Ram Navami rallies will be peaceful yet massive says Sukanta | Watch

BJP’s West Bengal President and Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar has urged the state administration not to obstruct Ram Navami processions scheduled for April 6. In a video message released on Saturday, Majumdar said, “Lakhs of Hindus will take to the streets in West Bengal. I will also be part of the Ram Navami procession. Celebrate peacefully. I urge the administration to take appropriate measures. But do not try to obstruct or stop the procession with excessive restrictions.” He further stated, “Ram Navami will be celebrated on the soil of India and West Bengal. It has been celebrated for thousands of years and will continue. You cannot stop it.”

The statement comes amid a series of political remarks surrounding the Ram Navami celebrations. BJP leaders including Dilip Ghosh and Suvendu Adhikari have made public statements about the scale and intent of the upcoming rallies. Ghosh said people may carry weapons for self-defense during the procession if necessary. Suvendu Adhikari initially called for a one crore-strong procession and later increased the figure to 1.5 crore. BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul warned of unrest if attempts are made to block the rallies. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has also announced plans to organize processions in multiple locations across the state.

In response, the West Bengal government has increased security measures across the state. Police leave has been cancelled from April 2 to April 9. The state intelligence department has identified nine districts as sensitive: Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Bankura, East Medinipur, and West Medinipur. Additional deployments and heightened surveillance have been implemented in these areas to prevent any untoward incidents during the Ram Navami celebrations.