Kolkata, Aug 10 (IANS) Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday walked for about two and a half kilometres in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ rally on the streets of Kolkata carrying the national flag. State ministers and MLAs were also present with him, while thousands of ordinary people joined the procession carrying the Tricolour.
After the procession, Adhikari said Kolkata was decorated with the Tricolour and noted that this was the first time the state had joined the Har Ghar Tiranga programme.
He said the state was implementing a programme to distribute 70 lakh national flags. Adhikari also announced that the Raksha Bandhan festival would be officially celebrated this year.
The procession started from Gaur Pal Sarani in central Kolkata and went up to Victoria Memorial North Gate. At the beginning of the procession, the Chief Minister was seen holding the national flag.
Alongside him were state ministers Arjun Singh, Jagannath Chatterjee and Deepak Barman, as well as MLAs Rudranil Ghosh, Kaustuv Bagchi and several other BJP leaders. A banner reading “Tiranga in every home” was displayed at the start of the procession.
The NDA government has been celebrating the Har Ghar Tiranga programme for years. It was not implemented in West Bengal earlier because of the opposition government in the state. This time, the new BJP government decided to associate with the Centre’s programme, which will be held from August 9 to 17. Adhikari launched the programme from his Bhabanipur constituency.
He appealed to the people of West Bengal to participate and raise the Tricolour in their homes. On this occasion, 70 lakh Tricolours are being distributed in the state.
After the procession, Adhikari thanked the Information and Culture Department and Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
He said, “This is the first time that the Har Ghar Tiranga programme is being celebrated in the state. I appeal to you to make it a success by hoisting the Tricolour in every house. I invite you to participate in the programme organised on Red Road on August 15.”
He further said, “I have announced that the Raksha Bandhan festival will be celebrated officially. Not for religious reasons, but to strengthen the bond with everyone and make West Bengal the best in India.”
