Bengal polls: PM Modi holds mega roadshow in north Kolkata | Watch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a grand roadshow in North Kolkata on Sunday (April 26), drawing huge crowds along a 2-km stretch as as the BJP intensified its election campaign ahead of the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly polls.

Amid chants of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and the BJP’s West Bengal poll slogan ‘Paltano darkar, tai BJP sarkar’ (Need a BJP government to bring about change), the roadshow started from B K Pal Avenue and ended at Khanna crossing via Sovabazar, covering a distance of two km.

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Standing atop a saffron-themed, flower-decked vehicle adorned with lotus symbols, the BJP’s poll emblem, PM Modi greeted the crowds lining the route.

Known for connecting with the masses, the Prime Minister waved at supporters gathered along the streets, as well as those watching from balconies and windows. Many attendees captured the moment on their mobile phones, while others waved placards and banners praising the leader.

Security personnel, including the Special Protection Group, Kolkata Police Special Branch officers, and central paramilitary forces, faced challenges in managing the surging crowd as chants of “Modi Modi” echoed through the area.

PM Modi visits Thanthania Kalibari

Before the roadshow, the Prime Minister visited the historic Thanthania Kalibari, one of the city’s oldest Kali temples, and offered prayers to Maa Siddheshwari. 

Thanthania Kalibari is one of the oldest and most revered Kali temples of Kolkata, established all the way back in 1703; its 300-year-old history predates even the city’s formal development. Goddess Kali is worshipped as Goddess Siddheshwari, and the presiding deity is considered ‘Jagrat.’

It is said that Ramakrishna Paramahansa frequently visited the temple and sang devotional hymns to Goddess Siddheswari. The ‘bani’ which he said inside the temple has been engraved on its walls, which reads ‘Shankarer hridoy majhe, Kali biraje’ (Goddess Kali resides within the heart of Shankar)

This is one of the few Kali temples in India, where non-veg prasad is offered to the deity. This ritual of providing non-veg prasad was started by Ramakrishna Paramahansa. He offered puja to Goddess Siddheswari with ‘dab-chingri’ offerings, praying for the quick recovery of Brahmananda Keshav Chandra Sen. 

Since that day, the ritual of offering non-veg as prasad has been followed. When Ramakrishnadev fell sick during his stay at Shyamapukur, his followers prayed at the temple to Goddess Siddheswari for his quick recovery, while serving non-veg prasad to the deity.

Earlier in the day, he addressed back-to-back public meetings at Bongaon and Arambagh, Modi said the massive rallies reflect “a clear and decisive sign that TMC’s defeat is imminent”. “Across West Bengal, frustration over corruption, poor governance and broken promises is at its peak,” he claimed.

Also Read: ‘Resolve to remove TMC government is now stronger than ever’: PM Modi at Bengal’s Arambagh

Also Read: ‘TMC’s arrogance shattered in first phase’: PM Modi hits out at Mamata government in Bongaon