West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is unlikely to attend the inauguration of three major Kolkata Metro projects by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 22, according to a senior state government official. The decision comes against the backdrop of alleged harassment and linguistic discrimination faced by Bengali migrants in BJP-ruled states.

The official stated that protests are ongoing against the reported ill-treatment of Bengalis, and in such a situation, the chief minister does not wish to share the stage with representatives of the central government. “There have been charges of discrimination and harassment with alleged support from the BJP and the Centre. Given the sentiment in the state, the CM has chosen not to attend,” the official said.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had invited Mamata Banerjee to the event in a letter dated August 14. Modi is expected to inaugurate the Sealdah–Esplanade stretch of the Green Line, the Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby Crossing)–Beleghata section of the Orange Line, and the Noapara–Jai Hind Bimanbandar (airport) section of the Yellow Line.

Interestingly, these metro projects were originally conceptualized and funded during Banerjee’s tenure as Union Railway Minister. The state official claimed that after years of delay, the BJP is rushing to inaugurate them ahead of elections to claim credit.

While Mamata Banerjee has attended central government events in the past to maintain constitutional protocol, the official alleged that BJP supporters often created chaos during such programmes, turning them into political rallies. “Given this past experience, the state has decided against participation to avoid a repeat of such incidents,” the official added.