Mamata Opts Out of PM’s Metro Programme, Suvendu Slams Social Media Gesture

23 August-Kolkata, India: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped the inauguration ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Metro railway programme on Friday, only to share a sentimental message on her official social media account, which received a heated and negative response from the opposition party leader Suvendu Adhikari.

The West Bengal CM recalled her days as the Railway Minister when she was responsible for planning and approving the Metro Railway routes in Kolkata. As a CM, she later oversaw the project’s implementation.

Mamata Banerjee on the project

Mamata Banerjee posted in her official X account that “Allow me to be a little nostalgic today. As the Railways Minister of India, I was fortunate in planning and sanctioning a series of Metro Railway corridors in metropolitan Kolkata. I had drawn the blueprints, arranged the funds, initiated the works and ensured that the different ends of the city… were connected by an intra-city Metro grid.”

She further added “Later, as the CM of Bengal, I had the additional privilege of taking part in execution of projects. I arranged free land, paved roads, rehabilitation of displaced people, removed impediments. Expanding Metro infrastructure has been a long journey for me.”

BJP Members criticize the CM

Adhikari, however, attacked the Chief Minister in her official X post and charged Banerjee with trying to take credit for abandoning initiatives while she was in charge.

Even Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s personal plea, he noted, was insufficient to get Banerjee’s support. According to a senior BJP member, the current administration has significantly increased railway funding for West Bengal from Rs 4,380 crore to Rs 13,955 crore, enabling the completion of crucial projects at a record-breaking rate.

Adhikari also pointed out the recent delays in the East-West Metro project’s inefficiencies, especially the Sealdah-Esplanade metro section, as well as the pending NOC for the New Garia-Airport Metro Corridor.

The senior BJP leader also praised PM Modi and stated that “Hon’ble PM is delivering world class connectivity.. you hide behind excuses, boycott the inauguration like a sore loser. Your contribution? A big fat zero… Bengal deserves better than your false claims, Bengal deserves Modi’s vision, action.”

TMC counter the allegations

Kunal Ghosh, a TMC party member replied back to the allegations of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and he also criticized the PM Modi. He said “The BJP will lose terribly in Bengal. Wherever there is BJP ‘double engine government,’ there is corruption, misrule, and rising crime against women.” “There are no answers to the allegations levelled against the Narendra Modi-led government… Modi insults Bengali language, for damage control measures, he reads from a teleprompter.”