The commuters in Kolkata witnessed an unusual sight on Thursday. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a bid to protest against the rising fuel prices, rode pillion on an e-scooter from her South Kolkata residence to the State Secretariat in the adjoining Hooghly district.
The helmet clad Chief Minister with a poster hanging around her neck waved at the people as Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim rode the scooter. Rows of cars stopped along the road during the seven km long route as commuters came out in large numbers to capture the incident on their mobile phones. The Chief Minister waved at the curious onlookers as she passed by.
Her security officers trailed her closely on other scooters and motorbikes. Other vehicles went on as usual albeit at a distance from the Chief Minister.
Upon reaching the State Secretariat after about 40 minutes, the Chief Minister held a press conference wearing a helmet and sitting on the e-scooter.
Lashing out at the BJP for fuel price hike, Mamata said that despite promising free LPG connections to people before coming to power, they are now hiking its price.
“Modi and Shah are selling the country. They are privatising profit making PSUs. This is anti-farmer, anti-youth and anti-people government. We will launch a larger agitation if the fuel prices are not brought down,” said Mamata.
However, there were more surprises in store. In the evening, the commuters near the State Secretariat saw the Chief Minister leaving the building riding the e-scooter. At one point, she almost tipped over while trying to accelerate. Her security personnel hurriedly pulled up the e-scooter saving her from a fall.
After sometime, Hakim started riding the bike and the Chief Minister rode pillion.
“Centre has to bring down fuel prices or we will launch a bigger agitation. The farmers have already hit the streets and if the people also rise in protest then Modi babu, no matter how you use your agencies, you will not be able to do anything,” added Mamata.
The BJP, CPI(M) and Congress, however, dubbed it as a "drama before the Assembly elections."