Do not claim Ram Navmi as your exclusive matter, Mamata tells BJP

Coming down heavily on the BJP, on a day when the RSS and its right wing affiliates held Ram Navmi celebrations across West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday slammed the party for "appropriating festivals" and accused it of insulting the 'Om' symbol by using it in political rallies.

"Do not hold Ram Navmi programme claiming the festival to be your exclusive thing. Do not try to incite unrest. For thousands of years, various religious organisations have been carrying on Ram Navmi rallies," she said at a public rally here.

"There is no connection with the BJP.A Party is planting flags and placing 'Om' symbols. You can sit at home and chant 'Om'. How can they (BJP) use religious symbols in political rally?

Is 'Om' your zamindari? Is it your party's symbol ? Everybody chants 'Om'. Who has given you the right to insult the 'Om' symbol? Go to Election Commission and get the symbol then. They are using God's names in party rallies," said a fuming Banerjee.

The Trinamool Congress supremo also lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for resorting to politics of divisiveness in Bengal.

"In UP, they (BJP) talk of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' and in Bengal they play divisive politics.. they want to divide the Hindus-Muslims... the Sikhs-Christians.

"One day if the Banerjees say that they have no relation with Chatterjees... if the tribals will say we will not live with Hindus... so on and so forth.... what will happen? Everything will shatter to pieces. The country will not remain united," she said, adding Basanti Puja was always celebrated in Bengal.

"Haven't we done Basanti puja? Is it something new? You should check. Basanti puja is the predecessor of present day Durga puja," she added.

Basanti Durga Puja is the celebration of Durga Puja during the spring time. It is a huge celebration in the eastern parts of India and especially in West Bengal. Basanti Durga puja coincides with the Vasant or Chaitra Navratri celebrations.

--IANS

sgh/ssp/vd