KOLKATA: Emphasising Bengal’s rich cultural heritage and national contributions, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the state would not turn into a Gujarat.
She said Bengal, which provided the country its ‘Jai Hind’ slogan, national anthem and national song, and its Nobel laureates, could not be divided.
Inaugurating Bangla Sangeet Mela at Uttirna, Banerjee said: “Like music cannot divide, it binds, one cannot divide humanity. When one composes a song, one needs different instruments — harmonium, tabla, sitar, flute. Likewise, humanity is above the difference in surnames, look and colour. Bengal has always spoken for humanity. It cannot be divided. We need to fight for this boldly.”
The state, she added, planned to organise 630 melas state-wide to help folk artistes and singers who had suffered due to the Covid pandemic. “You need to step out and tell people about the state’s successes,” she said.
“None has come close to Bengal in the past; none can come close to Bengal now,” Banerjee further said.
“If we take proper care of ourselves and look after our family, we can also defeat corona. Bengal has a discharge rate of over 95%. Europe is going under a fresh lockdown. Corona, we are told, is changing its character. We are also treating two patients who arrived from the UK on Sunday. It is important that we continue maintaining hygiene,” she added.
Trinamool Congress on Wednesday said it was lining up several events from January 1-7. The party will celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary on January 12 in all blocks and districts.
“Netaji’s birth anniversary is on January 23. Since this is the 125th anniversary, the state government has taken special initiatives to celebrate the occasion. Subhas Utsav will be celebrated in each block,” a statement said.
Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary on January 30 would be observed as Martyrs’ Day in all blocks.