Make Bengal home, CM says at Posta puja inauguration

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, addressing a Jagaddhatri Puja crowd in the predominantly non-Bengali Posta area in north-central Kolkata, asked everyone staying in Bengal to "make the state their own" and "think of it as home".Banerjee's address, while inaugurating the puja organised by the Posta Bazar Merchants' Association, came in the middle of the Chhath season and showcased Bengal as a melting pot of cultures — a place that welcomes people from each corner of India with open arms. "Those of you who stay in Bengal, think of Bengal as your own home," Banerjee said, adding, "Until you make this place your own, you can never make Bengal your own. Consider Bengal as your own, and you'll see it becoming even more beautiful.Bengal, the CM continued, represented a "mini India." "You may have your ancestral homes in Bihar, UP or Rajasthan and do business here. You have come here from all corners of India. But did you ever have any issue regarding your caste, creed or religion here? I do not differentiate between anyone. This is because we never interfere with anyone's personal freedom. You decide what you eat or wear. We have no concerns about caste or religion and move forward with everyone together. That's why our Bengal is a mini India. So, if you live here, live like you are always united. There should not be any fights or arguments with anyone." Banerjee said that no matter who it was, they would "always be a human being, for whom humanity matters the most."The CM also inaugurated 10 pujas in Hooghly's Chandernagar and Bhadreswar online.Banerjee reminded her audience that Trinamool Congress had won only Ward 42, while three other neighbouring wards handed BJP leads even in the Lok Sabha polls. She, however, clarified that she had not gone to Posta to speak or preach politics. "I have not come for votes. That is for you to decide.... We are not like the seasonal cuckoos; we are like the crows you will find us by your side every day. You may not like our voice, but we will always be there for you," she said.Banerjee also said Burrabazar and Posta traders should not blame the fire department in case of any blaze in the Burrabazar-Jorasanko-Posta areas. "That is because you have gathered a large amount of plastic and other flammable materials in these places, making it difficult for the fire brigade to enter the congested areas. Even ambulances and special bikes deployed to fight fires face difficulty in entering these spaces. Your business is also hit (in a fire). If someone dies in a fire, the cops will not spare you. So, I urge you not to store plastic," she said.She instructed Kolkata Police commissioner Manoj Verma to hold a meeting with Posta's trading community, mayor Firhad Hakim, fire minister Sujit Bose, local MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay and other public representatives to discuss the fire- and plastic-related issues.She also talked about the issue of dilapidated buildings, mentioning similar problems in Garden Reach and Topsia. "You discuss among yourselves and create a plan. Build a new building according to that plan and relocate there. This will secure both your business and life. I have no problem if the building is 10 storeys instead of five, and the municipality will approve it," she said.She said extortion would not be tolerated as long as her govt was there. "Trading is your right. Conducting business is your right. If you face trouble, immediately lodge complaints," she said.Turning to law and labour minister Malay Ghatak, she said: "A problem arose regarding traders' space, and a case is in court. I want to resolve this issue," asking him to resolve the issue after discussing the matter with everyone.She also told devotees not to hurry at the ghats while performing Chhath rituals in order to avoid a stampede.