Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday slammed the BJP and the saffron ecosystem for allegedly playing the religious card and trying to impose religious practices on people across the country.

“They want that whoever they address as God, we have to follow as well…. I am not bound to do so. Whatever they impose on us, we will have to adhere to it. This is unacceptable,” Mamata said at a public service distribution programme at the Raasmela Ground in Cooch Behar.

Mamata’s assertion comes at a time when the BJP is playing the Ram temple card across the country, including Bengal, especially after its inauguration in Ayodhya on January 22.

“It is evident that the BJP is now trying to build a narrative by using the Ram temple to tide over the Lok Sabha polls. This made the chief minister accuse the BJP of virtually coercing people to go by the narrative,” said a political observer.

In her speech, Mamata also alleged that while the BJP was enthusiastic about the Ram temple, it lacked enthusiasm when it came to other temples, including those in Bengal.

“They don’t seem to remember the Madanmohan temple in Cooch Behar and other temples in our state. Their leaders are all busy with photo-ops and showing their faces in advertisements,” she said.

Some BJP supporters had reportedly shouted “Jai Shri Ram” slogans when the chief minister's motorcade entered Cooch Behar on Sunday evening. On Monday, she brought it up.

“They don’t seem to remember Sita or Kaushalya, who have no less importance in the epic. They are against amity and have burnt down 200 churches in Manipur. We will not allow such activities here (in Bengal). If required, our women will resist such attempts to divide people,” said Mamata.

Later in the day, Mamata met a delegation of Christians at Uttarkanya, the branch secretariat on the southern outskirts of Siliguri. "It was a courtesy meet,” she said.

Trinamul insiders said when the BJP was developing a narrative based around the Ram temple, Mamata was continuing with her inclusive approach.

“On January 22, she visited different religious places during her amity march in Calcutta. Today (Monday), she met the Christian community in Siliguri and other community leaders in Cooch Behar,” said a party functionary.

Rajbanshi outreach

In Cooch Behar, Mamata also reached out to the influential Rajbanshi community in north Bengal.

“We have recognised 198 Rajbanshi (medium) schools and two Kamtapuri (a variant of Rajbanshi) schools. In all, 783 teachers have been given appointment letters in these institutions. The state will give funds for these schools,” said Mamata.

She also had Bangshibadan Barman, who heads a faction of the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association and chairs the language academy and the development and cultural board of Rajbanshis set up by the state, on the stage with her.

Barman and Bajle Rehman, a member of the Nasya Sheikh development board, thanked Mamata for her initiatives taken for the community. Mamata also unveiled a bronze statue of community icon and warrior Chila Roy.