PM Narendra Modi at Netaji indoor stadium during the celebration of 150 years of Kolkata Port Trust. (Express Photo: Partha Paul)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Kolkata, on Sunday named the Kolkata Port Trust as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. While speaking at an event to mark the 150 years of Kolkata Port Trust in Netaji Indoor Stadium, PM Modi rued it is unfortunate that after they resigned from the government, the visions of Dr Mookerjee and Babasaheb Ambedkar were not implemented the way they should have been.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was also expected to attend the function, skipped it. Earlier in the day PM attended a prayer meet at Belur Math to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the founder of Ramakrishna Mission. Reiterating that the Citizenship Amendment Act is not a law to revoke citizenship, but to grant it, PM Modi on Sunday said some people with vested interest are misguiding the countryās youth. āThere are a lot of questions among the youth about the new citizenship law, and some are being misled by rumours around itā¦ it is our duty to clear their doubts,” he said.
On the first day of his visit, PM Modi was met with protests against the new citizenship law. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too met the prime minister and asked him to withdraw the contentious law. āI told him that maybe this is not the appropriate time for me to say this, but we feel strongly about this issue. We are against CAA, NRC and NPR. But we have been agitating against CAA, NRC, and NPR. I told him we are against dividing people. We do not want people to be driven out of the country. We do not want people to face any atrocities. I told him that the Centre should rethink on CAA. We want it to be withdrawn,ā the Chief Minister told reporters outside Raj Bhavan after her 35-minute “courtesy meeting” with Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday arrived in Kolkata, where he met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. After meeting Modi, Banerjee said she asked the PM to withdraw CAA, NPR and NRC.(Twitter/PMO)
Youths in Kolkata raise slogans: 'Go Back Modi'
Protesters stage demonstrations at Kolkata's Esplanade. (express Photo: Shashi Ghosh)
Cutting across political lines what started as a synchronised protest pitch against the Bengal visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, turned into a Left versus Trinamool Congress confrontation, after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met him at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Saturday.
Throughout the day, the state capital and its neighbouring areas witnessed several protests against the PM for the BJP-led Centre’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed nationwide Nation Register of Citizens (NRC). Supporters affiliated to the Left, Congress, different students’ organisations, including Jadavpur University and Presidency University, started a march towards the Raj Bhavan, but were blocked by the police. The TMC, too, protested in different parts of the state capital. Read more...
Protests across Kolkata over PM Modi's visit. (Express Photo: Shashi Ghosh)
While talking at the Kolkata Port Trust event, PM Modi took a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying that the state government is the hindrance for the people who are losing out on the benefits of the central health schemes. "As soon as the West Bengal Government allows the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, people here will also get the benefits of these schemes," PM Modi said.
In pics | Modi felicitated at Netaji Indoor Stadium. (Express Photo: Partha Paul)
Watch Prime Minister Modi speak at 150th anniversary of Kolkata Port Trust in Netaji Indoor Stadium.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee quoted on Swami Vivekananda, and said on his 157th birthday, his speech in Chicago has become even more relevant.
"Government is endorsing cruise-based tourism now. This will benefit West Bengal too. We are putting all our efforts for the uplift of the poor, tribals, dalits of this state," PM Modi.
"This (Kolkata) port represents industrial, spiritual and self-sufficiency aspirations of India. Today, when the port is celebrating its 150th anniversary, it is our responsibility to make it a powerful symbol of New India," says PM Modi
"The country has been benefitted from inland waterways. Haldia and Benaras has been connected through waterways," Modi says.
It is unfortunate that visions of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee were not taken seriously after they resigned from the government, says PM Modi
PM Modi renames Kolkata Port Trust after Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
Reiterating that the Citizenship Amendment Act is not a law to revoke citizenship, but to grant it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said some people with vested interest are misguiding the country’s youth.
Speaking at a prayer meet to mark the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda at Belur Math, Modi said, “There are a lot of questions among the youth about the new citizenship law, and some are being misled by rumours around it… it is our duty to clear their doubts. Read more...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at Netaji Stadium in Kolkata.
"It's because of this (citizenship) law that people here have become aware of the kind of persecution the Hindus in Pakistan face. Pakistan is now answerable to us," PM Modi says
"Political parties are not ready to understand the citizenship act... Despite such clarity, some people are spreading rumours about CAA. But I am happy that the youths of today helping others to get rid of the misconceptions," PM Modi said.
"After independence, Mahatma Gandhiji and other big leaders of the time, all believed that India should give citizenship to persecuted religious minorities of Pakistan. Isn't this our responsibility to save those persecuted people or not? Will you stand by my side in this decision?" asks Modi.
"A lot of youths have been misguided by rumours (on CAA). Citizenship Amendment Act is a law to strip anybody of their citizenship. Instead it is a law to grant citizenship to persecuted people," PM Modi says.
"The dream of New India can be fulfilled with the help of youth. Don't run away from problems, instead solve them, challenge your challenges," says PM Modi.
"The last time I came here, I had taken the blessings of Swami Atmasthanandaji. Today he is not physically present with us. But his work, his path, will always guide us in the form of Ramakrishna Mission." says PM Modi.
"My best wishes to you all on Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary... I'm grateful to the Math's president and the seers for letting me stay with them last night. Belur Math is no less than a pilgrimage, but for me it is always like a homecoming," PM Modi says at Belur Math.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi joins the Ramakrishna Mission event on Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary.
Welcome to The Indian Express Live blog. Stay tuned for live updates on PM Modi's visit to Kolkata.