Fine With Jai Shri Ram, But BJP Mixing Religion, Politics: Mamata

Banerjee said that ‘we respect sentiments’, but alleged that the BJP is using it for mixing religion and politics.

File image of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

(Photo: PTI)

In a Facebook post, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday, 2 June, said that although she respects the sentiments behind religious slogans like ‘Jai Shri Ram’, the BJP was mixing religion with politics by repeatedly using the phrase.

“Jai Sia Ram, Jai Ram ji ki, Ram naam Satya hai etc have religious and social connotations. We respect these sentiments. But BJP is using religious slogan Jai Sri Ram as their party slogan in a misconceived manner by way of mixing religion with politics (sic),” she said in a Facebook post.

‘Don’t Respect Enforcement of Political Slogans’

Clearing that the TMC Supremo does not have a problem regarding any particular slogan being used in political rallies or events of a party, however she said, "We do not respect this forcible enforcement of political slogans on others..."

She also said attempts were being made to propagate the ideology of hatred, which should be opposed.

“This is a deliberate attempt to sell hatred ideology through vandalism and violence, which we must oppose together,” Banerjee wrote.

‘We Respect Sentiments, But BJP Using Slogan in Misconceived Manner’

Banerjee stated that every party has its own slogan and there is a mutual respect for that, however she alleged that the BJP is using the slogan in a misconceived manner.

“I have no problem, regarding any particular slogan of political parties in their rallies, and for their party purpose. Every political party has their own slogan. My party has Jai Hind, Vande Mataram. The Left has Inquilab Zindabad. Others have different slogans. We respect each other,” she wrote

She added “Jai Sia Ram, Jai Ram ji ki, Ram naam Satya hai etc have religious and social connotations. We respect these sentiments. But BJP is using religious slogan Jai Sri Ram as their party slogan in a misconceived manner by way of mixing religion with politics.”

The chief minister has lost her cool twice in the past few weeks over people chanting 'Jai Sri Ram' at a few places in the state, as her motorcade passed through those areas.

A BJP leader on Saturday had said that the party will send 10 lakh post cards with "Jai Shri Ram" written on them to Banerjee.

"We have decided to send 10 lakh post cards with 'Jai Shri Ram' written on them to the chief minister's residence," newly elected lawmaker Arjun Singh told PTI.