KoPT Renamed: Modi More a ‘Name Changer’ Than ‘Game Changer’, Says CPI(M)
Image Courtesy: PTI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases a stamp in the presence of West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar during an event to celebrate 150 years of Kolkata Port Trust.
Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday rechristened Kolkata Port Trust after Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, drawing criticism from the Opposition parties, which said he was more of a "name-changer" than a "game-changer".
Modi, while addressing the 150th anniversary programme of Kolkata Port Trust, invoked Mookerjee and BR Ambedkar and said their contributions had led to the development of the country after Independence, but suggestions made by them were not implemented after they resigned from the government.
"I announce that the Kolkata Port Trust will now be known as Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. He was the father of industrialisation in India, a man who made sacrifices for one nation and one Constitution," Modi said, while addressing the ceremony at Netaji Indoor Stadium here.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was scheduled to attend the port trust programme, was conspicuous by her absence. None of the Trinamool Congress ministers were also present at the event.
Modi, who also released a commemorative stamp on the occasion, said his government at the Centre was making every possible effort to develop Bengal, its poor, underprivileged and exploited sections.
He also inaugurated and laid foundation of infrastructure projects for the expansion and modernisation of the Kolkata Port.
Criticising the prime minister's move to rename the port, Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Mohammed Salim said Modi had turned into a "name-changer" rather than being a "game-changer", contrary to what the saffron camp had claimed when it came to power in 2014.
"When Narendra Modi came to power, we thought his government will be a game-changer. Now we see that the government is more of a name-changer. This name-changing, however, will not have any material impact on the port's performance," Salim said.
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