Kolkata: Amidst political slugfest between the BJP and TMC over the inauguration of new Sealdah Metro station, the railway authorities on Sunday sent an invitation to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor Firhad Hakim, Kolkata (North) TMC MP Sudip Bandhopadhyay and local MLAs.
Union Minister Smriti Irani, who is on a three days visit to Kolkata to hold an administrative meeting, will inaugurate the metro services virtually from Howrah on Monday.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Shantanu Sen said that the BJP had ‘late realization’.
“Mamata Banerjee will be embarking on a three-day visit to North Bengal on Monday. Had the BJP government been so keen in inviting her, then they would have held a meeting on availability of her timing,” said Sen.
Sen also mentioned that Mamata when she was the Union Railway Minister had planned about the expansion of the metro services.
“Those works done by Mamata are now being sold. The BJP is now privatizing railways. Mamata Banerjee had developed railways including metro services,” further added the TMC Rajya Sabha MP.
BJP national vice president Dilip Ghosh said that if TMC leaders are feeling ‘insulted’ then they should not avail metro services.
“The TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee holds several administrative meetings but never has she called any BJP MPs or MLAs. The central government is giving lion's share for the metro project so they will decide whom to invite and whom not to. Though Mamata Banerjee is invited but still if the TMC leaders feel insulted then they should not avail the metro services,” added Ghosh.
The metro services from Sealdah will be opened for the passengers from July 14 and will go up to Sector five.
