New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the Centre’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan would be strengthened from Bengal. He said this while virtually addressing the people of West Bengal on the occasion of Durga Puja.
The Prime Minister inaugurated Durga Puja Pandal and began his address with puja greetings in Bengali and appealed to the people to adhere to social distancing norms and wear face masks while taking part in the festivities.
Modi also spoke about women empowerment and said women in the country must be given the respect people give to Goddess Durga.
In the 21st century, our vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, will strengthen from the land of Bengal.
We have to take Bengal’s culture, pride, progress to newer heights.
We are ensuring a speedy development for the people of Bengal through various schemes.
We are doing everything to lessen the problems of people of Bengal and improve their lifestyle.
West Bengal has to play an important role to make our vision a success, the PM said.
Noting that Goddess Durga was worshipped as a symbol of ‘Shakti’, he said his government is 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, Modi said.
He said though Durga Puja this year is being celebrated on a limited scale due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the enthusiasm is still unlimited. Bengal’s Pujo gives India a new colour.
We are celebrating Durga Puja in times of COVID-19, all devotees have shown exemplary restraint.
The number of people might be less but the grandeur and devotion are the same.
The happiness and joy are still boundless. This is the real Bengal.
There is such power in the devotion there, that it seems that I am not in Delhi but today I am present among you all in Bengal, PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister also paid rich tributes to the icons of Bengal and said that the state had always made the country proud.
Whenever the need was felt in India’s history, Bengal has always led the way for India and shown the path.
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 pandal was organized at Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) in Salt Lake, on the initiative of BJP Mahila Morcha, BJP leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya, Mukul Roy and Union Minister Babul Supriyo were present at the event.
The address was preceded by cultural programmes and a rendition of a Rabindranath Tagore’s song by Supriyo.