Parties, intellectuals concerned over armed children in rally

Political parties and intellectuals have expressed concern over children carrying swords and knives in RSS-backed Ram Navami processions in various parts of West Bengal yesterday.
Ruling TMC and Opposition Left Front asked what "culture" was the RSS and BJP trying to import into Bengal.
Over 200 Ram Navami processions were taken out across West Bengal yesterday under the banner of Rama Navami Udjapan Samity "to unite the Hindus" against what they called "growing jihadi activities" in the state.
Students and minors were seen participating with swords and knives in some of the processions.
"What kind of culture is BJP and RSS trying to import into the state? Never in the history of Bengal have we seen children and school students marching with weapons and swords in a rally," TMC secretary general and state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said.

"Mothers, daughters and children never carried arms publicly in the name of religious processions in Bengal. No religion must promote it. Impermissible," CPI(M) state secretary Surya Kanta Mishra said.

Mishra, however, accused the TMC government of being "hand in glove" with the RSS and for not taking any step against it for involving innocent children in the rallies.
However, the BJP defended the rallies and said swords and knives are not considered as weapons these days.
"Sword and knives are not weapons. In many schools and programmes these are used for physical drills. There is nothing wrong in it. And TMC should not talk much about weapons. TMC whose leaders openly abuse police and ask their cadres to throw bombs should not talk much," BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha said.