Tripura offers puja to 'Bharat Mata'

AGARTALA: Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Sunday offered Puja to '

Bharat Mata

' at Dhaleswar here, within

Banamalipur Assembly

constituency, his home turf.

The chief minister said the 'puja' will carry the message of friendship, solidarity and patriotism, and will bring the state's 37 lakh people together.

"I believe this Puja should be performed everywhere in the country and it will help us come closer as Indians. In our society we respect women and offer pujas to goddesses like Durga or Kali," he said.

Pro tem Speaker of the state Assembly Ratan Chakraborty also offered Puja to Bharat Mata.