December 6, 2013
Trinamool Chairperson sends out a message of communal harmony and peace
All India Trinamool YUVA organized a Communal Harmony rally today at Mayo Road Crossing near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Trinamool Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee addressed the rally along with senior leaders and representatives from various religions and sects.
Present on the occasion were Swami Dibyananda Maharaj of Bharat Sevashram Sanghya, Mani Kumar and Swadhi Prem Kumariji from the Jain Community, Satyananda and Mohanta Jyotipriya from the Buddhist community, Moulana Shafique and Barquat Saheb, the Shahi Imam of the Tipu Sultan Mosque, representing the Muslim community, Fr. Chittaranjan Chatterjee and Fr. Martin representing the Christian community and Baljit Singh Sahib representing the Sikh community.
All the religious leaders advocated in favour of peace and coexistence of all the communities side by side and instructed all to stay out of trouble, not to create it.
During her speech, Trinamool Chairperson Ms. Mamata Banerjee greeted everyone present on the occasion. She said that it was a sad day as a great leader and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela had passed away. She said tribute should be paid to all martyrs who had to give their life to uphold the spirit of democracy.
Trinamool MP and Leader of the party in Lok Sabha, Sudip Bandopadhyay said – Ek Jati, Ek Pran, Ekota amader bidhata (People of all cast and creed, religion are safe in West Bengal).
The rally ended with the singing of the national Anthem.
Here are some excerpts from the Chairperson`s speech:
We have been been observing 6th December as Communal Harmony day since 1993. I still have the vivid recollection of that fateful day in 1992 when riots broke out after the Bari Masjid demolition. On that day I travelled across Kolkata, from one locality to the other, taking stock of the situation . I have seen the terrible face of the riot firsthand. I saw people fleeing from their homes, with their bags packed, in order to save their lives. I went to see the then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and offered my help. Those who were supposed to monitor the situation by being on the streets were nowhere to be seen`.
Every religion has preached peace; we do not want riots. We do not want riots. We must maintain peace in Bengal. Those who participate in riots do not belong to any religion. Only people with political motives support riots. Houses and homes destroyed in riots can be rebuilt. What about lives lost? Can they be returned?
I always say this to people – Tyaag ka naam hai Hindu, Imaan ka naam hai Musalman, Prem ka naam hai Isaai, Sikh ka naam hai balidaan, Mera Bharat Mahaan.
We have to become a good human being. Then only we can serve others better. Religion and politics should not be mixed. Humanity is above all. We will not allow anyone to create divisions between people in Bengal.
Speech of the National President of All India Trinamool YUVA Abhishek Banerjee
National President of Trinamool YUVA, Abhishek Banerjee, who presided over the meeting, asked people present to come forward and strengthen the party and carry the message of development work done by Mamata Banerjee to the people. She said that the main weapons of Trinamool should be the Tricolour, development, progress and advancement. He said that now people of the state have rejected the communists because they do not want a rerun of Nandigram, Netai or Bantala.
He added that the people of Bengal now live in peace thanks to the effective administration of Didi. Sending the message of communal harmony to the workers, he said that even a Hindu has two eyes, one nose & two ears, so does a Muslim. One must from differentiating between people.
“ India won freedom from the British because all Indians fought together as one, irrespective of religion, caste or creed. Today we have to take a new pledge. We will not pay heed to conspiracies. We have to take pledge to build a new India,“ Abhishek Banerjee told the party workers.
“ We have to be responsible. We cannot let the image of the party take a beating. Upcoming Lok Sabha polls should be our main aim. After Congress & BJP, Trinamool will emerge as the third largest party,“ he added.
