Kolkata, Aug 7 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday formally launched the state’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign by leading a march through his Bhabanipur assembly constituency in south Kolkata, unveiling an ambitious programme that includes the distribution of 70 lakh national flags and a 50,000-strong rally in the city ahead of Independence Day.
The march, which began at 3 pm from Gopalnagar More near the Survey Building in Alipore and culminated at Hazra crossing, saw thousands of BJP workers, supporters and residents carrying the Tricolour and chanting patriotic slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”.
Holding the Tricolour aloft, Adhikari led the procession, accompanied by ministers, BJP legislators and senior party leaders, including Industries Minister Tapas Roy, School Education Minister Dipak Barman, MLAs Shankar Sikdar and Shishir Bajoria, Rajasthan BJP leader Rajyavardhan Rathore and several organisational functionaries.
Addressing the gathering at Hazra after the march, the chief minister announced that the state government, through the Department of Culture, would distribute around 70 lakh national flags across the state as part of this year’s campaign.
“We have taken up a massive programme to distribute 70 lakh national flags across the state. Government offices and institutions will be illuminated in the colours of the Tricolour. Schools and colleges will organise painting competitions, quizzes and cultural programmes to instil patriotism and national consciousness among the present and future generations,” he said.
Adhikari also appealed to people across political affiliations to participate in a mega “Tiranga Yatra” scheduled for August 10, when around 50,000 people are expected to march from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s statue on Red Road to Gate No. 7 of the Birla Planetarium.
“I humbly appeal to all patriotic citizens, irrespective of party, caste or religion, to join the historic march on August 10. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, ‘Har Ghar Tiranga, Dil Se Tiranga, Pyar Se Tiranga’,” the chief minister said.
Describing the initiative as an effort to strengthen national consciousness, Adhikari said the programme was aimed at fostering patriotism among younger generations.
“This is a nationalist celebration. A nationalist government has now been formed in Bengal, and we want every citizen to join in celebrating Independence Day with pride,” he said.
The rally marked the formal beginning of West Bengal’s Independence Day celebrations, with the state government planning a series of programmes over the coming week.
Traffic movement on several key south Kolkata roads, including Alipore Judges Court Road, Chetla Road, Kalighat Road and Hazra Road, was affected for several hours as police enforced diversions and deployed personnel to regulate vehicular movement.
The campaign assumes political significance as it marks the first time the “Har Ghar Tiranga” programme is being officially spearheaded by the West Bengal government after the BJP assumed office in the state following the 2026 Assembly elections.
Launched nationally in 2022 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, the campaign had largely remained a party-driven exercise in West Bengal under the previous Trinamool Congress government. The BJP had repeatedly alleged that official participation in the initiative was limited during the earlier regime.
The BJP government has now adopted the campaign as an official state programme, giving it a broader administrative and cultural dimension by involving government departments, educational institutions and local bodies.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister visited a gurdwara in Bhabanipur, where, wearing a saffron turban, he offered prayers and participated in seva.
He served food during the langar, washed utensils alongside other volunteers and later shared the community meal, saying that as the MLA from Bhabanipur and the state’s chief minister, it was his responsibility to serve people irrespective of their background.
The government has lined up a series of events culminating in the Independence Day celebrations, with the August 10 Tiranga Yatra expected to be the centrepiece of the week-long programme. PTI PNT MNB
