With the BJP reportedly planning to take out a Rath Yatra from North Bengal the Congress and the Left parties on Thursday appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to red flag the Yatra as it could lead to communal disturbance.
The Yatra likely to be led by BJP national president JP Nadda may start from North Bengal on February 5.
Pradesh Congress president and party leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Chowdhury said that “this Rath Yatra is intended at creating communal disturbance in the State and I request the Chief Minister not to give permission to this Yatra or else there will be massive law and order problem.”
Left Front Chairman and CPI(M) politburo member Biman Bose said that with elections round the corner the BJP has started its business with religion. “The BJP trades with religion and when the elections have come they will have a roaring business … this is the reason they have planned this Rath Yatra so that they can polarize the electorate but this should be stopped at all costs,” Bose said.
The BJP however hit back saying the Left and the Congress which had literally been obliterated from Bengal were trying to gain back t heir relevance by raising such issues.
“These parties have little presence in Bengal and are trying to resurface by raising such issues again… but the question is will they succeed in doing so… They will not because the people have already rejected them,” senior leader and party vice president Mukul Roy said adding “BJP is a responsible party with national obligations … it never indulges in unruly things or riots … by raising the issue they are only strengthening the hands of the Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister who the people of Bengal want out of power.”