Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday urged his supporters to refrain from raising 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans at Jorasanko Thakurbari, the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore. He stated that as the chief minister, he now "belongs to everyone."
Adhikari's Appeal for Unity
Speaking at the historic site shortly after being sworn in as the ninth chief minister of Bengal, Adhikari said, "Eta political kochkochir somoy na" (this is not the time for political bickering). He emphasized the immense responsibilities ahead and said, "Those who want to do that (political bickering) may continue; we will move forward."
Homage to Tagore
The chief minister visited Jorasanko Thakurbari immediately after the swearing-in ceremony at Brigade Parade Ground. He paid homage to Rabindranath Tagore on the occasion of the poet's 166th birth anniversary. Adhikari knelt down and touched his forehead to the ground in front of a bust of Tagore.
"We assumed office today by paying our respects to Gurudev. Bengal and Bengali culture must be guided by Gurudev's consciousness and ideals. Today marks that auspicious beginning," he told reporters.
Response to 'Jai Shri Ram' Chants
During his address, some supporters in the crowd began chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'. Adhikari immediately intervened and asked them to stop. "This is not the place to say 'Jai Shri Ram', here only 'Kabiguru'," he said.
He further stated, "I will not make any controversial remark. I am the chief minister. I belong to everyone now. Bengal has already suffered immense damage. Education and culture have been destroyed. Let us rebuild Bengal."
Interaction with University Officials
After his speech, the chief minister spent time talking to Rabindra Bharati University Vice-Chancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee and other officials. The university shares its campus with Thakurbari.
An RBU official said, "Since the CM is a former student of our university, the authorities requested him to spend some time on the campus. He did his master's in environmental studies from RBU. He accepted our request, interacted with the VC at Bichitra Bhavan and had some nimki (savoury snacks) with black tea."
