West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to skip the inauguration of three Kolkata metro projects by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 22, a top state government official told PTI on Monday.
Banerjee, during her tenure as the railway minister, had planned these metro projects, he claimed.
The decision to skip the inauguration of the metro projects was taken in the backdrop of alleged harassment of migrants from West Bengal in the BJP-ruled states, he said.
"There have been charges of linguistic discrimination and the harassment of the Bengalis in several states, with the alleged support of the BJP and the central government. Protests are underway to oppose such discriminatory treatment being meted out to Bengali migrants. In such a situation, the chief minister does not wish to share the stage with officials from the central government," the top bureaucrat told PTI.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a letter dated August 14, invited Banerjee to the inauguration of three metro projects on Friday.
PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Sealdah-Esplanade section of the Green Line, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby Crossing)-Beleghata stretch of the Orange Line, and Noapara-Jai Hind Bimanbandar (airport) section of the Yellow Line.
"These railway projects were originally planned and funded by Mamata Banerjee during her tenure as the railway minister. After years of slow progress, the BJP is now inaugurating them before the elections to claim credit. The chief minister was only given a routine invitation via letter," the official claimed.
The chief minister had, in the past, attended central government events to respect the constitutional protocol, he said.
"But during these programmes, BJP supporters created chaos and acted disrespectfully, turning the official functions into political platforms. Given this into account, no option will be given for such unacceptable conduct," he added.
The new routes include the final section of the East-West Metro (Green Line) from Sealdah to Esplanade, which will complete its vital link. The Orange Line will extend services from Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby Crossing) to Beleghata, adding four new stations. Concurrently, the Yellow Line will connect Noapara to Jai Hind (Biman Bandar/airport), introducing four new stations and establishing a direct metro link to the airport. PM Modi will also inaugurate a subway at the Howrah metro station.
(With PTI inputs)
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