West Bengal: Stones pelted at Vande Bharat Express days after launch
Kolkata/IBNS: India's seventh Vande Bharat Express was on Monday attacked by an unknown mob in West Bengal's Malda, three days after it was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, media reports said.
Some unknown people pelted stones at the train near Malda's 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.
India's seventh and West Bengal's 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 country's 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 Banerjee's arrival at Howrah Station on Jan 30.
West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA, Suvendu Adhikari, tweeted, "Unfortunate & sickening. Stones pelted at India's pride Vande Bharat Express in WB's 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.
— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) January 2, 2023
Stones pelted at India's pride Vande Bharat Express in WB's 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
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.
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