Kolkata:

Ram Navami on April 18 this yr has been declared a public vacation in West Bengal. The transfer got here “too late”, stated BJP, claiming Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee needs to “redeem her anti-Hindu picture”.

Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Saraswati Puja – the key festivals in West Bengal – have been public holidays within the state with Ram Navami being the newest addition. The state witnessed incidents of violence throughout Ram Navami processions previous few years, sparking political blame video games.

The transfer comes earlier than the announcement of the nationwide elections, which is predicted to be a direct contest between the BJP and Ms Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.

Sharing a Bengal authorities notification designating Ram Navami as a public vacation, the BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya alleged that chants of “Jai Shree Ram” used to enrage Ms Banerjee.

“Mamata Banerjee, who would flip blue with rage, each time she heard ‘Jai Shree Ram’, has designated Ram Navami (seventeenth Apr) as public vacation, in West Bengal. She has achieved this to redeem her anti-Hindu picture. Too late although,” quipped Mr Malviya.

He added: “Extra importantly, she wants to make sure no stones are pelted on Ram Navami processions. Will she?”

The Trinamool is but to answer the BJP chief’s comment.

For the clashes throughout Ram Navami final yr, Ms Banerjee had accused “outsiders” of attempting to disrupt concord within the state. Justifying police motion through the rally, she had questioned why individuals introduced bulldozers to the spiritual procession, carried arms and danced with a gun.

The BJP is already in assault mode over the Sandeshkhali row, during which a strongman and former Trinamool chief Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested final week. Shahjahan faces a number of costs of sexual assault and land-grabbing within the island village in North 24 Paraganas district.

BJP chief and Chief of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari will handle a gathering in Sandeshkhali immediately whereas the Trinamool prepares for an enormous rally on the iconic Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata. Sources say Ms Banerjee might additionally declare the Trinamool candidates on the rally.