Prime Minister Narendra Modi was gifted two portraits of his mother Heeraben Patel, who passed away in 2022, during a public rally in Hooghly, West Bengal, on Sunday. He said in his speech that people in the West celebrate Mother’s Day, but, in India, “we worship our mother…365 days a year”.
Sunday was observed as Mother's Day around the world.
"People... in the rally... have made the picture of my mother are here in the rally. The people in the West celebrate this day as Mother's Day, but in India, we worship our mother, Ma Durga, Ma Kaali and Bharat Mata, 365 days a year. I request SPG (Special Protection Group) commandos to collect the pictures. Please mention your addresses at the back of the paper. SPG people, take photos of my mother from both the people. I want to thank both of you," PM Modi said.
In one of the portraits, the Prime Minister is seen sitting on the floor, while his hands are in his mother's lap.
In another portrait, PM Modi and his mother are seen sitting together, and her hands are on his shoulder.
Election In West Bengal
The Prime Minister also conducted a roadshow in Barrackpore, West Bengal, before his rally.
Voting will take place for eight Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal in the fourth phase of voting to be held on May 13. The constituencies are Baharampur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Bardhaman Purba, Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol, Bolpur and Birbhum.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC won 34 seats in the state, while the BJP had to settle for 2 seats. The CPI (M) won 2 seats, while the Congress bagged 4. However, the BJP came up with a much-improved showing in the 2019 polls, winning 18 seats against the TMC's 22. The Congress's tally dropped to just 2 seats, while the Left scored a blank. The state sends 42 MPs to the Lok Sabha.