PM Modi arrives in Kolkata, to inaugurate key defence conference on Monday

PM Modi in Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Kolkata on Sunday evening for a two-day visit, during which he is set to inaugurate the 16th Combined Commanders’ Conference.

The conference, considered the top brainstorming platform of the armed forces, serves as a forum where senior civil and military leadership engage in conceptual and strategic discussions. The event will be inaugurated at the Eastern Command headquarters of the Indian Army, Vijay Durg, the erstwhile Fort William.

Governor CV Ananda Bose, state Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma welcomed the Prime Minister at the Raj Bhavan, where he will be staying overnight. From the airport, Modi drove directly to the Raj Bhavan after being received on arrival by Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar and former BJP MP Locket Chatterjee.

Earlier in the day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had also arrived in Kolkata to participate in the conference, which will begin on Monday. Among those expected to attend are NSA Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

This marks Modi’s second trip to West Bengal in less than a month, with the state heading into Assembly polls early next year. During his previous visit to the city on August 22, the Prime Minister inaugurated several development initiatives and addressed a rally at Dumdum in the northern suburbs of Kolkata.

Officials noted that Modi is scheduled to depart for Purnea in Bihar on Monday afternoon after attending the deliberations at the conference.

With inputs from PTI