West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday extended her warm greetings to all on the occasion of ‘Sampriti Diwas’ (Harmony Day), emphasizing the state’s long-standing tradition of unity and communal harmony.
In her message, Banerjee highlighted Bengal’s rich cultural heritage, citing the likes of Rabindranath Tagore, Nazrul Islam, Ramakrishna, and Vivekananda, and asserted that the soil of Bengal has never bowed to divisive forces.
“Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Jain, Buddhist — in Bengal, we all know how to walk shoulder to shoulder. We share our joys because we believe that religion belongs to each, but festivals belong to all,” Banerjee said in a message on her WhatsApp channel.
The Chief Minister’s appeal comes amidst heightened tensions in West Bengal, particularly in Murshidabad, where a foundation-laying ceremony for a mosque modeled after the Babri Masjid is scheduled to take place. The event, organized by suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, has sparked controversy and security concerns.
Banerjee warned against forces attempting to stoke communal tensions, stating, “Those who are reveling in the game of igniting the fire of communalism to destroy the country, our fight against them will continue. Let everyone maintain peace and harmony.”
The Trinamool Congress is observing December 6 as ‘Sampriti Diwas,’ while Kabir’s event has drawn criticism from various quarters, including the Bharatiya Janata Party. The state government has assured that all necessary measures will be taken to maintain law and order.