West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has underscored her commitment to inclusive governance, asserting that her model does not permit discrimination and prioritises the welfare of all sections of society.
Speaking at Kellogg College, University of Oxford, on Wednesday, Banerjee said that unity remained the cornerstone of her administration and cautioned against the dangers of divisive ideologies.
"If I die, before my death, I want to see unity. Unity is our strength, and division leads to our fall. This was Swami Vivekananda's belief. Keeping unity is a difficult task, but dividing people takes only a moment. Do you think the world can sustain such divisive ideology?" she remarked.
Addressing an audience on ‘Social Development – Girl, Child and Women Empowerment in West Bengal’, Banerjee stressed the importance of social cohesion and equal opportunity, stating that no section of society should be left behind.
"When I am in the chair, I cannot divide society. I have to look after the weaker sections and the poor. We have to work hard for them. At the same time, we must work for all religions, castes, and creeds together, move forward with them, and help them," she said.
Highlighting the demographic diversity of West Bengal, Banerjee noted that the state’s social fabric remained a testament to communal harmony.
"We have about 11 crore people in our state—almost like a big country. Our beauty lies in the fact that more than 33 per cent of our people belong to minority communities, including Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Nepalis, and Gorkhas. Around 6 per cent are tribals, and 23 per cent belong to Scheduled Castes. People of every caste, creed, and religion love each other," she stated.
Banerjee cited the need for governance that places 'humanity at its core'.
"Our mission is to ensure that there is no discrimination among students, women, farmers, and workers. We must consider all people as human beings. Without humanity, this world cannot run, continue, or sustain—I firmly believe so," she said.
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