Buddha not invited,Mamata calls Chief Secy instead

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has chosen not to invite Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to the foundation-laying ceremony of the Joka-BBD Bagh Metro project

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has chosen not to invite Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to the foundation-laying ceremony of the Joka-BBD Bagh Metro project at Joka that will be presided over by President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday.

I have not been invited. I dont know whether anybody else has got the invitation, Bhattacharjee said on Tuesday evening while leaving the Writers Buildings for Kolkata airport to receive the President.

However,an invitation for Chief Secretary Ardhendu Sen came to his office in the afternoon. Other dignitaries who will be present on the occasion include Governor M K Narayanan and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

The move evoked sharp criticism from state Transport Minister Ranjit Kundu who accused the Railways of non-cooperation with the state government. This can happen in West Bengal only. It is a gross violation of both protocol and courtesy, he said. How can the Railways do this to the Chief Minister when the project is being executed in the state?

He also said that the elevated track from Joka to BBD Bagh would be built over tram track and there would be a total disruption of public life.

But the Railways never consulted us on how to do it. They never showed us the detailed project report. Its a strange situation, Kundu said.

Railway officials maintained they had no role in deciding whom to invite. You better ask Didi. She took the decision, said a railway official.

Story continues below this ad

Senior bureaucrats are of the opinion that not inviting the Chief Minister was of course a violation of courtesy,if not protocol. During arrival and departure of the President,the Governor and Chief Minister have to be present at the airport. That is protocol. But as far as a specific function related to a mega project inside the state is concerned where the President is present,courtesy demands that the Chief Minister is invited, said a former chief secretary of the state,requesting anonymity.