BJP National President JP Nadda
Credit: PTI Photo
Following the visit of several BJP leaders to West Bengal during Durga Puja – including Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s – BJP national president J P Nadda, on Saturday, visited puja venues in Kolkata, and one in adjoining Howrah.
Nadda, spoke briefly at some of the venues he visited, and said that his prayer before Goddess Durga is for strength in form of good force – favouring societal and national unity. He also prayed to the Goddess for strength to eliminate the demonic force.
“We pray to Mother Durga to give us strength so that we indulge in society’s upliftment with full vigour. We move ahead with all others. The good forces – the force that strengthens society, that strenthens the nation, the force that has an inclusive intent, may the Goddess offer us such strenth,” Nadda said at Santosh Mitra Square puja pandal, that’s modelled on the Ram Mandir of Ayodhya. At the Santosh Mitra Square, Nadda appreciated the Ram Temple modelled pandal.
“With this, the demonic forces – ones that weaken the nation, encourage intruders, encourage corruption, encourage brother-nephew connections (apparently hinting at promoting family members, in political context), attempt to weaken the foundations of democracy… may Mother Durga offer us strength to eliminate such demonic forces, this is what I seek,” Nadda added.
At a venue in Howrah, Nadda also spoke of seeking blessings from the Mother Goddess, so that the “demonic forces” in West Bengal get eliminated, and the good forces find strength, so that the society gets benefitted, and in turn attempt for inclusive growth, “sabka saath….” People who have lost their wits, may they acquire wisdom, he said.
Nadda’s visit is preceded by Shah’s, who was in Kolkata a few days ago to inaugurate the Santosh Mitra Square puja venue. On Friday, BJP leaders Dharmendra Pradhan, Pramod Sawant, and Tejasvi Surya were also in Kolkata. Pradhan, too, had visited several Durga Puja venues.