A major controversy has erupted on Wednesday after a central government report published by NITI Aayog displayed an incorrect map of India, showing Bihar in place of West Bengal. The error appears on the cover page of a four-page document titled "Summary Report for the State of West Bengal", currently available on the NITI Aayog website.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly condemned the blunder and sent a formal letter to NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman K Bery, demanding an immediate apology and correction of the report. She stated that such a mistake is not a mere technical oversight, but an insult to the identity and dignity of West Bengal.
"Such a grave lapse in an official document of a premier national institution is not merely a technical error but an affront to the identity and dignity of the State of West Bengal. Such a blunder in an official publication of NITI Aayog, reflects an alarming lack of diligence and respect towards the States of the Union,” Mamata wrote in her letter on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister has also demanded a detailed explanation of how such a glaring error occurred in a document meant to represent the state.
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“The Government of West Bengal strongly condemns this inaccuracy and calls upon NITI Aayog to issue a clarification and apology and take immediate corrective action to rectify the document and to institute robust mechanism to prevent such lapses in future,” she wrote.
This incident comes at a time when West Bengal has been raising concerns over the treatment of its migrant workers in BJP-ruled states. There have been multiple reports of Bengali-speaking workers being branded as ‘Bangladeshis’, wrongfully detained, and even deported. In several cases, the state government had to intervene and bring them back.
Earlier this month, Nabanna, the state secretariat, sent a letter to the Odisha government over similar incidents. Mamata sees this latest error as part of a larger pattern of disrespect toward the people and culture of Bengal. She warned that such repeated incidents only fuel mistrust in the intentions and functioning of central agencies.
Meanwhile, in another significant development for West Bengal’s industrial landscape, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran held an extended meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat Nabanna on Tuesday. The meeting, described as “positive” by officials, focused on exploring new industrial opportunities and boosting employment in the state.
According to Nabanna sources, the discussion revolved around potential large-scale investments by the Tata Group across multiple districts, including Howrah, East Medinipur and South 24 Parganas. The interaction is being seen as a strong indication of the Tata Group’s renewed interest in Bengal, signaling a fresh chapter in state-industry relations.
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