Picture : ANI / X
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged people not to fall for provocations that could incite communal violence and stressed her government’s commitment to preventing tension, while criticising the BJP for its “divisive politics” and claiming that the saffron camp’s ‘ganda dharam’ was against the tenets of Hinduism.
Speaking at an Eid prayers event on Red Road , Banerjee said, “I follow the religion followed by Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Swami Vivekananda. I don’t follow the ‘ganda dharam’ made by them (BJP), they are even against the Hindu dharma.”
The TMC supremo said no religion preaches animosity against another human being, but certain leaders and political parties fan hatred for their own benefits.
She said that efforts were being made to provoke riots, urging the public to resist these attempts. “Provocations are being made to fuel riots, but please don’t fall into these traps. The West Bengal government stands with the minorities. No one can provoke tensions in the state,” she said.
The CM also targeted the BJP, questioning, “If they (BJP) have problems with the minorities, will they change the Constitution of the country?”
She reaffirmed her commitment to respecting all religions, expressing her opposition to the BJP’s “divisive politics,” which she called “jumla politics.”
Banerjee also hit out at the Left, saying, “Red and saffron have merged. But rest assured, I will not let any harm come to you.”
She emphasised the need for unity and harmony, urging people not to succumb to provocations.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also addressed the gathering, highlighting the unity within the party in resisting the BJP during the last Lok Sabha elections. “In the last (2024) Lok Sabha polls, we together resisted the march of the BJP,” he said.
He also called for interfaith unity, stating, “The moon has no religion,” and warned against divisive politics, asserting, “Hindustan is the same for Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, and every single person.”
He concluded, “We must maintain unity and live together. I will give my life but not deviate from my principles. Today, we take an oath to keep West Bengal’s unity intact till our last breath. Those who try to ignite this land will burn themselves, and those who try to break us will break themselves.”
Both leaders reaffirmed that the Trinamool Congress would continue to oppose efforts to spread division and communal politics in the state.
