Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday accused the previous Trinamool Congress government of neglecting Tarakeswar Dham and asserted that his administration would develop the revered shrine into an international-standard pilgrimage destination while preserving the state’s religious and cultural heritage.
Addressing a religious gathering organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad at Tarakeswar on the inauguration of the annual Shravani Mela, Adhikari said the new government was committed to giving due respect to the country’s traditions and places of faith.
“The new government’s love for the country, nationalist values and the age-old customs of the nation will receive their proper respect as we take West Bengal into a new era,” he said.
Claiming that the shrine had remained neglected for years, the chief minister said, “We believe that Tarakeswar Dham has been neglected all these years. I myself am a witness to it. We used to participate in the yatras on a personal level, with assistance of several voluntary organisations, to provide services to pilgrims. We saw that the previous government used to keep one of its eyes shut. In a democracy, a government must keep both its eyes open.”
Stepping up his attack on the previous regime, Adhikari said it remained preoccupied with “appeasement and vote-bank politics”, because of which “a sacred place like Tarakeswar Dham remained severely neglected for so long.”
He alleged that thousands of pilgrims undertaking the annual pilgrimage had to walk nearly 30 km from Sheoraphuli to Tarakeswar through roads, lanes and bridges, braving rain and scorching heat, but received little support from the erstwhile government.
“Pilgrims walk 30 km covering several roads, streets and bridges to reach here in rain and scorching heat. The previous government did very little for the yatras. They merely deployed a few civic volunteers to manage traffic and considered their responsibility over,” he said.
Adhikari further recalled what he described as the previous government’s approach towards state-sponsored yatras (fairs).
“Earlier, government fairs meant officials coming and going and enjoying themselves. There was no respect for Sanatan traditions or culture. Monarchies and zamindari may have disappeared, but an elected government has to uphold lokdharma. For that, both eyes of the government must remain open,” Adhikari said.
Announcing new initiatives for this year’s Shravani Mela, the chief minister said the government had drawn inspiration from Uttar Pradesh.
“I have been inspired by the work of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. There, flower petals are showered on pilgrims from helicopters. Our government has also decided that, weather permitting, fragrant rose petals and other flowers will be showered from the state transport department’s helicopter on devotees every Monday during the month of Shravan,” he said.
Adhikari said his government, which assumed office just 65 days ago, had already initiated infrastructure upgrades at important religious sites across the state.
He said government service camps had been set up at every 5 km between Sheoraphuli and Tarakeswar, providing drinking water, ORS and first-aid facilities. The entire pilgrimage route was being illuminated, while the police and district administration had made elaborate traffic and security arrangements for devotees.
The chief minister also said the newly appointed administrator of the Tarakeswar Development Authority had been directed to begin renovation of the temple’s sacred Dudh Pukur and adjoining areas.
He also invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” vision, and said that the state government aimed to develop Tarakeswar Dham on the lines of Mahakal Dham in Ujjain, Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Kedarnath-Badrinath and Puri, besides seeking national recognition for the Shravani Mela and placing Tarakeswar on the international tourism map.
The Bengal CM also announced plans to develop a religious tourism circuit linking Tarakeswar with Kiriteswari Temple in Murshidabad, Madan Mohan Jiu Temple in Cooch Behar, Jalpesh Dham in Jalpaiguri and Tarapith in Birbhum, for which Rs 1,000 crore has been earmarked in the state budget over the next two years.
Assuring saints and devotees of his commitment, Adhikari said, “The faith and trust with which you have entrusted this responsibility to your son of the soil will be honoured. There will be no deviation from my side.”
