Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda expressed profound concern regarding current socio-political situation in West Bengal. A state which historically provided intellectual, cultural and political leadership to India is currently facing a crisis of governance. Invited as chief guest, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, JP Nadda unveiled 8-feet tall life-sized statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose during the closing ceremony of Centenary Year celebrations of City Bengali Club on Friday. Minister Nadda emphasised that the Bengali community in West Bengal is no longer safe. He urged the Bengali diaspora in Jabalpur to communicate a message of safety and prosperity to their relatives in Bengal, highlighting that those residing in Madhya Pradesh and other BJP-governed states experience a superior quality of life and security. He called for a democratic resolution to end “misrule” in the upcoming months of April and May.

 

The vision of ‘One Nation, One Sign, One Head’ originated from the soil of Bengal. It is an irony that the very community that guided the nation’s identity now finds itself in insecure hands,” stated Minister Nadda. Union Minister Nadda attended the programme with his wife, Mallika Banerjee Nadda while, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav presided over the event with Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla and Rakesh Singh as guests of honour. Other public representatives including Member of Parliament Ashish Dubey, Mayor Jagat Bahadur Singh, MLA Ashok Rohani, Dr Abhilash Pandey and others were invited as special guests.

 

Both Union Health Minister Nadda and Chief Minister Dr Yadav delivered significant addresses regarding historical legacy and current state of Bengali community. Chief Minister Dr Yadav remarked that the fractured form of India’s independence—referring to the Partition—might have been avoided had Netaji’s leadership been central to the transition of power. The guests also unveiled the Centenary Pillar, a monument marking 100 years of the City Bengali Club, inaugurated the photo gallery honouring founders and ancestors of Siddhi Bala Bose Library Association and later released a special souvenir. Former Member of Parliament and Minister Jayashree Banerjee was honoured with the ‘Centenary Award’ for her contribution to the society.

 

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav invited the Bengali community to propose large-scale projects in the fields of education, literature and culture, assuring that the Madhya Pradesh government would provide full support. He acknowledged the community’s immense contribution to India’s religious and linguistic identity. Nadda highlighted the Union Government’s efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to elevate Bengali heritage, citing the recognition of the Bengali language as a “Classical Language” and the inclusion of Durga Puja and Shantiniketan in UNESCO lists. President, Subrat Pal, Secretary, Prakash Saha, Professor Gayatri Sinha and others were present with a huge gathering of Bengali community.