Barasat: In a bid to reach out to
the Matuas, a Dalit community in West Bengal, Railway minister
Mamata Banerjee this evening went to their annual religious
meet at Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district in a special
train.
Banerjee, who sought the blessings of their religious
head after reaching Thakurnagar locality, earlier had got
honorary membership of Sara Bharat Matua Maha Sangha, a forum
consisting well-wishers from within the sect as well as
outside.
The Trinamool Congress supremo, who was accompanied by
the local MLA, also took 'prasad' after offering prayer at the
main temple, having idol of the founder of the sect.
Banerjee promised every possible help to the
members of the sect who had mostly migrated from Bangladesh
after partition.
Over two lakh devotees were attending the religious
meet which began yesterday.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, March 14, 2010, 23:16