Kolkata: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Kolkata on Saturday night for a brief visit to West Bengal. His schedule for Sunday includes a visit to Belur Math and five community Durga Puja pandals across Howrah and Kolkata.
Shah is expected to land at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at around 8:10 pm, arriving from Ahmedabad. He will then travel to the state government guest house in Alipore, South Kolkata. No official engagements are scheduled for Saturday night.
Belur Math Visit on Sunday Morning
The Home Minister will begin Sunday’s programme at Belur Math in Howrah district, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission founded by Swami Vivekananda.
Shah is scheduled to reach the Math at 11:10 am and stay until 11:50 am. During the visit, he will attend the Durga Puja organised on the premises and is also expected to interact with the monks.
From Belur Math, he will visit two prominent community Durga Puja pandals in Howrah before returning to the state guest house for lunch.
Five Puja Pandals on the Schedule
Shah’s programme will continue after lunch with visits to three more community Durga Puja pandals — one in South Kolkata and two in North Kolkata.
He is scheduled to leave for New Delhi later in the afternoon, with his flight from Kolkata airport set to depart at 3:05 pm.
A West Bengal BJP leader said the visit would not include any political or administrative programme. A state committee member also indicated that Shah was unlikely to deliver a political message during the visit, which is taking place amid the ongoing festive celebrations.
Shah Also Visited Bengal During Durga Puja Last Year
This year’s Durga Puja is the first since the change of government in West Bengal. Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari inaugurated the celebrations at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya earlier this month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been expected to attend the event but could not make it.
Shah also visited West Bengal during Durga Puja last year. He went to the Santosh Mitra Square community Puja, associated with BJP legislator Sajal Ghosh, and inaugurated a Puja pandal at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in Salt Lake.