Moratorium deadline as an appeal, clarifies Mamata

Two days after issuing a 15-day deadline to the Centre on granting a three-year moratorium on the interest of the state's debt, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee today said that it was actually an appeal to the Union government, but the media played it out as a threat.

Two days after issuing a 15-day deadline to the Centre on granting a three-year moratorium on the interest of the state's debt, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that it was actually an appeal to the Union government, but the media played it out as a threat.

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"It was an appeal that day and not a threat or warning, but the media distorted my statement by interpreting it as a threat as breaking news," Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata.

"Media has a major role to play. It must refrain from sensationalising any issue which may even cause a riot," she said and urged the press to cooperate with her government and not to exaggerate or distort her statements.

The chief minister said that henceforth all her press conferences and statements would be kept on record to challenge media against distortion.

Referring to the disturbances in the Terai-Dooars region, Banerjee also sought cooperation of the media with its impartial and positive role.