Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Mar 22: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee departed for London on Saturday evening, assuring that she will remain closely connected with developments in the state despite her absence over the next few days.
“I will be away for four to five days, but I will be in constant touch with the administration. We will ensure that no one faces any difficulties. I urge everyone in the state to remain peaceful,” Banerjee told reporters at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport before boarding her flight.
The Chief Minister and her delegation will have a brief stopover in Dubai before continuing their journey to London. As per Indian time, they are expected to reach their destination by Sunday afternoon.
Expressing concern over the lengthy travel time due to the absence of a direct Kolkata-London flight, Banerjee acknowledged the toll such journeys take. “The trip will be exhausting since a significant amount of time will be spent commuting. But everything is on schedule, and the events will proceed as planned. Once again, I urge the people of Bengal to remain safe and peaceful,” she said.
Banerjee has a packed itinerary in London. On March 24, she will attend a programme hosted by the Indian High Commission. The following day, March 25, she is set to engage with local industrialists and business leaders at a high-profile business meeting. On March 26, a Government-to-Business (G2B) meeting is scheduled, followed by a lecture at a college affiliated with Oxford University on March 27. She will depart for Kolkata on March 28.
This is not Banerjee’s first invitation to the UK. She had been invited to deliver a lecture at Oxford University in 2021, but the Trinamool Congress alleged that the event was cancelled due to interference from the Central government. Her last visit to the UK was in 2015, accompanied by a delegation that included the then Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who now serves as her Chief Economic Advisor.
As Banerjee embarks on her London visit, her focus remains on fostering international business ties while keeping a close watch on Bengal’s affairs back home.