“BJP Talks About Lord Ram, Not About Sita As It Is Anti-Women”

Attacking the BJP for attempting to politicise religion ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday labelled the saffron camp as anti-women for omitting goddess Sita from their discourse about Lord Ram.

The Bengal CM told PTI, “They (BJP) talk about Lord Ram, but what about goddess Sita? She was with Lord Ram all along during his exile. They don’t speak about her as they are anti-women. We are worshippers of goddess Durga, so they should not try to lecture us about religion,”

The party supremo, while spearheading the TMC’s Sanhati Rally, which coincided with the Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya, underscored Bengal’s pivotal role in preserving the principles of secularism and inclusiveness in the country.

In her concluding remarks at the rally, the Bengal CM said, “I don’t believe in politicising religion ahead of elections. I am against such practices. I have no objection against those worshipping Lord Ram, but object to interference with the food habits of people.”

Accompanied by party leaders and religious leaders of various faiths, the feisty TMC supremo began the ‘all-faith harmony’ march from Hazra crossing and ended it at Park Circus crossing in Kolkata. Aligning with the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya earlier in the day, the all-faith rally included visits to diverse places of worship, such as a temple, mosque, church and gurudwara.

The rally also included her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and was accompanied by religious leaders from various faiths, along with key party members.

Banerjee started the day by offering prayers at the iconic Kalighat temple in south Kolkata — before commencing the rally — and sought blessings from the goddess Kali.

The process was slated to culminate at Park Circus maidan with a grand assembly. It saw Banerjee in her characteristic white and blue-bordered cotton sari, with a shawl around her neck. She greeted the gathered crowds with folded hands along the route.

Throughout the journey, Banerjee continued her inclusive approach by offering prayers at a church, a mosque and a gurudwara in proximity to Park Circus maidan, with the diverse religious interactions aimed at fostering communal harmony in the ancient city.

“Smt. @MamataOfficial kickstarted the Sanhati Rally from Hazra Park. As thousands of people join this rally uniting all communities, the message ‘Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava’ resonates across the city! The secular thread of our nation that binds us all remains stronger than ever!” the TMC, expressing solidarity with Banerjee’s initiative, tweeted.

Carrying party flags and national flags, TMC supporters enthusiastically shouted slogans in support of Banerjee and the rally as it progressed.