New Delhi, Oct. 17 -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata on Saturday evening for a two-day visit to the city and adjoining areas, with visits to prominent Durga Puja pandals and Belur Math on his itinerary. The visit comes during Bengal's first Durga Puja celebrations since the BJP came to power in West Bengal.
BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said Shah visits Kolkata every year during Durga Puja. "This year, people are celebrating Durga Puja with greater fanfare after the BJP came to power. Shah will also participate in the festivities and seek the blessings of Maa Durga," he said. BJP sources said Shah is expected to arrive from Ahmedabad around 8.10 pm and may be received at the airport by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya. Shah will stay overnight at the Soujanya Guest House in Alipore.
However, for Shah's visit, Kolkata Police has imposed prohibitory orders around Alipore, which might cause disturbance to Puja revellers. Shah's engagements on Sunday are scheduled to begin with a visit to Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, around 10.45 am. He is then expected to visit the Deshbandhu Club puja pandal in Bally, before proceeding to the historic Sovabazar Rajbari in north Kolkata, where Durga Puja has been celebrated for more than 250 years.
Shah can also visit the Sreebhumi Durga Puja pandal in Lake Town before his scheduled departure for Delhi later in the day. The visit carries political significance as well as cultural resonance, bringing the Union Home minister to Bengal during its biggest annual festival following the change of government.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.