Last Update: December 30, 2022, 12:11 pm IST
Banerjee was at Howrah station for the inauguration of the new Vande Bharat Express. (PTI file)
The West Bengal Chief Minister was visibly incensed by the chanting of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by some people in the crowd after arriving for the inauguration of the Vande Bharat Express in New Jalpaiguri.
Much drama was witnessed on stage during the inauguration of the new Vande Bharat Express at Howrah station in West Bengal Mamata Banerjee On Friday, a section of BJP supporters in the crowd refused to go on stage after sloganeering.
The West Bengal Chief Minister was visibly incensed by the chanting of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by some people in the crowd after arriving for the inauguration of the Vande Bharat Express in New Jalpaiguri.
BJP minister Subhash Sarkar and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav were present at the ceremony and asked supporters to stop shouting slogans. However, efforts by Vaishnav and Governor CV Anand Bose to woo the TMC chief did not bear fruit and he chose to sit himself in the audience instead of on the dais.
Banerjee later opted to deliver her address from her seat in the audience and did not take the stage. In his speech, he condoled the death of Prime Minister Modi’s mother and thanked him for giving this opportunity to the people of West Bengal.
“Respected PM, it is a sad day today and a huge loss for you. I pray to god, may god give you strength. I express my gratitude to you that you were about to come to West Bengal, but due to the demise of your mother, you could not come, but joined virtually.
“On behalf of the people of West Bengal, I thank you very much for giving us this opportunity. Sad day for you. Your mother is our mother too. May God give you the strength to continue with your work, please take some rest.”
Prime Minister Modi, who was scheduled to flag off the train and inaugurate other projects in the state, attended the event following the death of his mother Heeraben Modi in the early hours of Friday.
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