Niti Aayog's gaffe: Mamata writes to vice chairman for confusing Bengal's map with Bihar's, demands apology
Terming the error "an affront to the identity and dignity of West Bengal," Mamata said, "In the 'Summary Report for the State of West Bengal' published by Niti Aayog and available on its official website, the map intended to represent West Bengal instead depicts the territory of Bihar.'
— MamataOfficial (@MamataOfficial)
Calling it more than a technical oversight, she said, "Such a grave lapse in an official document of a premier national institution reflects an alarming lack of diligence and respect towards the States of the Union."
The chief minister also raised concerns about the credibility of the institution. "This raises legitimate concerns about the rigor and reliability of the institution's work, which policymakers and citizens alike depend upon," Mamata wrote.
She demanded an official apology and immediate corrective action. "The Government of West Bengal strongly condemns this inaccuracy and calls upon NITI Aayog to issue a clarification and apology, rectify the document, and institute mechanisms to prevent such lapses in future," she said.
This isn't the first time the institution has drawn criticism - Niti Aayog had come under fire in 2020 for allegedly relying too heavily on assumptions during its Covid-19 response planning.
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