Mamata may skip inauguration of projects by PM on Aug 22
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.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
a minute ago
- Mint
Who is Sudershan Reddy? INDIA bloc's pick against NDA's CP Radhakrishnan for Vice Presidential election
The INDIA bloc on 19 August named former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as its candidate for the Vice presidential election. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge announced the name of the opposition bloc's pick during a meeting with the other allies. Reddy will contest against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance 's nominee, CP Radhakrishnan, in the elections to be held on 9 September. As things stand, the ruling NDA has sufficient votes to secure a victory for Radhakrishnan. The BJP-led alliance holds the edge in the 781-member electoral college with 424 members. The Opposition INDIA bloc, however, wanted to put up a fight by fielding a non-political leader to highlight its commitment for the Constitution and democracy. Reddy's name, it is learnt, was pushed by Mamata Banerjee-led TMC. Reddy is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India and the first Lokayukta of Goa. Born on 8 July, 1946, Sudershan Reddy was enrolled as Advocate at Hyderabad with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh on 27 December, 1971. He has practiced in Writ and Civil matters in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. He worked as a government Pleader in the High Court during 1988-90. 'Shri B Sudershan Reddy garu is one of India's most distinguished and progressive jurists. He has had a long and eminent legal career including as Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court and Judge of the Supreme Court. He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice,' Kharge said in a post on X Sudershan Reddy also worked as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government for six months during 1990. He also worked as a Legal Adviser and Standing Counsel for Osmania University. He was appointed a permanent Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on 2 May 1995. Reddy was appointed as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court on in December 2005. Sudershan Reddy was appointed as a Judge of Supreme Court of India on 12 Janaury 2007. He retired as SC Judge in July 2011 The Opposition INDIA bloc wanted to put up a fight by fielding a non-political leader to highlight its commitment for the Constitution and democracy. According to Articles 63 to 71 of the Constitution and the Vice President (Election) Rules, 1974, a formal election had to be held within 60 days of Dhankhar's resignation on 21 July. The electorate or the electoral college comprises all members of both Houses of Parliament — elected and nominated — using a proportional representation system via a single transferable vote. The MPs will cast a single transferable vote with a secret ballot.
Mint
a minute ago
- Mint
PM Modi appeals for unanimous election of NDA's vice presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, August 19, appealed to all parties for the unanimous election of NDA's vice presidential candidate CP Radhakrishnan. Praising his life of public service, PM Narendra Modi made the appeal to even the Opposition MPs. Radhakrishnan was felicitated at a meeting of the MPs of the ruling party. He is expected to file his nomination on Wednesday, August 20. Meanwhile, the Opposition bloc, too, has picked its Vice Presidential candidate. Former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy as its candidate for the Vice President's election. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told reporters that Modi, in his address, appealed to various parties, especially the Opposition, to back Radhakrishnan to ensure that he is elected unanimously. PM Modi introduced the Maharashtra governor, who is a seasoned BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, to the NDA MPs, citing his long public life in which he served ably in different capacities. In his speech, Modi also raised the Indus Waters Treaty, criticizing then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for signing it with Pakistan without consulting Parliament or his Cabinet. Nehru did to burnish his own image at the cost of the interest of the country, he said, according to sources. Over 80 per cent of the waters was allowed to be used by Pakistan, he noted. The Modi government put the treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack. The prime minister said his government has been undoing the sins of that era, the sources added. PM Modi also said that Nehru later told a colleague that he had believed that the agreement will help resolve other issues with Pakistan but it did not happen, PTI mentioned. Kiren Rijiju said that CP Radhakrishnan has lived a simple life, free from controversy or blemish, and added that his election as Vice President would be a matter of pride and joy for the entire nation. With the BJP-led NDA enjoying a comfortable majority in the electoral college comprising MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Radhakrishnan's win is a certainty amid indications from the opposition INDIA bloc that it will field its own candidate and force a contest.
Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
Rajya Sabha adjourned over demands of discussion on SIR ahead of Bihar polls
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till the post-lunch session within minutes of assembly on Tuesday, as Opposition MPs persisted in demanding a discussion on alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The House will reconvene after the lunch break.(PTI) Soon after listed official papers were laid on the table of the House, slogan shouting Opposition MPs moved into aisles and well of the House raising the issue of SIR, leading to proceedings being adjourned till 2 pm. The House will reconvene after the lunch break. Deputy Chairman Harivansh rejected 20 notices that invoked Rule 267, which allows suspension of listed business to discuss matters being raised in them. Without indicating the subject, he said the notices were received on four different subjects, but none of them adhered to the prescribed rules and so were not admitted. He called for taking up the listed Zero Hour, where MPs raise issues of urgent public importance, but sloganeering drowned his attempts. He also objected to some MPs wearing badges. With the opposition MPs continuing to shout slogans, disrupting proceedings, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House till 2 pm.
