TMC Blames Misunderstanding for Supreme Court's Critique of Bengal Government on Metro Project
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) asserted on Monday that the Supreme Court's critical observations against the West Bengal government regarding the Chingrighata Metro crossing stemmed from a "misunderstanding" and "misrepresentation of facts." TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh contended that Metro authorities were "toeing the BJP line and misrepresenting facts" in court, leading to the judicial rebuke.
Ghosh Defends State's Position on Critical Traffic Corridor
Ghosh emphasized that the state government fully supports the Metro project, questioning, "Why would the state oppose a Metro project? Everyone wants the Metro to happen." He explained that Chingrighata serves as a vital north-south corridor, used by lakhs of commuters daily. Blocking this route without implementing alternative traffic arrangements would result in severe chaos, according to Ghosh.
He further alleged that despite repeated appeals from the state, Metro officials have disregarded all proposed alternate traffic plans. "These facts were perhaps not clearly brought out in court, leading to the misunderstanding," Ghosh stated, suggesting that the court's perception was skewed by incomplete information.
BJP Counters, Accusing TMC of Politicizing Development
In response, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya retaliated on social media platform X, asserting that the Supreme Court had "come down heavily" on the state government and made its stance unequivocally clear. Malviya urged, "Do not politicise everything; this is a development issue. Bengal deserves infrastructure, connectivity and progress, not repeated obstructions."
Union Minister of State and BJP functionary Sukanta Majumdar labeled the court's observation as "very crucial." He accused TMC lawyers of attempting to dismiss the case and prevent the court from hearing it. Majumdar remarked, "The Supreme Court made clear that no one could have imagined a state govt could stop a central govt agency," highlighting the tension between state and central authorities.
Supreme Court's Firm Stance on Development Projects
The Supreme Court had previously rejected the Bengal government's petition to halt Metro construction at Chingrighata, underscoring that development projects must not be held hostage to political considerations. This ruling reinforced the court's commitment to prioritizing infrastructure progress over partisan disputes.
The ongoing debate underscores the broader political clash in West Bengal, where infrastructure development often becomes a battleground between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP. Both parties are leveraging this issue to assert their commitment to public welfare and governance.
This report includes inputs from agencies.
