WEST BENGAL

RSS welcomes TMC's move to celebrate Ram Navami, BJP sees red

Ram Navami celebration (File) : Devotees participating in a procession to celebrate Ram Navami in Kolkata in 2017 | PTI

The RSS on Wednesday said the Trinamool Congress' decision to celebrate Ram Navami is a moral victory for the organisation as the ruling party had opposed the celebrations last year.

The Trinamool Congress had earlier this month said that it had decided to observe Ram Navami in Birbhum district with a massive procession on March 25.

"It is a moral victory for the RSS that the ruling party is also saying that they want to celebrate Ram Navami. We welcome this decision," RSS South Bengal general secretary Jishnu Basu said.

"Last year, we had seen how activists of various Hindutva organisations were arrested for observing Ram Navami in the state. It is good that they have realised their mistake," Basu said.

On the state government's directive against armed processions during Ram Navami, he said the RSS is against any armed procession, be it for Ram Navami or Muharram.

The state BJP leadership, however, sees the TMC's decision as an attempt to hijack the programme from the saffron party.

"Last year, Ram Navami celebrations (of BJP) was a great success. This time too, it will be a great success," West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said.