Kolkata: Paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary on Wednesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in an apparent attack on the BJP leadership said the leader of the country should follow the Gandhian principles and take every religion and community along with him.
Without naming any BJP leader, she said the best tribute to Gandhiji on his 150th birth anniversary would be to follow his principles of peace, non-violence and communal harmony.
Banerjee also added that the country's leader cannot be a person who creates division among the people. She was addressing a gathering on Mayo Road to commemorate Gandhiji's birth anniversary.
"Gandhiji preached us non-violence and we take his messages very seriously. We don't need anybody to preach us. We would take advice only from those who have credibility. We only choose a person as our national leader who has the calibre to become a national leader. A national leader should be like Gandhiji and Netaji as both of them propagated the message of universal brotherhood. A national leader can never divide people along religious lines and instigate one community against another. To spread religious intolerance cannot be a motive of a national leader," Banerjee said.
During her brief speech, she stated that Barrackpore Gandhi Ghat would be developed as a tourist hub to attract more footfall from across the country. She also mentioned that her government has renovated Gandhi Bhawan at Beliaghata which was inaugurated on Wednesday. A museum has been set up showcasing various items which were associated with him. "Gandhiji had been at Belighata Gandhi Bhawan when we got our independence. He delivered messages of unity and spoke about national integration when clashes broke out between two communities following the Partition," Banerjee maintained.
The Chief Minister also added that a book on Gandhiji is being translated into various languages so that students get to know more about him and his contributions. She also felicitated the members of Gandhi Ashrams from Howrah and East Midnapore during the programme.
Banerjee also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by laying wreaths on his statue on Mayo Road before delivering her speeches. Earlier in the day, she took to Twitter to pay homage to the Mahatma. "Homage to #MahatmaGandhi ji on his 150th birth anniversary. We will pay tribute to the Father of the Nation at his statue on Mayo Road, #Kolkata. To mark #GandhiJayanti, the historic Gandhi Bhavan in Beleghata, renovated by #Bangla Govt, will be inaugurated today #Gandhi150," Banerjee tweeted.
"The #Bangla Govt has taken up many other initiatives to celebrate #Gandhi150 anniversary, including setting up a university dedicated to #MahatmaGandhi ji in Purba Medinipur district #GandhiJayanti," she further tweeted.