Greetings in Bengali, Evoking Woman Power: PM’s Durga Pujo Address
Kickstarting the five-day festival of Durga Pujo on Thursday, 22 October, PM Narendra Modi addressed the people of West Bengal, extending greetings in Bengali and evoking woman power, saying that women have a very big role to play in the journey to Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
“I consider it an honour to be here among you all at this auspicious time,” PM Modi said in Bengali.
PM Modi stressed the importance of woman power on the occasion of the festival, saying that women always have the power to overcome all challenges. He added that constant work is being done to empower the nation's women, and that the government is also vigilant about their safety.
He also said that the move to open bank accounts of 22 crore women under Jan Dhan Yojana, giving easy loans to crores of women under the Mudra scheme, the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, the law against triple talaq and laws related to punishment for rape were all examples to show that the campaign for the empowerment of women in the country was moving at a fast pace.
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PM’s Reminder for Precautions Against COVID
“The number of people might be less but the grandeur and devotion are the same. The happiness and joy are still boundless,” PM Modi said, as the festival celebrations kicked off in a muted manner amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
PM Modi said that the festival reflects the unity and strength of India and reminded everyone to ensure 'do gaj ki doori' and wear masks during celebrations at all times.
Speaking on Wednesday, PM Modi remembered noted personalities from the land of Bengal, saying they had served the country with sacrifice and penance as required. The PM invoked names of Sri Aurobindo, Ramkrishna Paramhans, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, also mentioning Rabindranath Tagore, Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, among others.
The PM was addressing the people of the state via video conferencing but said that he felt like he was not in Delhi but present among everyone in Bengal.
Festival a Political Battlefield for BJP, TMC
With West Bengal elections just months away, the festival is all set to turn into a political battlefield between the BJP and the ruling TMC.
“Feeling blessed to be a part of Maa Durga Pujo’s Mahashashti celebrations,” the PM tweeted ahead of the address.
On Wednesday, PM Modi tweeted, “Sisters and brothers of West Bengal, Tomorrow, on the auspicious day of Maa Durga Pujo’s Mahashashti, I would join the Divine celebrations via video conferencing and shall also be extending my greetings to everyone.”
He added, “Durga Puja is an auspicious occasion, which celebrates the victory of good over evil. We pray to Maa Durga to bless us with strength, happiness and good health.”
Sisters and brothers of West Bengal,
Tomorrow, on the auspicious day of Maa Durga Pujo’s Mahashashti, I would join the Divine celebrations via video conferencing and shall also be extending my greetings to everyone.
Do join the programme live!— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 21, 2020
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The Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has pulled out all stops for the live telecast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual address – titled Pujor Subecha (festive greetings) – across the state’s 294 Assembly constituencies, reported News18.
According to the report, the BJP’s state unit has put in elaborate arrangements for accommodating around 25 party workers and voters, who would watch the prime minister’s address in each of the 78,000 polling booths across the state.
The party has said that social distancing guidelines will be maintained at all these polling stations.
Ahead of the PM’s address, a cultural programme will also be organised at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), where a puja organised by the party’s women’s wing will be inaugurated by PM Modi, reported the Times of India.
Out of the 10 puja pandals to be inaugurated by the prime minister virtually, five are in Kolkata and its suburbs, two in Mindnapore town and rest in parts of north Bengal. In Mindnapore, PM Modi will inaugurate the Barge Town Durga Puja – one of whose active organisers include BJP District President Samit Dash.
(With inputs from News18 and Times of India.)
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