Your mother means our mother: Mamata Banerjee to PM after his mother's demise

Kolkata (West Bengal), December 30: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended her condolence to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and said that "your mother means our mother".

PM Modi on Friday returned to work and virtually attended the inauguration of various Railway projects in West Bengal. Speaking on the programme, the Bengal CM said, "Respected PM, today is a sad day for you personally and it's a great loss of your personal life. I pray to God, may God give you strength and bless you so that you can love your mother with your action and activities. I convey my gratitude to you because you were supposed to come to West Bengal but because of the sad demise of your mother you couldn't come but have joined us virtually."

Mamata Banerjee further requested PM Modi to cut short the programme and to take rest as he had just come from the cremation of his mother.

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"I don't know how to give my condolences and messages to your family members and others because the mother is no substitute for any other. On behalf of the people of West Bengal, I thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. Your mother means our mother also. I remember my mother also. May god give you the strength to continue your work."

Heeraben Modi, 100, passed away at around 3:30 am on Friday at the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre in Ahmedabad. On Wednesday her health deteriorated after which she was hospitalised.

The Prime Minister performed the last rites of his mother in Gandhinagar.

PM Modi rushed to Gujarat's capital early in the morning, just minutes after tweeting about his personal loss at daybreak.

Modi was seen touching his mother's feet and laying floral tributes before Heera Ba, who was lying in state on the floor of her Raysan residence.

The Prime Minister joined the funeral procession and carried the bier on his shoulder like any other son, walking barefoot with it to the crematorium for the last rites. PM Modi, along with his brothers, consigned the mortal remains of his mother Heeraben Modi to fire.

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