Shubhendu Adhikari writes to Railway Minister over Mamata Banerjee's train journey

• BJP MLA Shubhendu Adhikari has written a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav claiming that the Saraighat Express was unnecessarily stopped at many stations during Mamata Banerjee's journey from Howrah to Malda on May 3
• Adhikari alleged that the train was delayed for five minutes at Burdwan station so that Mamata Banerjee could speak to a party leader, and then again at Bolpur station where two more party leaders were put on the train
• The train was also stopped for 31 minutes at Malda station, where it was supposed to stay for only 15 minutes, according to Adhikari, who has demanded an inquiry into the matter

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent train journey from Howrah to Malda on the Saraighat Express has become a topic of controversy.

The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Shubhendu Adhikari, has written a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav claiming that the train was stopped unnecessarily at several stations and rules were flouted during Mamata Banerjee's journey.

In his letter, Adhikari alleged that the train was delayed for five minutes at Burdwan station because Mamata Banerjee wanted to speak to Khokan Das, a leader of her party. The same was repeated at Bolpur station, where her party leader Vikas Rai Chaudhary and minister Chandranath Sinha were put on the train. Adhikari also claimed that the train was stopped for 31 minutes at Malda station, where it was supposed to stay for only 15 minutes.

The Saraighat Express connects Northeast India with other states of the country, and Adhikari wrote that despite the railway's commitment to passenger amenities, the train's schedule was disrupted due to Mamata Banerjee's journey.

He demanded an inquiry into the matter, stating that if railway officials were involved in supporting Mamata, then they should be investigated and punished.