Left Front activists, carrying placards with ‘Go Back Modi’ written on them, took out rallies at Dum Dum area—which is just 1.5 km from the airport, where the prime minister will land upon his arrival in the city.
Several organisations, both political and civil, have planned protest rallies across the city against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
During his visit, Modi will attend sesquicentenary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust and hold a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Apart from attending scheduled programmes, the Prime Minister will hold a one-on-one meeting with Banerjee at the Raj Bhavan on Saturday evening.
The meeting assumes significance as the new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation.
The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation four refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata—the Old Currency Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the Victoria Memorial Hall.
The Culture Ministry has renovated these iconic galleries and refurbished them with new displays, also curating the old galleries.
Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Saturday and Sunday.
The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister will share dais at the programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present.
The Prime Minister is likely to stay at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, on Saturday night.
The West Bengal administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the visit.
Congress workers and some student organisations are also scheduled to hold protests across the city against the CAA and the proposed countrywide National Register of Citizens.