BJP leaders, activists participate in Bengal's Rathyatra celebrations

After BJP's Ram Navmi and Hanuman Jayanti celebrations in West Bengal that sparked off allegations of attempts to bring about a communal polarisation, top party leaders and activists participated in Rathyatra celebrations on Sunday.

While BJP's national General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and actress-turned-party leader Roopa Ganguly led a Rathyatra rally in the city chanting Mahamantra of Lord Krishna, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh pulled the chariot in Cooch Behar district's famous Madan Mohan temple.

Participating in a rally organised by the "India Kirtan & Devotional Singers Welfare Association" here on occasion of the Rathyatra, Vijayvargiya claimed that they have attended the celebration solely from their love for lord and respect for lord Jagannath and there is no politics involved in it.

"Rath is for everyone. Jagannath ji is for everyone. We have attended the rally as we love Lord Jagannath. BJP believes Bhakti (devotion) is the source of strength," he said while playing Khol, a traditional Indian instrument in the rally.

Accusing the state's ruling Trinamool Congress of preferring minority community festivals, the BJP leader said they should also participate in Rathyatra sometimes.

"It is good that they are attending the Rathyatra. They would achieve success in life. TMC leaders always go for the Iftar parties, they should also attend the Rathyatra sometimes," he said.

Ghosh said their party is not organising any of the events but there would be active participation from their end.

"This is a religious festival, not a political event. We are not organising anything but our party leaders and activists have participated in all the renowned Rathyatras in the state," Ghosh told IANS.

Various Hindu rightwing groups affiliated to the RSS organised rallies backed by the BJP on occasion of Ram Navmi throughout Bengal in April this year. Participants in the rally including school children in many of the processions were seen brandishing sharp weapons like swords, tridents and bows and arrows which brought out large scale condemnations from various sections of the society. The BJP leadership however maintained they carried traditional weapons used by the Hindu deities.

--IANS

mgr/vd