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BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari has stated that more than 1 crore people will be on the roads of Bengal for Ram Navami, while party MP Sukanta Majumdar too has emphasised that Hindus will be on the streets unitedly. The state’s ruling TMC, however, has accused the…Read More
Heavy security arrangements have been made in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal. Representational image/PTI
Political tensions are high in West Bengal ahead of Ram Navami on Sunday, with both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress raising the pitch around the festival. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari has stated that more than 1 crore people will be on the roads of Bengal for Ram Navami, while party MP Sukanta Majumdar too has emphasised that Hindus will be on the streets unitedly. The state’s ruling TMC, however, has accused the BJP of attempting to politicise the event.
Speaking to News18, Majumdar said, “All Hindus have become united today, and they will be on the roads. If the police try to stop them, we will see. Hindus will be on the roads. Nobody should try to stop Hindus in any way.”
On the other hand, TMC leader Jay Prakash Majumdar said to News18, “Why is BJP inciting people in the name of Ram Navami? Who are they to give sermons to Hindus? Everyone will celebrate Ram Navami in their own ways.”
The leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, will perform a foundation stone-laying ceremony for a Ram Mandir in Nandigram on Sunday and then join other rallies. TMC leaders will also be joining Ram Navami rallies.
BJP MLA Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury said, “Ram Navami is coming. We will celebrate. But I apprehend that there could even be a terror attack on a rally.”
Heavy security arrangements have been made in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal.
In Kolkata police area:
- More than 5,000 police personnel will be on the roads.
- All senior officers of the rank of joint CP and additional CP (15) will be in the field.
- Around 30-plus DCP-level officers will be deployed.
Commissioner of police, Kolkata, Manoj Verma, said, “Everyone will be celebrating Ram Navami with devotion, but anybody not following the High Court orders will face lawful action. All senior officers will be on the roads.”
Bengal police arrangements:
- Nearly 3,000 rallies across Bengal are expected.
- 29 senior IPS officers, from SP to IG level, will be deployed in various sensitive areas across Bengal.
- 10 districts are on high alert.
- Special monitoring of social media will be conducted.
- Bike patrolling will be carried out along Ram Navami routes and in mixed and sensitive areas.
- Chandannagar police commissioner Amit P Javalgi personally reviewed preparations on a bike.
- Howrah police commissioner Praveen Tripathi, and IG (CID), Akhilesh Chaturvedi, patrolled Howrah to assess security preparedness ahead of Ram Navami.
- All other senior officers have been deployed.
- Coordination meetings with organisers and peace meetings with all communities have been held.
- High Court directions have been communicated.
- Routes have been sanitised of debris and stones.
- Extra and sufficient police force will be deployed.
- Watchtowers, CCTV, and videography will be utilised.
Ram Navami has become politically significant for both the BJP and TMC. In 2023, there were tensions surrounding the festival, leading to increased security measures this year.
The Anjani Putra Sena group of Howrah has received permission to proceed with its Ram Navami procession, with the conditions that there will not be more than 500 people and no arms will be used.
The group’s founder, Surendra Kumar Verma, told News18, “The administration asked us to change the route; we went to court. Now we are happy. We will conduct the rally following the High Court restrictions.”
