Mamata Banerjee: BJP Is Staging “Gimmick Show” By Inaugurating Ram Mandir  

Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, claimed on Tuesday that the BJP was staging a “gimmick show” by inaugurating the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in before of the Lok Sabha elections.  The TMC supremo asserted that “she does not support festivities that exclude other communities”. Speaking at a public event in the South 24 Parganas district of Joynagar, Banerjee stated that she disagrees with segregating people along religious lines. “Yesterday I was asked to comment on Ram Mandir in Ayodhya as if I have nothing else to do. I said that religion belongs to individuals but festivals are for all,” she said.

West Bengal CM: “I don’t believe in dividing people…”

The leader of the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee, stated that she supports celebrations that bring together members of all communities and promote harmony.  “The BJP is doing it (Ram Mandir inauguration) under court’s instruction but doing it as a gimmick show before the Lok Sabha polls… I don’t believe in dividing people on religious lines,” she said. The Indian government, according to the chief minister, is an agency government.

On January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, and more than 6,000 spectators are anticipated for the ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony, which will mark the official opening of the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Banerjee described West Bengal as land of peace

“Remember, I will never allow a division between Hindu-Muslim, Sikh-Christian and tribals. Bengal is a land of peace and there is no place to do divisive politics. Bengal is the Mecca and Madinah for Muslims, Belur Math and Dakshineswar for Hindus and Jaher than (sacred grove) for tribals,” she said.

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Banerjee digs jibe at BJP

Banerjee reminded everyone to make sure their names are on the voter list, referring to the list’s preparations. “Voters list is being prepared. Make sure that your name is there (on the list) or they will again start yelling CAA or NRC and strike off your name in the name of NRC,” she said.

The TMC is an outspoken opponent of both the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In addition, Banerjee mentioned the ruling made by the Supreme Court in the Bilkis Banu case and declared that her administration never condones rape.

“In the Bilkis Banu case, you must have seen how the rapists were allowed to go. It was our party MP Mahua Moitra who was forcibly driven out of Parliament who had pointed this out. We do not give indulgence to the rapists,” she said.

On Monday, the Supreme Court overturned the remission of 11 individuals who had been found guilty of killing seven of Bilkis Bano’s family members and gangraping her during the 2002 riots. August 15, 2022, saw the release of all 11 convicted individuals when the Gujarati government awarded them remission.