Amid heavy police deployment, Ram Navami was celebrated peacefully in West Bengal. The past two years saw the festivities marred by violence in the state.
On Sunday, as Ram Navami processions were taken out in different parts of the state, there were heartwarming scenes of communal harmony and camaraderie as people from the minority community showered flower petals on people, distributed water bottles, and offered sweets.
This year, apart from the Opposition BJP, which has been leading the Ram Navami processions in the state, the ruling TMC leaders and workers also took part in Ram Navami processions.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari laid the foundation stone of a Ram Temple at Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district.
Adhikari, the BJP MLA from Nandigram, which had seen anti-land acquisition movement by the TMC in 2007 during the Left Front rule, laid the foundation stone for the Ram Temple at Sonachura village, where at least seven people, protesting land acquisition, had died in firing January 6, 2007.
Amid loud chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by supporters and devotees, Adhikari laid the foundation of the temple. “We are peace-loving people; we will never do anything that will tantamount to breaking the law,” he told reporters.
In Kharagpur, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh attended a Ram Navami procession, while Trinamool Congress MP Shatabdi Roy took part in a procession in Suri in Birbhum district. Former minister and municipal chief Krishnandunarayan Chowdhury held a rally in English Bazaar in Malda.
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Extending Ram Navami greetings on X, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stressed on the importance of maintaining peace and harmony.
Governor CV Ananda Bose, who visited a Ram Temple in Kolkata to offer prayers, thanked the people, all the political parties, the government and all other stakeholders for ensuring a peaceful Ram Navami in the state.
Bose said the previous experiences of “political mudslinging and violence” appeared distant during this year’s celebrations. “The concerted effort of all has paid off,” a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan said.
Bose said the state government and the political parties had joined hands to ensure that Ram Navami was celebrated in a joyful manner. “The chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) and the government made a comprehensive plan and deployed an adequate number of security forces. The mechanism put in place is on high alert. The administrative drive and competence were on full display as it was a great success for everyone to ensure that people celebrated the festival in an atmosphere of joy and peace,” he added.
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However, late Sunday night, state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar alleged that a vehicle was attacked in Kolkata’s Park Circus as a group of people were returning from Ram Navami procession. Kolkata Police, however, said that no permission was granted for a procession in the area and urged people not to pay heed to any rumours.
“It is clarified that no permission was taken for any procession, nor did any such movement occur in the area. Upon receiving information about damage to a vehicle, police intervened promptly to restore order. A case is being registered to investigate the matter. Public is advised not to heed any rumours,” Kolkata Police posted on X soon after the BJP leader made the charge.
Majumdar posted: “Hindu devotees were attacked in Kolkata’s Park Circus Seven Point area. Stones rained down on vehicles just for carrying saffron flags.”
Meanwhile, Hindu outfits said that over 2,000 Ram Navami rallies were held across the state, including more than 60 in Kolkata. Amid apprehension of violence, around 6,000 police personnel were deployed, with drone surveillance, CCTV monitoring, and quick response teams at key locations. Five to six IPS officers were assigned to supervise the law- and-order situation in Howrah district alone. Also, Barrackpore and Chandannagar were allocated four IPS officers each.