Mamata Banerjee 'felt bad' for not being invited at East-West metro inauguration

Banerjee said her party had to "literally shed tears" to get approval for the project that was flagged off on Thursday by Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal in presence of  Union Minister Babul Supriyo at Salt Lake.

She slammed the Centre for not having the courtesy of inviting her to the inaugural event.

"We had worked hard for the East-West Metro project. We had to literally shed tears for it (approval). I felt bad that even for a small route, they (BJP) don't have the courtesy to call me and inform," Banerjee was quoted as saying in the state assembly.

Banerjee headed the portfolio of railways between 2009 and 2011.

Speaking during the launch, Goyal even criticised the state government in Bengal for depriving the people of the benefits of various central government schemes like the Ayushman Bharat and Prime Minister Kisan Yojana.

Hitting back at the Union Railway Minister, Banerjee said that Bengal is a much better and safe place for women as her government has stepped up the laws for crimes against women.

"Look at Uttar Pradesh, victims are burnt alive and their families are attacked. If you want to see the law and order situation, send a team to UP," she remarked.

Earlier on Thursday,  a major controversy broke over the issue that Kolkata Metro Railway Corporation Limited (KMRCL) did not send any invitation to Mamata Banerjee.

TMC leaders slammed the KMRCL and Indian Railways for not calling CM Mamata Banerjee and state Urban Development Minister Firhad Bobby Hakim in the inauguration.

"Without getting help and support from West Bengal government, Kolkata Metro could never complete the East-West Metro project, they should have invited Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the event," a senior TMC leader had told IBNS.

"We believe, as Mamata Banerjee has become the leading face in the anti-BJP fraternity in India, BJP ruled Central government has decided to drop the Chief Minister from the inaugural event," the TMC leader had added.

Countering the TMC statement, a BJP leader had said, "While inaugurating Kolkata's North-South Metro's Tollygunge-Kavi Subhas (New Garia) extension in 2009, the then Union Rail Minister Mamata Banerjee did not invite either the then Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya or any other state minister that time."

"History repeats itself! Mamata is facing exactly the same thing today exactly what she showed others that time," the leader had said.