PM Modi, Amit Shah pay tribute to BJP workers killed in Bengal violence (Img: Internet)
Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to BJP workers allegedly killed in post-poll violence in West Bengal during the swearing-in ceremony of the state’s first BJP government led by Suvendu Adhikari.
The tribute took place at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground, where Adhikari and his council of ministers were sworn in on Saturday in the presence of senior NDA leaders, chief ministers and BJP workers from across the country.
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A temporary memorial dedicated to BJP workers who allegedly lost their lives in political violence after the 2021 Assembly elections was erected near the main stage at the venue. The structure displayed names and districts of the deceased workers.
Sharing images from the ceremony, Modi said the party remembered every worker who “laid down their lives in the service of an ideal greater than themselves.”
The Prime Minister added that their sacrifice would remain permanently linked to the BJP’s political journey and continue inspiring future generations of party workers.
Amit Shah also shared visuals of the memorial and described the moment as deeply emotional for BJP supporters attending the ceremony.
According to Shah, the sacrifices and struggles of party workers were finally being acknowledged as the BJP formed its first-ever government in West Bengal after years of political expansion in the state.
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya alleged that more than 300 BJP workers were killed in violence following the 2021 elections and said the party could not forget their contribution on such a historic day.
During the ceremony, Modi also met 98-year-old veteran BJP worker Makhanlal Sarkar and took his blessings.
The Prime Minister described Sarkar as a dedicated nationalist who had worked alongside Syama Prasad Mookerjee and played a major role in expanding the party’s grassroots presence in Bengal.
Modi said the formation of the BJP government in West Bengal was also a moment to remember Mookerjee’s contribution to the state and the nation. He added that the new government would work towards fulfilling the vision associated with the Jana Sangh founder.
The swearing-in of Suvendu Adhikari marked a major political shift in West Bengal, where the BJP formed the government for the first time after securing a decisive mandate in the Assembly elections.
The event combined celebration with remembrance, as party leaders highlighted both the BJP’s electoral breakthrough and the sacrifices made by workers during years of political conflict in the state.
