'Religion A Personal Choice, Festivities For Everyone': Mamata Urges People To Mark Hanuman Jayanti Peacefully

Mamata Banerjee’s comment comes in the wake of the state witnessing back-to-back clashes and vandalism in different districts during Ram Navami processions.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a TMC workers meeting in Digha.

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged people to mark the Hanuman Jayanti festival peacefully so that there is "no problem anywhere".

Speaking to mediapersons in Purnba Medinipur district’s Digha, CM Banerjee said, “Tomorrow is Hanuman Jayanti. I will urge everybody to celebrate it peacefully. There will be no problem if peace is observed. Bengal is the land of peace.” “Religion is a personal choice, festivities are for everyone,” she added.

Mamata Banerjee’s comment comes in the wake of the state witnessing back-to-back clashes and vandalism in different districts during Ram Navami processions.

Notably, violence broke out in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Thursday during a Ram Navami procession. Another spate of violence was reported in Rishra on Sunday at a Ram Navami Rally conducted by the BJP. Party leaders Biman Ghosh and Dilip Ghosh claimed they had suffered injuries in the violence.

During the violence, several vehicles, some of which belonged to the police, were set on fire, and several shops and auto-rickshaws were ransacked. 

During the procession, the rioters vandalised public and private properties and set vehicles on fire. Following the violence in Howrah during Ram Navami celebrations, the West Bengal government handed over the probe to Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

"The Howrah incident is very unfortunate. Neither Hindus nor Muslims were behind the violence in Howrah. The BJP along with Bajrang Dal and other such organisations were involved in the violence with arms," Banerjee said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory to the states ensuring a law and order situation during Hunaman Jayanti on Thursday.

"The governments are encouraged to ensure the maintenance of law and order, peaceful observance of the festival, and monitoring of any factors that could disturb communal harmony in society," it said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Earlier in the day, Delhi Police took out a flag march in Jahangirpuri where violent clashes took place during the Hanuman Jayanti rally last year.