Leaders from various political parties gathered at Rishra Wellington Ground today to exchange Eid greetings following the namaz.
Owing to rain, the Eid namaz could not be held in the open grounds at Wellington Jute Mill grounds and instead was conducted under the shed of a jute mill godown.
Among those present were Serampore MP Kalyan Banerjee, Trinamul Congress (TMC) candidate for Serampore Assembly Tanmoy Ghosh, Rishra Municipality chairman Vijay Sagar Mishra, vice-chairman Zahid Hasan Khan, Serampore chairman-in-council Santosh Singh and others.
TMC leaders exchanged Eid greetings and wished people. On the occasion, Mr Banerjee refrained from making political remarks, stating that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has set an example of communal harmony in West Bengal. He said the state reflects the true spirit of “Dharma jar jar, utsav sobar”, where people of all religions, faiths and beliefs coexist in mutual respect and brotherhood, participating in each other’s festivals without ill feeling. He also cautioned against divisive forces seeking to exploit religious sentiments and urged people to remain vigilant.
The CPI-M candidate for the Serampore Assembly constituency, Nabanita Chakraborty, said she attended the gathering not as a political figure but as a citizen to exchange Eid greetings. She stressed that communal harmony and brotherhood are essential for a united and strong nation, and called for resistance against divisive forces.
Ms Chakraborty also highlighted the closure of Rishra Wellington Jute Mill and Serampore Jute Mill, which has rendered thousands jobless. She questioned how people could celebrate wholeheartedly under such circumstances and criticised the ruling party for failing to ensure industrial development and keep mills operational.