A 72-year-old boatman from West Bengal, Gauranga Biswas, has said he felt proud after Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly hugged him following a boat ride on the Hooghly river.
Modi, who was in the state for election campaigning, went for a morning walk around 7 am and took a boat ride on the Hooghly, a distributary of the Ganga. He later shared photographs on social media, describing the Ganga as flowing through the “soul” of West Bengal and calling the ride an opportunity to express gratitude to “Mother Ganga.” He also said he viewed Vidyasagar Setu and Howrah Bridge from close quarters.
Biswas said the Prime Minister approached him and asked his name in Bengali. As he is not fluent in Hindi, Biswas replied in Bengali as well. He added that Modi spoke little once the boat reached the middle of the river.
According to the boatman, after they returned to the shore, Modi called him closer and embraced him affectionately. Biswas said the 35-minute ride was paid for with a fare of Rs 1,000.
Another boatman, 44-year-old Prabir Biswas, who helped arrange the ride, said a group arrived after 7 am and hired seven boats without initially revealing the purpose. He said they realised the day would be special only when they saw the Prime Minister descend the ghat steps.
