Mamata skips PM’s event, writes ‘nostalgic’ post; Adhikari hits back

However, Adhikari criticised the Chief Minister, accusing Banerjee of attempting to steal credit for projects that languished under her watch.

“Allow me to be a little nostalgic today. As the Railways Minister of India, I was fortunate in planning and sanctioning a series of Metro Railway corridors in metropolitan Kolkata. I had drawn the blueprints, arranged the funds, initiated the works and ensured that the different ends of the city… were connected by an intra-city Metro grid,” Mamata Banerjee wrote on X.

“Later, as the CM of Bengal, I had the additional privilege of taking part in execution of projects. I arranged free land, paved roads, rehabilitation of displaced people, removed impediments. Expanding Metro infrastructure has been a long journey for me,” she added.
Criticizing CM Banerjee’s post, Adhikari said, “Your ‘nostalgia’ is nothing but a desperate attempt to steal credit for projects that languished under your watch.”

He pointed out that even a personal appeal from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw could not prompt Banerjee’s cooperation.

The senior BJP leader mentioned the significant increase in railway funding for West Bengal under the current government, from Rs 4,380 crore to Rs 13,955 crore, facilitating the completion of vital projects at a record pace.

“Fast forward to the era of the @narendramodi Govt:- Railway funding for Bengal have been tripled from an average of Rs 4,380 crore under UPA to Rs 13,955 crore this year alone… At present, works of Rs. 83,765 crores are in progress in Bengal.”

Adhikari highlighted the delays and inefficiencies in the East-West Metro project, specifically the Sealdah-Esplanade stretch, and the pending NOC for the New Garia-Airport Metro Corridor.

He claimed, “Hon’ble PM is delivering world class connectivity.. you hide behind excuses, boycott the inauguration like a sore loser. Your contribution? A big fat zero… Bengal deserves better than your false claims, Bengal deserves Modi’s vision, action.”

Countering the allegations TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “The BJP will lose terribly in Bengal. Wherever there is BJP ‘double engine government,’ there is corruption, misrule, and rising crime against women.” “There are no answers to the allegations levelled against the Narendra Modi-led government… Modi insults Bengali language, for damage control measures, he reads from a teleprompter.”