Preparations are in full swing in Tarakeswar ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit on June 20, with security agencies and the district administration stepping up activity across key locations in the temple town. Modi will become the first Prime Minister to visit the temple.
Security and Administrative Preparations
An NSG team on Wednesday inspected the Tarakeswar Rajbari ground, where a meeting of the Bangiya Hindu Mahasabha was held in 1924. According to local accounts, a resolution linked to the inclusion of West Bengal in India was passed at the meeting. The team also visited the nearby Ras Mancha ground, where beautification work has already begun.
The district administration has launched a special cleaning drive at both grounds, while officials from Delhi and Nabanna have been visiting Tarakeswar regularly to review arrangements, including the meeting venue, stage layout and security preparedness. The railway station area is expected to be vacated on June 19, a day before the PM’s visit, as part of security measures.
Stage Setup and Cultural Events
Tarakeswar BJP MLA Santu Pan said three stages would be set up for the programme. One stage would be reserved for the Prime Minister, while the other two would be used for cultural events. Local residents are closely watching the preparations and are keen to see how the administration manages the high-profile visit.
Historical and Political Significance
The Tarakeswar temple and its surrounding areas are also drawing attention in view of the town’s political and historical associations. In 1971, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had expressed her desire to visit the temple but the temple administration had denied entry due to her marriage to Feroze Gandhi.
Paltu Hazra, a priest and former Trinamool Congress councillor, said his father, Arun Hazra, a well-known Congress leader in the area, had repeatedly requested the temple authorities to allow Indira Gandhi entry, but the appeal was turned down.
