New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the citizens paid tributes to icons of Bengal, as five-day celebrations began in the state.
“Whenever the need was felt in India’s history, Bengal has always led the way for India and shown the path. There have been many renowned people who have come from Bengal and have contributed immensely in guiding the nation is the right direction,” PM Modi said via video link as he opened celebrations for Durga Puja in Kolkata’s Salt Lake.
PM Modi goes on to pay tribute to various eminent personalities from West Bengal listing an array of Bengali freedom fighters, writers, artistes and others. “If I continue to take names of such Bengalis, we will come to the end of the day, but the names shall continue,” he said.
‘Durga Puja reflects unity and strength of India, as well as traditions and culture of Bengal,’ says PM Modi
PM Modi said his government was consistently working for the empowerment of women.
“From opening Jan Dhan accounts for 22 crore women, giving soft loans to them under the Mudra Yojana, to launching Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao initiative, granting permanent commission to women in the armed forces and extending maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks, we have taken a number of steps for their empowerment,” he said.
The prime minister also said anti-rape laws were made more stringent to include death penalty. “We are alert towards the security of women,” he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit in Bengal has made arrangements for the live streaming of PM’s address in all the 294 Assembly constituencies of the state.
On Wednesday, PM Modi had tweeted about his participation to celebrate Durga Puja. He called Durga Puja “an auspicious occasion, which celebrates the victory of good over evil” and extended his wishes.
Meanwhile, West Bengal is scheduled to hold the Assembly polls in the first half of the next year. The BJP has emerged as the main challenger to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). The saffron party had won 18 seats in West Bengal against the TMC’s 22 in last year’s Lok Sabha polls and trailed the ruling party in terms of vote share by only three per cent.
Bureau Report
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