Ram Navami Shobha Yatra In Bengal At Centre Of Storm As CM Mamata Flags 'Riots' Concern, PM Modi Reacts

Mamata Banerjee said that even if there is even one riot in the state, the Election Commission will be responsible since it is responsible for the law and order of the state.

A war of words erupted between the BJP and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal over Ram Navami celebrations in the state. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while hitting out at the TMC, said that the people have got the permission of the courts and the ‘sobha yatra’ on ‘Ram Navami’ will be taken out in Bengal on Wednesday.

“The entire country is going to celebrate ‘Ram Navami’ tomorrow. This ‘Ram Navami’ and ‘Bengala Nav Varsh’ are special. It’s the first ‘Ram Navami’ when Lord Ram is seated in Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir. TMC has always tried to stop this but truth always wins. We have got the permission of the court and the ‘sobha yatra’ of ‘Ram Navami’ will be taken out tomorrow in Bengal,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi's comments come after the Calcutta High Court on Monday granted permission to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to hold a procession on Ram Navami in Howrah city while imposing certain conditions to ensure the event proceeds without tension.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Election Commission of removing the Deputy Inspector General of Police of Murshidabad at the behest of the BJP and alleged that the BJP intends to stoke communal tensions. 

While addressing a rally at Alipurduar, Banerjee said, "Even today, just based on BJP's instructions, the DIG of Murshidabad was changed. Now, if there are riots in Murshidabad and Malda, the responsibility will lie with the Election Commission. The BJP wanted to change the police officers to trigger riots and violence.

"If there is even one riot, the ECI will be responsible as they are looking after law and order here," she added.

With the first phase of elections scheduled on April 19 and the second on April 26, Mamata Banerjee had alleged that the BJP intends to stoke communal tensions on Ram Navami.

With the BJP-RSS making deep inroads in West Bengal over the years, the Ram Navami festival has expanded in scale and prominence over the past decade.

Following the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya earlier this year, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has planned an extensive Ram Mahotsav programme from April 9 to April 23, culminating on Hanuman Jayanti, as per PTI.

Meanwhile, the TMC will host a major rally in Howrah on April 17, where communal riots occurred last year during Ram Navami. The TMC has urged the Election Commission to ensure that the religious festival doesn't become a platform for polarisation.

Both the TMC and BJP are locked in tough contest in Bengal for the Lok Sabha elections. In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 18 seats, while the TMC won 22 and the Congress two.