PM renames Kolkata Port Trust, draws criticism from oppn.

Kolkata, Jan. 12 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday rechristened Kolkata Port Trust after Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, drawing criticism from the opposition camp, 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 post 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.

Hinting at a change of guard in 2021 Assembly polls, he said the West Bengal government was not implementing central schemes as it did not help "syndicates" (cartels), but people in this state would not have to miss out on the benefits for long.

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.

"When there is no syndicate or cut money involved, why would someone implement central government schemes? I don't know whether they (state government) would give approval for central schemes such as Ayushman Bharat Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, but if they do, people of Bengal will be able to enjoy their benefits," he said.

The prime minister also claimed that he was pained to see that the poor in the state was not getting the benefits of the Centre's welfare schemes.

"Eight crore farmers across the country are getting benefited (due to the central schemes). But there will always be a pain in my heart (about the schemes not being implemented in Bengal). I will always pray to god for the welfare of farmers and poor patients. May God give them (Bengal government) good sense...

"However, I have a feeling that the people of West Bengal will not remain deprived of central schemes for long," he insisted.

Modi, who 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 the foundation of infrastructure projects for the expansion and modernisation of the Kolkata Port.

"Development of waterways has improved Kolkata Port Trust's connectivity with industrial centres in east India, made trade easier for our neighbouring countries, Bhutan, Myanmar and Nepal.

"Our country's coasts are gateways to development, the (central) government has started the Sagarmala programme to improve connectivity," Modi added.

Criticising the prime minister's move to rename the port, CPI(M) 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.

Protests against CAA, PM Modi's visit continue in Kolkata

Students, mostly affiliated to the Congress and the Left parties, continued protests here for the second consecutive day on Sunday against the amended citizenship act, despite PM Narendra Modi's assurance that the new law would not harm the interests of any citizen.

Activists, who hit the streets on Saturday with placards that read 'Modi go back' and 'Down with BJP', continued their sit-in all night at Esplanade area in the state capital, insisting that their agitation would continue till the prime minister leaves the city.

Some of them also staged protests at several vantage points here since morning, raising slogans against the prime minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for bringing in the "divisive" law.

Dispelling fears over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Modi said earlier in the day that a section of the youth was being misguided about the law and asserted that it would not take away anybody's citizenship.

"I want to make this clear again that the CAA is not about taking away anybody's citizenship, but about granting citizenship," he said.

The PM is on a two-day visit to the city.

Black flags and angry chants had greeted Modi as he arrived here on Saturday afternoon, but nicety was not entirely abandoned as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shared dais with him while remaining insistent on annulment of the new citizenship law.