP for allegedly silencing an elected Chief Minister.

Banerjee walked out of the meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming she was unfairly interrupted and that her microphone was switched off after only five minutes, while other chief ministers were allowed to speak for longer periods. The government countered her claim, stating that her allotted speaking time had ended.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh condemned Niti Aayog, describing it as a "drumbeater for the non-biological Prime Minister" and accusing it of undermining cooperative federalism and being partisan. He criticized the organization's handling of Banerjee, calling it unacceptable and a mockery of democratic dissent.

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla echoed these sentiments, stating that it was wrong for Banerjee not to be given adequate time to speak and urging NITI Aayog to address the issue. Congress Spokesperson Sachin Rawat drew parallels to Rahul Gandhi’s experiences in Parliament, asserting that the government aims to suppress opposition voices.

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), another INDIA bloc member, also expressed displeasure, with General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya labeling the incident as discriminatory and disrespectful.

Conversely, the BJP accused Banerjee of fabricating the incident for political drama. BJP leader Locket Chatterjee claimed that Banerjee had preemptively announced her intention to leave if such an event occurred and dismissed her actions as scripted theatrics. The government's fact-checking body supported this view, stating that her speaking time had simply expired and that no bell was rung to signal this.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rebuked Banerjee’s claims, asserting that Banerjee spoke for her entire allotted time and accusing her of spreading falsehoods to appease the INDIA alliance. Senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal added that all participants were given equal speaking time and that the process was automated.

This incident has sparked a broader debate about the treatment of opposition leaders and the functioning of institutions like Niti Aayog in the context of India's federal structure.