High drama played out at the launch of the Vande Bharat Express in Howrah on Friday when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee showed her displeasure towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders by refusing to go up on the stage.
Reportedly, the BJP supporters greeted the Bengal CM by shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ upon her arrival. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw who was also present at the event requested the saffron party functionaries to calm down.
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However, despite Vaishnaw’s pleas, the loud sloganeering continued. The Union minister was seen convincing Mamata Banerjee, who looked visibly pissed at the crowd and refused to take her place on the dais.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari was also seen at the event accompanying Ashwini Vaishnaw on stage, whereas, the Bengal CM sat on the railway station platform with the audience.
BJP minister Subhas Sarkar and Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose were also present at the inauguration ceremony
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Earlier this morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Vande Bharat Express through video conference as he had to attend the last rites of his mother Heeraba, who passed away this morning.
As per media reports, Mamata Banerjee in her speech thanked PM Modi for providing such an opportunity to West Bengal and conveyed her gratitude for attending the event virtually inspite of his great loss today.
“On behalf of the people of West Bengal, I thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. It’s a sad day for you. Your mother means our mother also. May God give you the strength to continue your work. Please take some rest,” the Bengal CM said.
PM Modi was scheduled to flag off the Vande Bharat Express connecting Howrah and New Jalpaiguri and a slew of other projects worth Rs 7,800 crore in the state.
