18

Jan

Mamata’s communal harmony rally on Ram Temple  Day

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Today’s Edition

New Delhi, 18 January 2024

Syed Khalique Ahmad

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ruffled feathers with her plans for an all-faith Sadbhavna rally on January 22, the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

With tensions already simmering around the long-awaited consecration, this counter-event marks a fresh chapter in the ongoing tug-of-war between political agendas and religious sentiments.

Banerjee, a critic of Modi’s BJP, insists the rally is not a protest but a celebration of interfaith harmony. She plans to start with prayers at the Kalighat Temple, followed by a procession winding through mosques, churches, and gurdwaras before culminating in a public gathering. This show of inclusivity comes amid accusations from her rivals who claim it’s a veiled attempt to undermine the Ram Temple’s significance.

Announcing a mega all-religion rally on Tuesday, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee rejected the politicization of religious events, asserting, “Temple consecration is not for politicians, it’s for priests and saints. Our duty is to build infrastructure, and that’s what I’ll do.”

“Everybody is welcome,” declared Mamata. “This isn’t just a TMC rally, it’s an open invitation to anyone seeking solace in shared humanity. People of all faiths are encouraged to participate, demonstrating the strength of West Bengal’s pluralistic spirit.”

Simultaneously, TMC leaders across districts will organize similar interfaith rallies, amplifying the message of unity and inclusivity throughout the state.

Senior Muslim leader and West Bengal state secretary of the Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity (FDCA), Maulana Abdul Aziz cautiously commended Mamata’s communal amity rally as a counter-measure against rising communalism due to the politically charged Ram Temple event.

Maulana Abdul Aziz emphasized that Mamata’s inclusive approach, involving all religious communities, presented a more positive alternative to the BJP’s polarization efforts on January 22nd. He said that Mamata’s rally served both electoral and social cohesion goals, aiming to shift attention from the BJP’s event towards promoting communal harmony, especially in light of the upcoming general elections.

Regarding Mamata’s visit to the Kali temple before the rally, Maulana Abdul Aziz pointed out that the RSS and BJP have created a communally- charged atmosphere, compelling even secular party leaders to integrate Hindu rituals into their programmes. He cited Mamata and Arvind Kejriwal chanting Hindu bhajans during party events as examples of attempts to demonstrate themselves as Hindu leaders, besides involving all communities to counter divisive forces.

Moreover, around 140 civil society groups and organizations, including FDCA, would be organizing an anti-fascist meet and rally on the same date at Kolkata’s Netaji Indoor Stadium to   counter the communally - charged atmosphere. Activists like Teesta Setalwad, Harsh Mandar, and Medha Patkar are expected to attend this protest march.

Opposing the Meanwhile,Hindutva agenda, Socialist Unity Centre of India-Communist (SUCI) has also announced a rally on January 22.

Meanwhile,BJP West Bengal leader and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari has petitioned the Calcutta High Court seeking a postponement of the Trinamool Congress rally. The division bench has accepted the plea and will likely hear soon.(Words 500)

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