Modi-Mamata meeting amid protests against CAA in city

Black flags and angry chants of "Modi, go back" greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived on a 2-day visit in Kolkata on Saturday but nicety was t abandoned as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shared dais with him while remaining insistent on annulment of new citizenship law.

Banerjee, arguably most bitter critic of prime minister on CAA, met him at Raj Bhavan, after deciding t to receive him at airport, and also shared st at a colourful programme to celebrate 150 years of Kolkata Port Trust.

"I told him that we are against CAA, NRC and NPR. I told him re should be discrimination among masses and citizens are left out and tortured," she told journalists after meeting Modi at Raj Bhavan.

Moments later, she was present at an anti-CAA protest nearby. Banerjee, who called her meeting with Modi a "courtesy visit", said prime minister had asked her to come to New Delhi to discuss vexatious issues.

An hour or so later, Modi and Banerjee were seated on st at Millennium Park, savouring a delightful dance performance on Hooghly river as iconic Howrah Bridge was aglow in hues of red, purple, yellow and green light.

politically significant meet, which had exposed chinks in opposition unity, came just two days after TMC chief had declared to boycott an opposition meeting called by Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on January 13 over JNU violence, Citizenship (Amendment) Act and or "anti-people" policies of Centre.

meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Banerjee drew sharp reactions from Congress and CPI(M), which said Trinamool Congress' "double standard" is w exposed.

Trinamool Congress leadership denies claims of "political match-fixing" and said meeting between two leaders was just a government-to-government meet. brief meeting between two had kicked off a fresh storm as Left students activists protested against her and demanded an explantion from her for diluting fight against CAA.

READ | Kolkata Witnesses Mega Political Meet, PM Modi & CM Mamata Banerjee Hold 20-min Chat

Banerjee tried to clarify by saying decision to meet PM was her "constitutional obligation" and tried to pacify protesting students. "We have been protesting from day one against CAA. issue of both of us is same. So please don't deviate from it. I would request you all to protest in a democratic way," she said while trying to pacify protesting students.

Modi arrived in Kolkata amidst protests across city against CAA. protesters burnt effigies of PM and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for bringing in a "divisive law". Several organisations, both political and civil, std protests at every ok and corner of state.

Hundreds of protesters holding black flags demonstrated outside Kolkata airport gate number one crossing. police had put up a barricade to prevent m from crossing over to airport side. Modi was greeted by Goverr Jagdeep Dhankhar, state Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh and or party leaders at airport.

He took a helicopter to Royal Calcutta Turf Club and from re went to Raj Bhawan, as protesters had blocked several major crossings with an intention to show him black flags.

Later at Raj Bhawan, Modi met a delegation of state BJP leadership. In evening, Modi dedicated to nation four refurbished herit buildings of city - Old Currency Building, Belvedere House, Metcalfe Hall and Victoria Memorial Hall.

After inaugurating a sound and light show at iconic Howrah Bridge from Millenium Park on banks of Hooghly, Modi took a boat ride to Belur Math, where he met monks and interacted with Ramakrishna Mission president Swami Smaranananda and retired for day.

On Sunday, PM is scheduled to attend a prayer meeting at Belur Math on occasion of birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, founder of Ramakrishna Mission. Modi will also participate in sesquicentenary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust on Sunday.

prime minister and chief minister will share dais at programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday. West Bengal Goverr Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present.

READ | At Meeting, Mamata Banerjee Tells PM Modi "we're Against CAA, NPR & NRC"; Claims Assurance

READ | Hours After PM Modi Meets Mamata, Amit Shah Challenges Her, Kejriwal & Rahul On CAA