Kolkata, April 7:
The celebration of Ram Navami in West Bengal on Sunday turned politically charged after BJP state president and Member of Parliament Sukanta Majumdar alleged that a rally in Kolkata’s Park Circus Seven Points area was attacked. He claimed that vehicles displaying saffron flags were targeted, with stones being pelted and windshields shattered. Terming the incident as “targeted violence,” Majumdar posted a video of the alleged attack on the social media platform ‘X’ and accused the state administration of failing to maintain law and order.
“This was not a normal incident but a clear case of vandalism. The police, selected by Mamata Banerjee, kept calm as mute spectators. The voice of united Bengali Hindus on Ram Navami has shaken the system,” Majumdar said in a strongly worded statement. He further asserted that a more significant rally would be held next year, vowing to make it “louder and more powerful.”
In response, the Kolkata Police stated that no permission had been granted for any procession in the Park Circus area, nor was any such rally documented to have occurred there. “On receiving information about a damaged vehicle, police took swift action. The situation is under control. A case is being registered and people are advised not to fall for rumours,” the official statement read.
Ram Navami was marked by grand processions and heightened security across India, especially in politically sensitive regions like West Bengal, where communal tensions have flared. This year, over 2,500 rallies, organized by BJP and TMC supporters, were planned throughout the state. The West Bengal government deployed more than 6,000 police personnel, with surveillance intensified using drones and CCTV cameras. All police leaves were cancelled until April 9, and high-alert orders were issued days in advance.
Despite the precautions, sporadic incidents of unrest were reported in districts like Murshidabad, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, and Cooch Behar. In anticipation of unrest, the Rapid Action Force was also deployed in key areas including Kolkata and Siliguri. State officials said they had received intelligence regarding potential attempts to create unrest under the guise of Ram Navami celebrations.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to people of all communities to maintain peace and not fall prey to inflammatory content circulating online. “Bengal believes in harmony. No rumour should disturb the communal fabric of the state,” she stated.
The BJP, however, has accused the state government of pursuing “appeasement politics.” Police earlier barred the leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari from visiting a communally sensitive area in Malda, where a Ram Navami rehearsal had allegedly triggered tension. Adhikari has since announced the construction of a large Ram temple in Nandigram, emulating the Ayodhya model, with the foundation stone to be laid on Ram Navami.
Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has ramped up its involvement, planning to organize one lakh Shri Ram Mahotsavs across India, including 2,000 rallies in Bengal alone. As per VHP officials, up to five lakh people were expected to participate in the events.
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