CM Suvendu Adhikari Commends Armed Forces, Calls for Uncompromising Stand Against Anti-National Elements and Urges Youth Combat-Readiness
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday commended the relentless vigilance of the Indian Army, Border Security Force (BSF), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in safeguarding the country’s frontiers, calling upon citizens to unitedly counter all forces attempting to destabilize India.
Addressing an event hosted by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, the Chief Minister underscored the growing global demand for India’s indigenously developed, supersonic long-range BrahMos missile system. He pointed out that the strategic deployment of the BrahMos missile following the Pahalgam terror strike delivered decisive results against Pakistan-backed terror infrastructure.
Directly engaging with the youth—who comprised nearly 90 percent of the gathering—Adhikari urged them to draw inspiration from prominent freedom fighters and visionaries such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sri Aurobindo, Surendranath Banerjee, Masterda Surya Sen, and Matangini Hazra. He emphasized that future doctors, engineers, and athletes graduating from prestigious institutions like the IITs must anchor their mindset in core nationalism (Rashtravad) and patriotism.
Recalling his personal background as a National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteer engaged in community sanitation drives, Adhikari shared details of his recent discussions with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He noted that the Defence Minister had recommended expanding both the NCC and NSS across educational institutions in the state.
Advocating for robust physical training among the youth, Adhikari cited Israel’s model of citizen combat-readiness, adding that he intends to elaborate further on policy directions for youth preparedness.
Cultural Heritage & Civic Initiatives:
- Raksha Bandhan Observance: The state government facilitated around 4,000 community events, distributing 26 lakh rakhis to reinforce national unity and social bonding.
- Historical Resonance: Adhikari recalled Rabindranath Tagore’s call for Raksha Bandhan in 1905, which served as a unified mass resistance that compelled the British colonial administration to revoke the partition of undivided Bengal.
- Har Ghar Tiranga Campaign: Highlighting widespread civic participation, Adhikari noted that 70 lakh national flags were distributed across households, complemented by a massive rally of 45,000 people marching from the Gostho Pal statue on the Maidan to the Birla Planetarium.
- Global Yoga Day: The administration marked International Yoga Day on a grand scale, aligning state celebrations with the worldwide observance led by India across 150 nations.
Adhikari concluded by stating that public celebrations of deep-rooted cultural and national festivals play an indispensable role in safeguarding India’s civilizational heritage and uniting society against internal and external threats.
