State BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar on Wednesday made polarising comments during Ram Navami celebrations.
Majumdar, contesting from Balurghat Lok Sabha seat for the second time, reached Bansihari in South Dinajpur, his home district, to join a celebration.
At the function, Majumdar said: “I will not attack anybody overtly but if I have to resort to violence to save my religion, I believe it is justified and is a pious task.”
He claimed a political leader of the minority community had said that there are plans to build a mosque at the site of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. “They can succeed in their plans only if Hindus are not united and don’t understand the importance of their vote. These days, people don’t fight with swords and firearms but get into political contests. We should keep it in mind,” said Majumdar.
In Bengal, he said that many Hindus didn’t join the celebrations on Wednesday and “watched the processions from their homes”. “We have to reach out to them and tell them that India has been divided into two parts now. A section is with Ram and the other is with Ravana. You should vote in such a manner that the descendants of Ravana are shocked,” said the BJP leader.
Such blatant remarks
of the state BJP chief
ahead of the elections — Balurghat votes on April 26 — has led to repercussions in political circles.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visiting north Bengal, while campaigning in Majumdar’s constituency, had said that the Bengal government didn’t let devotees celebrate Ram Navami.
“On Wednesday, Sukanta Majumdar went a step ahead and brazenly played the religious card to polarise votes. It is surprising that he holds a responsible place in the BJP and has also taken oath in the name of the Indian Constitution as an MP. How can he make such remarks? The Election Commission should take note,” said Mohit Sengupta, the district Congress chief of North Dinajpur.
Kanaialal Agarwala, the Trinamool chief of North Dinajpur, said the BJP only wanted to foment tension.
“The chief minister earlier told us to be alert as the BJP might try to perpetrate violence on Ram Navami. Sukanta Majumdar’s remarks proved they had such plans but couldn’t succeed this time. The administration should keep watch on him,” he said.
