On Parkash Utsav, Mamata Banerjee calls for communal harmony

Kolkata: Advocating communal harmony, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday reiterated that there should not be any division among the people in the name of religion. “We are all equal, we all live together, eat together. Humanity is the biggest religion because it comes from the core of our heart, “ Ms Banerjee said, addressing the 350th birth anniversary celebration of Guru Govind Singh at Shahid Minar Grounds. She added religion preaches no divisions between the rich and the poor. She advised, “The meaning of religion is belief in one another and progressing forward without any fear. In this way, you can befriend the entire world.” She added that people who originally hail from Punjab and stay in Bengal should feel that it is their home. “When I go to Punjab, I feel I am at my home,” she said.

The CM also announced that her government will join hands with the Kolkata municipal corporation to build two gates - one on Harish Mukherjee Road adjacent to the gurdwara at Bhowanipore and another near the Dunlop. “We will come up with a museum on the park adjacent to the gurdwara in Rashbehari area and dedicate it to Guru Govind Singh,” she said.

She also announced the formation of a four-member committee with KMC mayor Sovan Chatterjee, member mayor in council (parks), Debasish Kumar, and two representatives from the Sikh community to sort out the dispute with the gurdwara at the Garcha area in south Kolkata. Ms Banerjee, who has been critical about demonetisation, said she saw a number of people waiting in the queue at a gurdwara in Delhi so that they could get food there. “They told me that they have no cash at hand for food,” she added.