Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah. (PTI/FILE)
Shah is also scheduled to visit the Integrated Check Post (ICP) operated by the Border Security Force (BSF) at Petrapole in North 24-Parganas today, but its alignment with Rabindra Jayanti holds more political significance
The 25th day of Baisakh according to the Hindu calendar holds special significance in West Bengal, where it is celebrated as an annual cultural festival commemorating the birth anniversary of the great Indian poet, novelist and scholar, Rabindranath Tagore. Rabindra Jayanti or ’25 to Baisakh’, as Bengalis call it, is being celebrated on May 9 this year.
This year, Union minister Amit Shah is in West Bengal to celebrate ‘Gurudev’ Tagore’s birthday on ’25 se Baisakh’. Shah’s timely visit is being seen as a strategic move by the BJP, which is trying to find its cultural connect with Bengal
Shah, who reached Kolkata last night, plans to visit Jorasanko Thakur Bari, the birthplace of Tagore, in the morning. He will also participate in a cultural program on the occasion of Rabindra Jayanti in the evening.
According to experts, the BJP’s biggest hurdle in Bengal is that they are projected as “outsiders” or outsiders by the TMC.
He said that BJP is projected by TMC in such a way that they do not know anything about the culture of Bengal and if they become the dominant party in the state, the culture of Bengal will get a Hindi touch which will eventually become popular among Bengalis. would be a matter of concern.
BJP insiders said the saffron party follows ‘nationalist idealism’ and Gurudev is for all.
An insider said, “Bengal BJP also respects Gurudev in every aspect, but the fact that Amit Shah himself is coming to celebrate his birthday is very important.”
Shah is also scheduled to visit the Integrated Check Post (ICP) operated by the Border Security Force (BSF) at Petrapole in North 24-Parganas today, but its alignment with Rabindra Jayanti assumes greater political significance.
Shah’s timely visit drew a strong reaction from the Trinamool Congress.
“They (BJP) are just doing politics with Rabindranath. They are trying to remove Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen from Santiniketan and they are now trying to show that they have respect for Gurudev. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said on Amit Shah’s visit, he should first apologize and then garland.
The BJP, on the other hand, is upbeat about Shah’s visit and his fondness for Tagore. Tagore has a huge emotional quotient of Bengal. every year Mamata Banerjee And his government celebrates Tagore’s birthday. She will do it this time too, but will Shah’s visit be a must-see to woo Bengali voters?
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