Mamta smells ‘unrest’ on Hanuman Jayanti, urges restraint

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has raised concerns about the possibility of riots on the upcoming occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, which falls on April 6.

During a meeting in East Midnapore, Banerjee questioned the recent violence that occurred during the Ram Navami celebrations and asked why the procession was held for five days. She suggested that the procession should only be held on the day of Ram Navami to avoid any potential for violence.

Banerjee urged people to maintain peace and harmony during the festival and to refrain from any activities that could incite violence or cause unrest. The Chief Minister also called on the police to remain vigilant and ensure that any potential incidents of violence are quickly contained.

In response to Banerjee's statement, Tamluk Organizational District Chairman and MLA Akhil Giri said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) believes in violence while the Trinamool Congress believes in peace. He further added that the present Governor is neutral, and Shubhendu, who is the BJP leader in West Bengal, is missing the old Governor as he was his cadre.

The statement by Banerjee comes after recent incidents of violence during religious processions in the state. In 2018, clashes between different groups during the Ram Navami celebrations led to several deaths and injuries. The Chief Minister's call for peace and restraint during the upcoming Hanuman Jayanti celebrations is aimed at preventing any such incidents from occurring again.