On her third day in the national Capital, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday met Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and discussed several infrastructure projects in the state with him in a bid to invite global investors.
During the day, Mamata also met DMK leader Kanimozhi and noted lyricist Javed Akhtar, whom she requested to compose a song on her poll slogan of “khela hobe”.
She is also scheduled to call on a few more Union Ministers of key Ministries such as petroleum, aviation, railways and commerce soon to discuss various development projects in the State.
In her meeting with Gadkari, the West Bengal CM brought up pending road and transport projects, including the deep-sea port at Tajpur, in her discussions.
Gadkari took to Twitter to share about his meeting with Mamata in which he mentioned that in the presence of officials both the leaders reviewed various road projects being undertaken in West Bengal.
The CM requested Gadkari for a manufacturing unit of electric vehicles. She also said the State requires proper roads as it borders Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and northeastern states.
“Nitin Gadkari asked me to send my chief secretary.... My chief secretary is coming to Delhi for a meeting on Friday. As per the convenience of Gadkariji, I will send my chief secretary to meet him,” said Mamata to the media.
In her meeting with Kanimozhi, she discussed political situation in their respective states. Late evening lyricist Javed Akhtar and actor Shabana Azmi met Mamata à t her residence and congratulated her on her recent victory as well as thanked her for her support to a bill that assures royalty for artistes.
When asked if Mamata should lead the opposition against the BJP, Javed Akhtar said that during his discussions with the WB CM, she never said that she had ambition to be the leader of a third front.
“However, she believes in parivartan. She fought for Bengal earlier, now she wants to fight for India,” he said.
Asked to comment on the now-viral slogan of “Khela Hobe (game is on)”, Akhtar said that the slogan did not need any endorsement any more. “It is beyond any discussion now,” he said.
Mamata, who was standing silently as Akhtar spoke, quipped, “Khela hobe se aapko ek gaan banana hai (you have to compose a song on khela hobe).”
The TMC chief will leave the national Capital on Friday after a visit to the Parliament in the morning.
During her stay here, she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal among others.