Kolkata: On the 150th anniversary program of Kolkata Port Trust, Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed it after Jan Sangh founder, Syama Prasad Mukherjee. While addressing the program, Modi said that Mukherjee is the father of industrialization in India and he made sacrifices for one nation and one Constitution.
Narendra Modi said, “I announce that the Kolkata Port Trust will now be known as Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port. He was the father of industrialisation in India, a man who made sacrifices for one nation and one Constitution.”
The Prime Minister also blamed the West Bengal government for not implementing central schemes in the state as it did not help the syndicates. He also said that the people of West Bengal would not have to miss the benefits of central schemes for long, hinting at a change of guard in the 2021 Assembly polls.
Modi said, “When there is no syndicate or cut money involved, why would someone implement central government schemes? I don’t know whether they (state government) would give approval for central schemes such as Ayushman Bharat Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, but if they do, people of Bengal will be able to enjoy their benefits,”
He added, “Eight crore farmers across the country are getting benefited (due to the central schemes). But there will always be pain in my heart (about the schemes not being implemented in Bengal). I will always pray to god for the welfare of farmers and poor patients. May god give them (Bengal government) good sense…
“However, I have a feeling that the people of West Bengal will not remain deprived of central schemes for long.”
The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid foundation of infrastructure projects for the expansion and modernization of the Kolkata Port.
Interestingly, West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, who was scheduled to attend the meeting was not present. None of her party’s ministers attended the event.