Kolkata, Oct. 29 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday described himself as a sevak (servant) of the people, calling for a fear-free environment and cordial relations among residents of his Bhowanipore Assembly Constituency.
Addressing a Bijoya get-together in the area, Adhikari said an elected representative was a public servant, not a ruler, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's description of himself as the 'pradhan sevak'.
His responsibility, he said, was to ensure that people could live happily without fear, irrespective of their political affiliations. "Elections will come and go. In a democracy, one person wins and another loses. But we must maintain a cordial atmosphere throughout the year and stand by one another in times of need," he said.
Adhikari expressed concern that Bengal had lost its earlier prominence in industry, education and culture, calling for collective efforts to restore its standing. He invoked former chief minister Bidhan Chandra Roy's vision for the state's development.
Referring to the Chorbagan tragedy, the Chief Minister said the incident had deeply pained him and stressed the need for greater vigilance to prevent untimely loss of life during festivals. He said upcoming celebrations would uphold Bengal's traditions while the administration and public worked together to ensure safety.
Highlighting Bhowanipore's historical and political significance, Adhikari urged people to draw inspiration from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's patriotism and Syama Prasad Mookerjee's vision of an undivided India, and work together beyond political differences.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.