Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday stressed the need to stay united and questioned why Bengalis, who are very much a part of united India, were being heckled across the states for speaking in Bengali. Banerjee chose the stages of Hatibagan Sarbajanin, Tala Prottoy, and Sreebhumi puja pandals — where she went to inaugurate the pandals a day prior to Mahalaya — to state that the country’s greatest strength lies in its unity in diversity.”Unity in diversity is the key. Otherwise, the country will fall apart. Everyone respects their mother tongue. However, those speaking in Bengali are being oppressed. This is unacceptable. From Bengal, 22 lakh migrant workers go to other states for work. They are invited because they have the skills and talent. Similarly, 1.5 crore migrant workers from other states work here. I am happy as they have talent and skill. Otherwise, how do they get to work here? Each of them has their own uniqueness. The day unity is lost, the country will fall apart. Therefore, everyone must live together harmoniously. All great reformers and thinkers have always called for this country to remain united,” said Banerjee at Sreebhumi.”This area is a cosmopolitan one (referring to Sreebhumi). Different communities here have their own culture, religion and language. But the main theme here is unity in diversity. When people come together to celebrate a festival here, all (separate) paths meet into one unified path,” the CM stated further.At both Tala Prottoy and Sreebhumi, the CM fondly remembered how she eagerly waited for artists to release their Bengali puja songs. “We used to learn them by heart. Now things have changed. It seems like the value of Bengali songs is decreasing. If we ourselves don’t show respect… Respect all songs, but Bengal is my motherland, and because of Bengali, I am a citizen of India,” said the CM.Banerjee stated that she had composed around 17 songs this year for Durga Puja that have been sung by leading singers. The CD will be released on Mahalaya. “I am not an artist. It was Aroop (minister Aroop Biswas) who got me to write the theme songs for Suruchi Sangha several years ago,” said Banerjee at Tala Prottoy.Though the CM inaugurated the pandals, she did not unveil the idols as Devi Paksha has not yet begun. She stated: “I do not unveil the idol before Mahalaya. I have come only to inaugurate the pandal.” The CM said that in the next three to four days she will be unveiling over 2500 pujas across the states, both physically and virtually.The CM stated that the weather was keeping her worried. “I do not know how puja committees are managing to complete their pandals amid the rain. There is pressure on them as most competitions get judged and winners are announced by Sasthi,” said Banerjee.The Alipore weather office has forecast heavy rain during the festival days. This prompted warnings from CM Banerjee, who said: “Do not get wet in the rain. There is a severe influenza outbreak. If you get wet in this rain, you won’t be able to enjoy the festival days.”
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