Amid celebrations post inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee brought charges of communal politics against the powers that be saying it was easy to set things afire but difficult to douse the flames and warned people to remain cautious against pre-poll communal divide being planned by the BJP.
Though she would not name the BJP or its leaders the Chief Minister who led a long "harmony march" offering prayers at the iconic Kalighat Temple, a gurudwara, church and a mosque on her way said, "a desperate attempt is being made to divide people in the name of religion before the elections," asking the people of Bengal to be mindful of their "rich and sublime culture and heritage that teaches religious amity and communal harmony."
She said, "please don't fall prey to the communal fire some people are trying to ignite … they should remember that it is easy to set things on fire but it is difficult to douse them before they go out of control."
She said, "I don't have any problem with Pujas … you may pray to Ram, Shyam, Rahim or Allah … but the problem arises when you directly do it to earn political points and win votes … by dividing the people in the name of religion," claiming she would never do politics over the corpses. "Remember how many people died during the communal riots after the demolition of the Babri Masjid … thousands of people died all over the country … they all are sahids (martyrs) to us and we pray for them … we do not want to offer our prayers standing over the dead."
Though she would not refer to the Ayodhya event she said, in a faint reference of Bengal's presiding deity Kali or Durga the Chief Minister said how there was an attempt being made to marginalize the place of Devi Shakti or women power.
She said, "There is a constant effort to marginalise the woman power … by usually not referring to Mother Sita --- with Lord Rama --- who had to face so much of hardship and had finally to even self immolate … is this not undermining woman power … In Bengal we worship Mother Durga as our presiding deity … Durga who according to Krittivas Ramayan was worshipped by Rama before entering Sri Lanka."
Stopping short of naming the Prime Minister she said how her "they" are falsely implicating her for political reasons. Banerjee said, "my whole family has been made thieves by their agencies," and warned, "when you will not be in power you will understand how things work … because explanations will be demanded on how so much of national wealth were taken away by some people out of this country."
She also attacked the Centre for imposing saffronisation saying, "they are asking us to use saffron colour in various projects … saffron colour is in my heart … but shy should I impose it on others … people may like different colours."
On how in many BJP-ruled States the rulers were banning non-vegetarian foods she said, "they are banning meat, fish and egg … but what I will eat is my choice … who are they to dictate … vegetarianism is good but why should I leave my culture … The Bengalis love fish and meat … many other people love it … why should they leave it at the diktat of some other people is it not dictatorship … so I warn the people against the dictators."