"You have to sit down with Centre": Union Minister Majumdar slams TMC govt on preparations for Gangasagar Mela

South 24 Parganas (West Bengal) [India], January 14 (ANI): Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar launched a sharp attack on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, slamming her over the lack of coordination with the Centre for organising the Gangasagar Mela.
Majumdar said that national events are organised in coordination with both the Centre and the state government, such as the Kumbh Mela.
"For a national project like this, you have to sit down with the national government. Just like the state and central governments collaborate to organise the Kumbh Mela, you have to organise this fair in collaboration with the central government; only then will it become a national event," Sukanta Majumdar told ANI.
The Union Minister further termed the state government's promise to construct the Gangasagar bridge as false and stated that these promises would disappear after the election. He stated that the project will become a reality under the BJP government.
"There are elections coming. The elections will be over, and nothing will happen. The BJP will build this bridge and will inaugurate it. It will be built with Nitin Gadkari's money," he added.
Meanwhile, the South 24 Parganas administration on Monday said it expects a large crowd, noting that the event's main attraction is the Ganga aarti.
South 24 Parganas DM Arvind Mina said the administration is closely monitoring all arrangements, and that a bridge connecting Sagar Island to the mainland will also be built, as announced by the West Bengal government.
"We are expecting a larger crowd this year compared to last year. Gangasagar Aarti is a major attraction of this Mela... We are alert to every arrangement. A few days ago, the Government of West Bengal announced a bridge connecting Sagar Island to the mainland," Mina told ANI.
Mina said the state government has made extensive arrangements for the fairs, including installing 1,200 CCTV cameras, and noted that the transportation system at the mela is also being monitored from 16 buffer zones established by the administration.
"The Government of West Bengal makes extensive preparations for the Gangasagar Mela. A few days ago, the Chief Minister visited and reviewed all the preparations... More than 1,200 CCTV cameras have been installed. Drones have been deployed at appropriate locations... The transportation system is entirely monitored from the buffer zones we have established. Around sixteen buffer zones have been created," he said. (ANI)