By India Blooms News Service Jan 03, 2023
Kolkata/IBNS: Indias seventh Vande Bharat Express was on Monday attacked by an unknown mob in West Bengals Malda, three days after it was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, media reports said.
Some unknown people pelted stones at the train near Maldas Kumarganj station.
The pelting of stones had triggered panic among the passengers but no one was reportedly hurt.
A window pane was affected by the pelted stones.
Indias seventh and West Bengals maiden Vande Bharat Express was launched virtually on Jan 30 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in presence of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The attack on the train has triggered a political row with the countrys ruling but opposition in West Bengal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), linking the incident to the raising of Jai Shree Ram slogan at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees arrival at Howrah Station on Jan 30.
West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA, Suvendu Adhikari, tweeted, Unfortunate sickening. Stones pelted at Indias pride Vande Bharat Express in WBs Malda district.
Is this revenge for Jai Shree Ram chants on the Inaugural day? I urge @PMOIndia @RailMinIndia to handover the probe to @NIA_India punish the perpetrators.
Unfortunate sickening. Stones pelted at Indias pride Vande Bharat Express in WBs Malda district. Is this revenge for Jai Shree Ram chants on the Inaugural day? I urge @PMOIndia @RailMinIndia to handover the probe to @NIA_India punish the perpetrators.@AshwiniVaishnaw pic.twitter.com/QYdu3Qgq83
Suvendu Adhikari ???????? ??????? (@SuvenduWB) January 2, 2023
After BJP workers raised the slogan upon her arrival at Howrah Station, Banerjee had refused to take dais despite repeated requests from the Railway Minister and sat beside the stage and addressed Prime Minister Modi.