In West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up his campaign, accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of obstructing the state’s Ram Navami celebrations. Speaking at rallies in Raiganj and Balurghat, Prime Minister Modi denounced the TMC’s alleged attempts to obstruct the celebration, referring to it as a triumph of truth after the Calcutta High Court’s decision to allow a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) parade in Howrah.
PM Modi emphasised the importance of Ram Navami in a speech in Balurghat, especially in light of the completion of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He criticised the TMC for its alleged conspiracies to thwart the celebrations, highlighting the necessity for devotees to resort to legal recourse for permission. The Prime Minister lamented the necessity for judicial intervention to ensure the procession’s passage, accusing the TMC of granting impunity to those obstructing the festivities.
PM Modi further accused the TMC of harbouring infiltrators and criminals, claiming the party opposes the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) while facilitating the influx of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis into Bengal. He asserted that the TMC’s policies have compromised Bengal’s demography and legal system, advocating for voters to penalise the party at the polls.
In response, Trinamool General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee dismissed PM Modi’s allegations, asserting the party’s commitment to governance over religious exploitation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee echoed similar sentiments, cautioning against communal tensions during Ram Navami while urging minority communities to maintain calm.
As campaigning intensifies in Bengal, the rhetoric between the BJP and the TMC underscores the deep-seated political divisions ahead of the state elections. Meanwhile, the Election Commission received a complaint from CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, alleging PM Modi’s speeches incited religious sentiments and violated the model code of conduct, signalling the escalating electoral tensions in the region.
