The date holds historical significance as it was on June 20, 1947, that the Bengal Provincial Legislative Assembly passed the resolution for West Bengal to remain a part of India.
Photo: IANS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in West Bengal on Saturday to participate in the celebrations marking the state’s first Paschimbanga Divas (West Bengal Day). The day has been declared by the newly formed Bharaitya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state to commemorate the 1947 vote by the Bengal legislative assembly, which led to the creation of West Bengal as a separate state.
Modi landed at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Dum Dum in the afternoon and later proceeded to Tarakeswar in Hooghly district.
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The Prime Minister’s helicopter reached Tarakeswar at 4.15 pm, where he is scheduled to address the people of the state at a public meeting at Baligari Ground.
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The observance of Paschimbanga Divas has remained a subject of political debate over the years. During the previous state government’s tenure, Poila Baisakh (Bengali New Year) was observed as West Bengal Day.
Following the change in state government, June 20 has now been designated as Paschimbanga Diwas (West Bengal Day).
The date holds historical significance as it was on June 20, 1947, that the Bengal Provincial Legislative Assembly passed the resolution for West Bengal to remain a part of India. Syama Prasad Mookerjee is considered to have played a key role in the developments leading to the decision.
To commemorate that resolution, the BJP-led state government decided to celebrate June 20 as Paschimbanga Diwas (West Bengal Day).
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place around the venue for the Prime Minister’s visit. A large number of police personnel and central security forces have been deployed in and around the area.
Special attention has been given to the decoration of the venue, with flowers sourced from different parts of India and abroad.
Anthuriums have reportedly been brought from Thailand, while gerberas and lilies were sourced from Ooty in Tamil Nadu. Five varieties of roses, blue daisies, tuberoses and marigolds have also been used for decoration.
Five hangars have been set up at the venue, while the entire area has been designed to reflect Bengal’s cultural heritage.
Installations depicting Kolkata’s iconic yellow taxis, hand-pulled rickshaws, Dakshineswar Temple and Belur Math have been placed around the venue.
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