“Your mother means our mother”: Mamata Banerjee’s emotional condolence message to PM Modi

Kolkata: Expressing grief over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother’s demise and thanking him for inaugurating the Vande Bharat train in Kolkata virtually, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “your mother means our mother”.

The Chief Minister also requested the Prime Minister to cut the programme short and take a rest as he had just come from the cremation of his mother, Heeraben Modi.

Speaking at the inauguration of various Railway projects in West Bengal, which Prime Minister Modi was attending virtually, Banerjee said, “Respected PM, today is a sad day for you personally, and it’s a great loss of your personal life. I pray to God, may God give you strength and bless you so that you can love your mother with your action and activities. I convey my gratitude to you because you were supposed to come to West Bengal but because of the sad demise of your mother you couldn’t come but have joined us virtually.”

Banerjee offered her condolences on behalf of the people of West Bengal and remembered her own mother, saying: “I don’t know how to give my condolences and messages to your family members and others because the mother is no substitute for any other. On behalf of the people of West Bengal, I thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. Your mother means our mother also. I remember my mother also. May God give you the strength to continue your work,” she added.

Prime Minister Modi flagged off the ambitious Vande Bharat train connecting New Jalpaiguri and Howrah. He also inaugurated several key developmental projects, including railway projects in West Bengal.

Political leaders across party lines expressed their grief over Prime Minister Modi’s mother’s death. Modi’s mother passed away at the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad on December 30 morning after being hospitalised on December 28. The Prime Minister informed the country about her demise early morning.

Prime Minister Modi said in a statement, “I am grateful to the doctors and nursing staff at the hospital for all the care and attention provided to my mother. I also express my gratitude to all the well-wishers and those who prayed for my mother’s well-being.”