Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 15, 2024, New Delhi : In a significant push for infrastructural development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated multiple new Vande Bharat Express trains from Jamshedpur on Sunday. The launch is being hailed as a vital step in enhancing connectivity and boosting industrial growth across India. The high-speed Vande Bharat trains, often referred to as the lifeline of India’s modern rail network, aim to significantly reduce travel time between key cities.
Meanwhile, at Howrah Station, a related event was attended by BJP’s West Bengal state president Sukanta Majumder and Union Minister of State for Education. The occasion was not just a celebration of the new trains but also turned into a platform for political statements. Majumder praised the central government’s efforts, highlighting how the Vande Bharat Express symbolizes both progress and innovation in the country’s transport infrastructure. However, he used the event to criticize the state government, raising concerns about West Bengal’s participation in this development.
Majumder accused the state government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, of not fully supporting the central initiatives. “While the Vande Bharat Express is set to accelerate industrial development in the region, the real question is whether the state government will cooperate in realizing its full potential,” Majumder stated, casting doubt on the efficiency and cooperation of Banerjee’s administration.
In his speech, Majumder did not hold back from taking political jabs at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Referring to the recent arrest of the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tala Police Station, he provocatively remarked, “It remains to be seen whether the arrest will lead to any real accountability or if it will merely end up at someone’s doorstep without consequences.” His comment was seen as a veiled reference to the upper echelons of the state government.
The BJP leader also took the opportunity to question why the Chief Minister had not yet replaced the current Commissioner of Police, a subject of much political debate. On the ongoing doctors’ protest in the state, Majumder clarified the BJP’s position, stating, “We are not involved in the protest directly, but we support it from the outside.”
The event’s tone shifted from a celebration of the Vande Bharat Express to a political battleground. While railway officials were present for the formal inauguration, many appeared uncomfortable with the political overtones. The event was meant to mark a new chapter in railway development, but the discourse seemed to underscore the deep political divide between the BJP-led central government and the Trinamool Congress-led state government.
Despite the political back-and-forth, the Vande Bharat Express continues to be a symbol of India’s rapid modernization. As more trains are rolled out, connecting cities across the country, the focus remains on how these advancements will contribute to the nation’s economic growth. However, the political narrative surrounding its launch in West Bengal reflects the ongoing tensions between the state and central governments, raising questions about future cooperation in development initiatives.
The launch of the new Vande Bharat trains is a step forward for India, but whether the political rhetoric will hinder or enhance its success in West Bengal remains to be seen.