Updated: October 22, 2020 1:25:50 pm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses virtually the people of West Bengal (Source: Twitter)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the people of West Bengal on the occasion of Durga Puja and stated that the vision of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan Center (Self-sufficient India) would be reinforced from Bengal.
Opening his speech, Prime Minister Modi shared his puja greetings in Bengali and asked people to adhere to social distancing rules and wear face masks while participating in the festivities. Prime Minister Modi also spoke about the empowerment of women and said that women in the country should be given the respect that people give to Goddess Durga.
“In the 21st century, our vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, ‘Self-sufficient India’, will be strengthened from the land of Bengal. We have to take the culture, pride and progress of Bengal to new heights. We are ensuring rapid development for the Bengal people through various schemes. We are doing everything we can to alleviate the problems of the Bengal people and improve their lifestyle. We have embraced Purbaday’s vision to develop East India. West Bengal has an important role to play for our vision to be a success, ”said the prime minister in his more than 20-minute speech.
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The event was held at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Center (EZCC) in Salt Lake, where the BJP organizes a Durga Puja. Party leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya, Mukul Roy and Union Minister Babul Supriyo were present at the event. The speech was preceded by cultural programs and a beautiful rendition of the Rabindranath Tagore song by Supriyo.
Babul Supriyo singing at the event
Noting that the goddess Durga was worshiped as a symbol of ‘Shakti’ (strength), Modi said that her government was
constantly working for the empowerment of women.
“From the opening of Jan Dhan accounts for women of Rs 22 million, granting soft loans under the Mudra Yojana, to the launch of the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao initiative, granting a permanent commission to women in the armed forces and extending the maternity leave of 12 to 26 weeks, they have taken a series of measures for their empowerment, ”he said.
Prime Minister Modi’s comment comes in the context of a series of incidents of rape and murder of women, including the
Hathras incident that sparked national outrage against the Uttar Pradesh government.
The prime minister said that although Durga Puja this year was being held on a limited scale due to Covid-19
pandemic, “enthusiasm remains unlimited.” “The Bengal Pujo gives India a new color. We celebrate Durga Puja in times of COVID-19, all devotees have shown exemplary restraint. The number of people may be less, but the greatness and the devotion are the same. Happiness and joy are still limitless. This is the real Bengal. There is such power in devotion there that it seems that I am not in Delhi, but today I am present among all of you in Bengal, ”Modi said.
The prime minister also paid tribute to the icons of Bengal, saying that the state had always made the country proud. “Whenever the need was felt in the history of India, Bengal has always led the way to India and has shown the way. If I keep taking names from such Bengalis, we will get to the end of the day, but the names will continue, ”he said.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi wished the people via Twitter in Bengali. He described Durga Puja as an auspicious festival signifying the triumph of good over evil, and in a later tweet he wrote that he would wish “brothers and sisters” today. Durga Puja is an auspicious occasion, celebrating the victory of good over evil. We pray to Maa Durga to bless us with strength, happiness and good health, ”he tweeted.
The address, which is ahead of the Bihar polls, was broadcast live in all 294 constituencies of the state Assembly.
West Bengal is scheduled to hold Assembly elections in the first half of next year. The BJP has become the main rival of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and has been exuding confidence that it will end the 10-year reign of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the state. The saffron party had won 18 seats in West Bengal to the TMC’s 22 in last year’s Lok Sabha polls and was behind the ruling party in terms of vote participation by just three percent.
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