CM’s ‘anti-women, divisive’ barb at BJP at peace march

KOLKATA : Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee ended her multi-faith Sampriti Rally in Kolkata on Monday evening, about six hours after PM Narendra Modi consecrated the Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya, with a query for the BJP —“Are you anti-women?” — and a call to everyone to join the fight for a chance “to coexist peacefully”.
Banerjee, who started her walk after a prayer at the Kalighat temple and then stopped at a gurdwara, a church and a mosque before addressing a crowd of about a lakh, wove these two points — the BJP’s perceived anti-women stance and everyone’s right to coexist peacefully — in her speech, which also targeted other opposition parties for their failure to stand up to the BJP and its brand of politics.

“I am not against Ram. I re spect both Ram and Sita. There is no Ram without Sita. But why don’t you utter a word about her?” she asked the BJP. “Are you anti-women? Ram would not have been born had Kausalya not been there. Sita too had embraced banishment for 14 years. She also took the agni pariksha. Ram worshipped Durga to kill Ravan,” she added.
“The fight has started (for achance) to coexist peacefully (dil se dil milake ek sath rahne ka jung). There is nothing to fear. I tell those who are trying to divide people on the basis of religion that it is easy to light a fire but it is difficult to put it out. Not a single seat should go to the BJP in Bengal,” Banerjee said. “Bengal will have to play an important role in ensuring that followers of all faiths can live peacefully,” she added.
The Bengal CM, indicating a growing unease at the seat-sharing talks deadlock with the Congress in Bengal, also took potshots at other INDIA bloc parties. “How many politicians have taken the BJP head-on? Somebody went to one temple and thought it was sufficient... but it does not happen (like that). I am the only one who visited a temple, a gurdwara, a church and a mosque. I have the power and that is why I can fight with BJP. But some people do not want to listen to us on seatsharing,” she said without naming the Congress.
Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also slammed the Left Front during the Sampriti Rally in Kolkata on Monday. “I will not take any advice from the LF against whom I have fought throughout my life. All I seek is strong regional parties be allowed to fight on their own and there should be a one-on-one fight with the BJP in at least 300 seats,” she said, warning them (other parties) “against doing anything that will strengthen the BJP. You will not be forgiven if you help the BJP.”
The Bengal CM, who was flanked by leaders of several religions during her 5km walk, railed against the “colour mandates for government buildings” and accused the BJP of trying to destroy religious harmony. “It is trying to divide Hindus and is al so creating a section of middlemen among Muslims who are trying to divide the minorities. So many were killed in riots in Delhi during the NRC protests,” she reminded her listeners.
The rally started from Hazra around 3pm, where Trina mool supporters — including some persons with disabilities — and invitees had started converging since around 1.30pm. Huge crowds waited for Banerjee and her fellow rallyists along Hazra Road, Ballygunge Phari, Syed Amir Ali Avenue and Park Circus.