Will put all efforts for change in West Bengal: Shah

 Kolkata: Union home minister Amit Shah asserted on Monday that he would put an all round effort for a change of power in West Bengal. He added that he would pray to goddess Durga for the end of corruption, injustice and atrocities in the state at the earliest.

Mr Shah reached out to the Bengalis while inaugurating Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja, patronized by BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh, in Sealdah during a short visit to the city in the afternoon. Trinamul Congress however targeted the union home minister over his association with the festival.

In a brief speech at the event, Mr Shah said, "Today I have not come here to talk about politics. I will visit Bengal again, shall talk about politics and must put all my efforts to bring a change here." He also praised the puja mandap which has been themed on the upcoming Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Mr Shah observed, "People in Kolkata have opened a Ram Mandir at this puja pandal before the original one which is going to be inaugurated in January. I congratulate them for this. I will pray to Maa for happiness, peace and prosperity for the people of Bengal and India and seek her to give power to all to end corruption, injustice and atrocities from Bengal soon."

Taking a dig at the BJP heavyweight, chief minister Mamata Banerjee's MP nephew Abhishek Banerjee claimed, "Those outsiders who had spread lies some years ago alleging that Durga Puja is not celebrated here are now compelled to inaugurate the festival. This is the victory of truth, culture and creativity of Bengal."