Didi warns people against raking communal tension

With elections nearing Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee once again got down to talking secular and warning the people of her State against moles in the society who might be looking for opportune moments to trigger communal clashes.

With a host of Muslim clerics sitting by her side Banerjee who was on Friday addressing a party rally condemned the demolition of Babri Masjid saying “religion is a matter of heart and should not be used as a tool to garner votes,” drawing instant criticism from the Opposition Marxists who questioned her intentions of “raking up a non-issue particularly in a highly secular State like Bengal” with an eye on the next year’s general election.

Reminding that it was only the Trinamool Congress that observed December 6 as “National Integration Day” she reminisced how she had gone to the then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu offering help on that day in 1992 “so that the situation remained peaceful in Bengal” adding how she had gone out offering relief to the people affected during the disturbance.

Insisting that a group of “bad people” in Bengal were trying to foment communal tension Banerjee warned “we will not allow such people to foment riots. The Chief Minister who was publicly blessed by the Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Masjid Nurur Rehman Barkati who kept his hands on her head said she would go any distance to protect the interests of the people who have been the victims of oppression and torture.

Attacking the left Front for “trying to malign our Government and raising a hue and cry at the drop of hat” Benerjee said “you had chance for 34 years but did nothing now I am in the Chair provided to me by the people and would do my duty” advising the Opposition to “keep mum while we are working.”

Earlier the Chief Minister had lambasted the Opposition left and the Congress for boycotting the State Assembly in its Platinum Jubilee celebrations attended by President Pranab Mukherjee.