Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated a 12-km stretch of Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line with a ride between the Botanical Garden and the Okhla Bird Sanctuary stations.
Modi was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chief Mangu Singh during the ride.
Moments after Modi inaugurated the train service, he was presented with a replica of a train as the organisers dubbed it a great Christmas gift from the prime minister.
The prime minister boarded the metro at Botanical Garden, which is the terminal station of the Magenta Line, at 1.05 pm, and alighted at the Okhla Birds Sanctuary following a four- minute ride. Both stations fall in Noida, a suburban town in Uttar Pradesh bordering New Delhi, reported PTI.
The event was surrounded with controversy after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was not invited to attend the event even though it was a function organised by Delhi Metro and today’s train service connected Noida with the national capital.
Delhi CM is a people’s representative. Literally. Not inviting him is same as not giving a damn about people of Delhi. We will remember this jealous & insecure Modi. This speaks volumes of your upbringing, or lack of it. https://t.co/0NhiJAeWMq
— Sanjukta Basu (@sanjukta) December 23, 2017
I have no pronounced love for Arvind Kejriwal. But not calling him for the inauguration of the new Magenta line of Delhi Metro – attended by Modi and Yogi – is the lowest level of petty that the government in power can get. Till they find another low soon, that is. Shame. 😐
— Vaibhav Vishal (@ofnosurnamefame) December 24, 2017
I am happy that AK didn’t have to share stage with someone morally repugnant as Adityanath, even if only for an official function! https://t.co/nugpc3x2wc
— Somu Kumar (@adivasi) December 24, 2017
Modi not inviting Kejriwal to launch Delhi Metro Magenta line is the reason he will never be remembered as the ‘statesman’ he wants to be known as. Small men leave no legacy @narendramodi
— Akshay Marathe (@AkshayMarathe) December 24, 2017
The other end of the line, for now, will be south Delhi’s Kalkaji Mandir. However, by April, the entire corridor, stretching till Janakpuri West, is scheduled to be functional.
From the metro station, Modi proceeded to sector 125 rally ground at Amity University where he will address a public rally.