Mamata makes surprise visit to SJC

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, 24 Jan 2015: Even as she has publicly excoriated the media on several occasions for being biased against her party and government, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday made a surprise visit to the Siliguri Journalists’ Club ostensibly to offer prayers to the goddess Saraswati.

The chief minister appeared a little upset as she had not got an opportunity to pay obeisance to the goddess. She had put up at the NHPC bungalow in Fulbari and some reporters had gone there in the morning seeking an interview, but Mamata had no desire to interact with them. She offered them tea and rued of not getting a chance to pray to Saraswati. Some of the scribes present suggested the chief minister could pay a visit to the SJC where a puja had been organised.

Mamata surprised everyone by taking the advice to heart and appearing at the club around 1:30 in the afternoon. She prayed before the goddess and spent nearly 10 minutes chatting with some women journalists. Before she left, the chief minister promised a get-together with club members when she visits next en route to the Dooars.

The unscheduled itinerary caused a huge traffic jam in town as the  traffic police had no prior information about the visit. North Bengal IG Javed Shamim was personally seen supervising his officers who looked bewildered and dazed in the face of the worsening traffic situation.

Siliguri Journalists’ Club secretary Angshuman Chakraborty said, “This was the first time that a chief minister of our state visited the club. She also said she would soon personally meet each one of us at a get-together programme and has instructed NBDD minister Gautam Deb to remind her of her promise during her next visit.”

The chief minister flew back to Kolkata from the Bagdogra airport in the afternoon.