WB-RAM NAVAMI RALLIES

Bengal braces for Ram Navami rallies by BJP, TMC
    Kolkata, Apr 12 (PTI) Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha
polls, preparations are on in West Bengal to organise Ram
Navami rallies as both the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP
have decided to take out processions across the state.
    The Ram Navami rallies are scheduled to take place on
April 13 and 14.
    The ruling Trinamool Congress alleged that the BJP was
trying to vitiate the atmosphere during the polls.
    "Everybody is allowed to follow his or her religion.
But what the BJP is trying to do is disturb peace in the state
and create communal tension during the polls. We would never
allow to do that in the state," TMC secretary general Partha
Chatterjee said.
    BJP state president Dilip Ghosh denied the charge,
saying, "We don't want any violence during Ram Navami. But if
armed people can take part in Muharram rallies, why will rules
be different for Ram Navami rallies? It is part of our
religion and no one can stop us from following that."
    The TMC leadership in various districts have also
planned to take out processions for Ram Navami.
    The decision to take out such processions with people
carrying arms have brought back memories of violence over Ram
Navami rallies last year in which a few persons were killed
and several others injured.
    The Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had planned to take out
nearly 700 rallies across South Bengal to celebrate Ram Navami
on April 14. However, West Bengal Police denied permission to
carry arms by the participants.
    This year, the VHP said there will be no arms in Ram
Navami processions organised by it.
    "We have received permission for rallies. We will
abide by the direction of the police and no one will carry
arms during Ram Navami rallies conducted by us," VHP
organisational general secretary (eastern region)
Sachindranath Sinha told PTI.
    He said the VHP would organise around 700 small,
medium and big rallies across South Bengal and less number of
processions in north Bengal due to elections.
    Polling will be held in constituencies of north Bengal
during the second and third phase of Lok Sabha polls on April
18 and 23.
    In South Bengal, voting will take place in four more
phases. PTI PNT
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