At Bengal swearing-in, Modi honours 97-year-old Makhanlal Sarkar

Kolkata: Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari as the first BJP Chief Minister in Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated and paid respect to Makhanlal Sarkar (97), a close companion of Symaprasad MUkherjee, and was a witness to the oath taking ceremony in Bengal.

Modi hugged him on stage and touched his feet. Later Modi posted in X Handle that “Sarkar had worked with Dr. Mukherjee and was also arrested during his time as a companion in Jammu and Kashmir." Modi also shared the photographs of Sarkar in his X Handle.

“Today, as the first BJP government in West Bengal takes oath, it is only natural for all of us to remember Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and his everlasting contributions to the nation and especially to West Bengal. We will not spare any effort in realizing his dream. I met Shri Makhonlal Sarker Ji at the oath-taking ceremony in Kolkata. The devoted patriot Shri Sarker had worked with Dr. Mukherjee and was also arrested during his time as a companion in Jammu and Kashmir,” Modi wrote. “He has dedicated his life to expanding the base of our party across West Bengal and inspiring people from all levels to join the party. As BJP workers, we are proud that our party has such inspirational figures who have worked among the people to strengthen our party.”


“As BJP workers, we are proud that our party has such inspirational figures who have worked among the people to strengthen our party.,” Modi pointed out.

Makhanlal Sarkar was a companion of Mukherjee and he was arrested for singing nationalist songs during Congress regime, Samik Bhattacharya, BJP State President said as Sarkar was welcomed on stage.

Bhattacharya said, “At a time when BJP had formed the government from Gangotri to Gangasagar, there were so many Makhanlal Sarkars in the country who have never been in news headlines.”

Modi roadshow

After entering the Brigade Parade ground, PM, accompanied by Adhikari and state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, took a ride in an open-air jeep and waved at the thousands of BJP workers and supporters assembled at the venue. The entire Brigade Parade Grounds cheered the trio and raised “Modi” slogans.

The ground was decked in saffron colours and a large number of artists were performing to the tune of traditional drums.