Ram Navami processions were taken out across West Bengal on Wednesday. Leaders of both ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party marched along with hundreds of participants.
While extending greetings on the occasion, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed people to maintain peace.
"Greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. I appeal to maintain peace, prosperity and development for all,” she posted on X.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari attended one such Ram Navami procession in the New Town area of the city. While TMC minister Arup Roy and party's Howrah Lok Sabha constituency candidate Prasun Banerjee walked with processions in Howrah town.
In Barrackpore, BJP candidate Arjun Singh, who had left the TMC after being denied Lok Sabha ticket by the Mamata Banerjee-led party, led another Ram Navami procession.
Various processions amid chants of Jai Shri Ram with people holding saffron flags and replicas of swords and beating of drums were witnessed in Bankura, Purulia, Durgapur, Asansol and elsewhere in the state.
Although the administration had asked people to refrain from displaying arms in public, swords were displayed in certain places during Ram Navami processions.
BJP leaders dismissed state governments plea stating that arms are customary to the rituals of Ram Navami.
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh also flaunted sword at the Ram Navami procession at Durgapur.
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee had for past two days alleged the BJP will use Ram Navami festivities to orchestrate clashes between two groups ahead of the first phase of elections on April 19. This will lead to National Investigative Agency’s investigation which will bring embarrassment for the state.
Conversely, Adhikari and other BJP leaders strongly refuted her charges blaming her for making inflammatory statements to create disturbances and put the onus on the BJP.
TMC candidate from Jadavpur Lok Sabha seat Sayaani Ghosh led a Ram Navami rally in her constituency. “We believe in peaceful worshipping, we don’t believe in flaunting muscle power and arms,” she said.
TMC MP from Birbhum Satabdi Roy, who is seeking re-election, also led a Ram Navami celebration in her constituency.
CPI(M) leader Tanmay Bhattacharya accused both BJP and TMC for trying to incite violence in the state with their comments and action on Ram Navami.
Police and security forces had kept vigil when hundreds of such processions, were taken out today.
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