Kolkata, Aug 7 (IANS) For the first time, “Tiranga Yatra” was organised in West Bengal on Friday.
This event, held in August, which is Indian Independence Month, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few years ago.
But since the Trinamool Congress government previously ruled the state, the opposition government at that time never organised the event in the state.
After the change of regime following the recently concluded West Bengal assembly polls earlier this year, the new state government decided to organise the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ programme this month.
On Friday, Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari inaugurated the event by leading a rally that started from the Survey Building at Alipore to Hazra Crossing, both in South Kolkata.
Participants in the rally carried the National Tricolour. State Industries and Commerce Minister Tapas Roy and State School Education Minister Deepak Barman were among the other cabinet members participating in the rally.
Speaking at the end of the rally, the Chief Minister said he was overwhelmed by the massive enthusiasm of innumerable participants.
“We will organise a similar rally on August 10 starting from Birla Planetarium in central Kolkata. We expect a turnout of 50,000 people on that day,” he said.
According to him, the rally was organised to awaken nationalism and patriotism among the people.
“This time a nationalist government has been formed in West Bengal. I convey my advance nationalist greetings on Independence Day to all the people of the state,” the Chief Minister added.
On the occasion of the forthcoming Independence Day anniversary on August 15, the Chief Minister will address the people of the state through All India Radio on the eve of the day.
Once, the West Bengal Chief Minister’s radio address was an integral part of the Independence Day celebrations. Even during the 34-year Left Front regime from 1977 to 2011, the Chief Minister never missed addressing the people of the state on the eve of Independence Day.
However, during the last 15 years of the Trinamool Congress regime from 2011 to 2026, the previous Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, always avoided that.
After the change of government this year, the current Chief Minister has taken the initiative to bring back that old tradition.
–IANS
src/dan
