Kolkata, Sept. 28 -- BJP national president and Rajya Sabha MP Nitin Nabin on Monday assured that the Centre would soon grant national fair status to the Gangasagar Mela, potentially bringing an end to a long-standing demand from Bengal.
The demand dates back to the previous Mamata Banerjee government, which had repeatedly urged the Centre to officially accord the Gangasagar Mela national fair status and extend institutional and financial assistance to the annual pilgrimage.
Nabin visited Gangasagar on the final day of his two-day Bengal tour, accompanied by state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and national general secretary Sunil Bansal. He took a dip at the Ganga-Bay of Bengal confluence before offering prayers at the revered Kapil Muni Ashram. Nabin flew by helicopter from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport and reached Gangasagar around 10 am.
The visit marked his first trip to Bengal since the BJP came to power. His Gangasagar stop appeared to be a last-minute addition to his itinerary, with the party confirming it only in a revised schedule issued late on Sunday.
After Gangasagar, Nabin visited Lok Sanskriti Bhawan in Sodepur, North 24-Parganas, where, accompanied by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, he participated in the 'Angan Ka Milan' seva programme.
He later attended the 'Yuva Samvad Conclave' at Space Circle Club in Kolkata before leaving for Delhi.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.