Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Paschimbanga Divas celebrations in Tarakeswar on Saturday, June 20, 2024, to mark West Bengal Day [1].
The visit serves as a strategic effort by the central government to showcase development initiatives and strengthen political outreach in the state following recent polls [2].
During the event in the Hooghly district, Modi focused on the historical significance of the day. Paschimbanga Divas commemorates a resolution passed on June 20, 1947, ensuring that West Bengal remained part of India [3]. Modi said that historical efforts were made to make Bengal part of Pakistan [4].
"Bengal has broken its shackles," Modi said [2].
Alongside the political rhetoric, the Prime Minister inaugurated several development projects. While some reports specify projects worth Rs 820 crore [5] being inaugurated on the sidelines of the event, other data indicates the broader two-day visit includes projects totaling Rs 18,880 crore [6]. These initiatives are intended to modernize the region's infrastructure, and improve public services.
Modi's presence in Tarakeswar emphasized a blend of cultural commemoration and economic investment. The celebrations included cultural performances and speeches highlighting the transition of the state from its colonial and partition-era struggles to its current economic trajectory [2].
"We will inaugurate projects worth Rs 820 crore on the sidelines of Paschimbanga Divas," Modi said [5].
The visit concluded with a focus on national unity and the continued integration of West Bengal into the central government's broader development vision [2].
“"Efforts were made to make Bengal part of Pakistan."”
By linking massive infrastructure spending with a historical anniversary, the Prime Minister is attempting to frame the central government as the primary architect of West Bengal's modern stability. The specific criticism of the Congress party regarding the 1947 partition suggests a strategy to use historical grievances to weaken opposition narratives in a politically contested state.
