Apparently aware of social and political ramifications of a knee-jerk treatment of religiously sensitive issues, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has half-swallowed back her decision slapping blanket ban on armed rallies on Ram Navami Day. She has now allowed limited display of arms.
Revisiting her earlier decision banning armed rallies on the occasion of Ram Navami on March 25, Banerjee said her Government will only allow those organisations — to carry arms during a processions — which were doing so for more than ten years.
“I know that there are only a couple of organisations in Howrah and Asansol which traditionally hold Ram Navami processions with arms. Those who have been celebrating the festival in such manner for more than ten years will be given special permission to do so with arms,” the CM said.
She added her Government will not allow any procession to carry arm for the first time. “We are also followers of Ram. We are not against organising any procession but armed procession is strictly banned,” Banerjee said.
Banerjee beat retreat after the State BJP took a confrontationist stance saying no one would be allowed to come in the way of religious traditions. “I will personally lead a procession with a Gada (mace) in my hand and I want to see who stops me,” BJP State president said.
last year an alarmed Trinamool Congress Gover-nment had helplessly watched the BJP-RSS taking out a 20,000 strong armed rally on Ram Navami at Siuri in Birbhum district. To counter a similar impact this year the TMC has itself decided to take out Ram Navami Yatras on the said day.