Inaugurating a 51-ft statue of Lord Shiva facing the river at Banshidhar Jalan Smriti Mandir at Salkia in nearby Howrah, he said that the river has tremendous influence, right from its starting point to its mouth in the Bay of Bengal.
"The civilisational growth of this vast region was centred around Ganges. That's why I consider the Clean Ganga call to be one of the most appropriate measures," he said.
Mukherjee further said that all religions give out a message of love, compassion and humanity.
"Always, we should remember that in whatever form we remember God, whatever we pronounce in salutations, all religions speak of only one message -- that is the message of love, compassion, humanity," he said.