Taking a jibe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah about having a government that could build ‘Sonar Bangla’ post upcoming state polls, West Bengal Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim today said that, “it is like birds that come and go.”
Hakim said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already created ‘Sonar Bangla’. “Mamata Di will remain,” he said, implying CM Banerjee will stay in power regardless of which party campaigns in the state.
Earlier in the day while inaugurating a Durga Puja pandal themed ‘Operation Sindoor’, Shah had said he prayed to the Goddess Durga that after the upcoming polls, a government be formed in West Bengal that is capable of creating ‘Sonar Bangla’.
#WATCH | On Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Kolkata, West Bengal Minister and Kolkata Mayor, Firhad Hakim says, “It is like birds which come and go. But here, it was Mamata di, and it is Mamata di who will remain. Mamata Banerjee has already made the state ‘Sonar… pic.x.com/dlrQUuiHYd
— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2025
Following his party colleague’s suit, West Bengal Minister Bratya Basu said Shah could pray for the BJP to come to power only after the 2031 elections.
“He has come here to inaugurate some Pujas. He should observe how CM Mamata Banerjee is conducting the celebrations in a disciplined manner and how the people of Bengal are participating. I think he will take a lesson from it and implement it in Gujarat and UP,” Basu added.
He further highlighted employment initiatives in Bengal: “The CM has created almost 13,500 posts for teachers in the state, who will join after Puja vacations. This is significant news for unemployed youth in Bengal. In the last SSC exam, candidates from UP and Bihar also appeared here.”
Earlier this week, Banerjee announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for each family member of those who died due to electrocution caused by heavy rainfall from a cloudburst. She added that the state government will also ensure employment for the next of kin.