Ram Navami, which had very little relevance three years ago in West Bengal, has become an important date in the Bengali calendar with Bharatiya Janata Party emerging as a political force in the state.
Last year, the occasion brought on talwar (sword) rallies across Bengal. This time, the BJP is planning to make it big on March 25, the day on which Ram Navami falls. Last year, West Bengal government had banned the procession, but the BJP went to court and was granted permission.
This time, however, the BJP would be joined by two more rallies. One, a chariot procession of the Trinamool Congress to mark Ram Navami for the first time. The other, a rally by CPI(M) which would call it Ram-Rahim rally to mark the festival. Communists say they would try to prevent any communal disharmony “encouraged by Trinamool and BJP” through their rallies.
But why is the West Bengal chief minister out to contest BJP on the religious front?
This is to keep in check the BJP’s attempt to polarise the West Bengal election. In May, panchayat election will be held and Mamata is out to check the BJP’s attempt at grabbing panchayats that would help them get Lok Sabha seats in 2019.
However, like last time as well, her government decided to ban any rally with swords and knives.
“I am asking director general of police to stop any rally which would come out with weapons. Only those who traditionally do it will be allowed. Others would be checked,” Mamata asked DG Surajit Purokayastha at a meeting in Birbhum last Wednesday.
“It’s a clear attempt by the BJP to create disturbance and polarise Bengali society in the name of religion,” she added.
Hearing the direction of the chief minister, BJP West Bengal president Dilip Ghosh said, “I suggest state government should not issue any fatwa against it (Ram Navami)… warna Lanka kayand ho jayega (otherwise there would be war).”
With both BJP and Trinamool Congress on a collision course, there is fear over Ram Navami celebrations in the state. In West Bengal, Ram Navami (birthday of Lord Ram) is mostly celebrated by the Vaishanavites, and Bengal usually does not see mass celebration on this occasion, forget celebrating with swords. Obviously, such a rally with swords will give BJP the chance to show its might ahead of Panchayat election. The saffron party could show people that it could take on Trinamool cadres during election battle. In light of the elections, the party is planning to bring out the biggest ever Ram Navami rally in Bengal so far.
But BJP believes Ram Navami could be celebrated with harmless weapons.
“It’s the ritual all over India and we would perform this in Bengal as well. We would like to see who prevents us,” said Ghosh.
Ghosh would be in Midnapore district where the party would bring out the biggest rally. Similarly, other senior leaders have been sent to different parts of Bengal to challenge the might of Trinamool Congress by showing salute to lord Ram.