PM Modi with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari (PTI photo)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday paid tribute to BJP workers who were allegedly killed in the violence after the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, saying that their sacrifice will continue to inspire generations of party workers.A temporary memorial in honor of the slain BJP workers was built near the stage at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, where Suvendu Adhikari and his council of ministers took oath earlier in the day.The memorial displayed the names of the “martyrs” as well as their districts.Posting a photo of the memorial on Instagram, PM Modi said, “Tribute to the courageous BJP workers! Even amid the celebrations at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata today on the formation of the first BJP government in West Bengal, we remembered all those BJP workers who laid down their lives in the service of an ideal greater than themselves.”His sacrifice is permanently imprinted in the BJP’s journey and his courage will remain a source of strength for all of us, Modi said.Shah also shared a video of the memorial and said it evoked “deep emotions” among the party workers present at the swearing-in site.“This memorial is evoking deep emotions in the hearts of every worker present at the swearing-in site,” Shah wrote on Twitter.“The sacrifice, struggle and martyrdom of those great souls is finally being fulfilled today,” he said.Shah said, “Salute to all those martyrs who dedicated everything for the country and the organization.”BJP West Bengal president Samik Bhattacharya alleged that more than 300 BJP workers were killed by “TMC goons” in the violence that broke out after the 2021 election results.Bhattacharya, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said, “He was killed for daring to dream of bringing change in Bengal. We cannot forget his sacrifice on this day.” PM Modi also shared photos of his meeting with Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the senior most BJP workers in the state, calling him an “inspirational person” and saying he keeps inspiring people from all walks of life to join the party.Prime Minister Narendra Modi took blessings from Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the senior-most BJP workers in the state, at the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal. He greeted Makhanlal Sarkar, presented him a shawl and took his blessings.At the age of 98, Makhanlal Sarkar is one of the earliest grassroots figures associated with the nationalist movement in post-independence India.In a post on Twitter, PM Modi said, “Today, when the BJP government has been sworn in for the first time in West Bengal, it is natural for all of us to remember Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee and his everlasting contribution to the nation and especially to West Bengal. No stone will be left unturned to fulfill his dream.”He said, “During the swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata, I had the opportunity to meet Shri Makhanlal Sarkarji. A staunch nationalist, he worked with Dr. Mukherjee and was also arrested in Jammu and Kashmir while staying with him. He dedicated his life to our party, expanding its base across West Bengal, inspiring people from all walks of life to join the party.”