In the aftermath of renewed communal tensions in Malda district in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed to citizens to withstand provocations that might trigger violence, reiterating her administration's commitment to preserving social harmony.
Addressing an Eid celebration in Kolkata, Banerjee attacked the BJP's "divisive politics" by accusing the opposition party of upholding a "ganda dharam" (impure religion), which, she alleged, was antithetical to the teachings of Hinduism. Her comments evoked criticism from the BJP, which charged her with "weaponizing religion." The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader also claimed that the BJP and the Left had conspired against her, but insisted that she was not deterred, saying, "Akela hi eksho" (I alone am equal to a hundred people).
Banerjee urged the Muslim community to steer clear of trying to provoke violence. "If they try to say something to infuriate you, keep in mind that Didi is with you… the whole government is with you. Do not be afraid of them. If they wish to cry out and scream, let them," she reassured.
In Malda, the situation aggravated last week, leading the authorities to ban internet services and impose prohibitory orders in Mothabari and surrounding areas in the wake of communal violence. A top police officer on March 29 appealed to people to overlook social media reports and cautioned against any move that could go against peace during Eid and Ram Navami.
Taking another jab at the BJP, Banerjee stated, "I am a follower of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Swami Vivekananda. I don't believe in the 'ganda dharam' spread by the 'jumla party' (BJP). They are against Hindu dharma itself."
Reciting once again the TMC's dedication to secularism, she was also critical of the Left. "Navratri is continuing, and I wish all the best for that too. But we don't condone communal violence. These kinds of things are not staged by commoners but by political forces. It is shameful… The Left, which had long preached secularism, has now joined hands with the saffron party. Let them. I will not budge—alone if I have to—because I am equal to a hundred," she declared.
Banerjee stressed the need for coexistence, saying, "In certain areas, certain groups are in the majority, and others are in the minority. It is the responsibility of the majority to safeguard the minority, and the responsibility of the minority to live peacefully. This is our tradition… I am ready to sacrifice my life but will never deviate from this ideology. Ill-treat me as much as you can—I don't care.". I pray for all communities, castes, and religions. If the BJP has issues with minorities, then let's test if they can even try to amend the Constitution."
Speaking of the March 27 event at the University of Oxford, when activists—among them members of the CPI(M)-aligned Students' Federation of India (SFI)—tried to disrupt her speech, Banerjee said, "The 'Bam aur Ram' (Left and BJP) combine came all the way from Kolkata. They asked me, 'Are you Hindu?' I proudly replied, 'I am Hindu, I am Muslim, I am Sikh, I am Christian, I am Indian.' What can they do about it?"
BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari reacted with caustic criticism on X (formerly Twitter), blaming Banerjee for religious appeasement. "At Red Road, while trying to speak in your nearly un-understandable Urdu language, you made a comment rejecting 'Ganda Dharm' or 'Dirty Religion.' Which religion were you talking about? Sanatan Hindu Dharma? What was this kind of provocative speech on Eid-ul-Fitr? You mentioned ‘riots’ and ‘violence’ more times than you mentioned Eid. Was this a religious event or a political rally? Why were you deliberately spreading hatred to create animosity between communities? Ms. Mamata Banerjee, you are the one weaponizing religion, and it will soon backfire on you.”
Read also| NIA Nabs Accused in ‘Donkey Route’ Human Trafficking to US
