Reacting to The Sunday Express report that she skipped seven of the 12 cabinet meetings that were held since UPA returned to power, Union Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the criticism was unfair.

“This is not fair. There are times when any minister can be absent. If I am absent, I tell them to clear any matter related to my ministry,” Banerjee said. She said “there are times when a minister is not required to explain a particular proposal” and that many of her colleagues, including Home Minister P Chidambaram, have skipped cabinet meetings.

“I am not Delhi based. Why only I am being asked this question?,” Banerjee said. She said ministers were required to be in the capital when the Parliament was in Session and she has complied with that.

The Sunday Express on September 13 reported that the crucial proposal seeking a Rs 17,700 crore Japanese loan to fund Indian Railways’ Western Dedicated Freight Corridor was not taken up at the September 10 cabinet meeting because Banerjee was absent.