Political Clash: Trinamool and BJP Spar Over Ram Navami
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Key Takeaways
Kolkata, March 25 (NationPress) As the nation gears up for the Ram Navami celebrations on March 27, a fierce exchange of words unfolded between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday. The Trinamool accused the BJP of exploiting the festival for its own political interests, while the BJP countered by stating that the Trinamool Congress prioritizes only one particular community in West Bengal, especially with the two-phased Assembly elections approaching next month.
Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh expressed to IANS, "There is nothing wrong with honoring Lord Ram. However, the BJP's use of Lord Ram for political gain is concerning." He added, "Every religion has its own festivals, and the BJP's provocative stance regarding Ram Navami is troubling. They are leveraging Lord Ram's name for electoral advantage."
Ghosh also anticipated a significant defeat for the BJP in the upcoming elections while predicting a major win for the Trinamool Congress.
In parallel, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during an election rally in Darjeeling, asserted, "Every festival belongs to all of us. Ram Navami is on the horizon, and we will also host a rally for it. No one can appropriate Lord Ram. The Ram era signifies a time of virtue and righteousness. You (BJP) harm people, target them, and strip away their rights."
On the opposing side, BJP MLA Bankim Chandra Ghosh accused the Chief Minister of favoring the Muslim community. He remarked, "Mamata Banerjee is complicating matters for Hindus while supporting Muslims. Despite administrative challenges, we will conduct Ram Navami puja across all constituencies, including mine."
BJP leader Shishir Bajoria told IANS, "We honor Lord Ram as per Hindu traditions. Yet, in this state, only one religion receives attention because the Chief Minister seems to believe 'that cow gives us milk.'" This was in reference to a controversial statement attributed to CM Banerjee during a 2019 media interaction.
Reportedly, Banerjee had stated, "I cater to Muslims, don’t I? I would visit them repeatedly. 'Je goru dudh dei tar lathio khete hoi; (if a cow gives milk, one has to be prepared for its kicks also).'"