India, Sept. 26 -- Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday renewed the pitch of turning West Bengal into "Sonar Bangla" if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power in the state in 2026, while inaugurating a Durga Puja pandal in central Kolkata.

Addressing a gathering at the Operation Sindoor-themed Santosh Mitra Square Puja pandal, organised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sajal Ghosh, Shah said, "I prayed to the Mother Goddess so that West Bengal may get such a government after the elections, which may turn the state into Sonar Bangla. Our Bengal should once again become safe, prosperous, peaceful and sujalam sufalam."

State education minister Bratya Basu hit back, saying, "He (Shah) had raised the same pitch for Sonar Ba...