Ram temple inauguration: TMC, BJP to test their political might as Bengal politics heats up
TMC and BJP in West Bengal will evaluate their political prowess on Monday, aligning with the Ram temple consecration in Ayodhya, with Mamata Banerjee slated to lead an «all-faith» rally seeking to project a counter-narrative to BJP's hindutva politics. The much-awaited Ram temple consecration will be held in Ayodhya on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the rituals, following which the shrine will be opened for the public a day later.
The TMC, which has accused the BJP of trying to politicise a religious event by attempting to put up a «gimmick show» ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, has announced to hold a mega all-faith harmony rally in the metropolis led by West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.
The party will also hold similar rallies in every block of the state.
The Bengal BJP, which has unsuccessfully demanded that the day be declared a holiday in the state, along with several other Hindu outfits, has planned several events and programmes across the state to celebrate the day, including setting up LED screens in various areas where the Ram temple inauguration will be telecast live.
The opposition BJP has accused the TMC of trying to create distraction and divert attention from the historic Pran Pratistha ceremony of Lord Ram through the «all-faith rally».
The party also accused the state government of impeding programmes to celebrate the scheduled inauguration of the temple.
«The BJP is trying to vitiate the atmosphere of the country. Everybody loves Lord Ram.
But the BJP mixes politics with religion, we are against this trend. And the all-faith rally by our party supremo is just a precursor to Republic Day celebrations,» TMC MP Sougata Roy said.
Echoing him, TMC minister
