Roy: CM should clear stand on Ram Mandir construction

Kolkata: BJP leader Mukul Roy on Sunday sought Trinamul Congress supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee to clarify her stand on the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

While leading a motorcycle rally by the party workers at Manicktala in north Kolkata, on the occasion of Ramnavami he claimed that the BJP added a status to the festival which is now even celebrated by the Trinamul also.

He said, “Lord Ram’s history is not only restricted to north India. It is spread across in the eastern India also. Even the great Chaitanya worshipped Lord Ram. Even Ramkrishna was named after him. The festival of Ramnavami has been continuing over the ages. In the last few years the BJP took it to a new height. It has also re-established the culture, which was lost earlier, in Bengal.”

Mr Roy noted, “Now the Trinamul is also celebrating this festival. It is very good. There is no objection if it celebrates it in agreement. Now, Ms Banerjee must explain whether the temple after Lord Ram, the first son of Dasharath who was born in Ayodhya, would be built in Ayodhya or not.”

According to him, no weapon was displayed in the rally.

Mr Roy added, “Weapon is a symbol. No one takes up weapons here to fight with the other.”

Meanwhile, state BJP president and party MLA Dilip Ghosh who led a rally in his assembly constituency Kharagpur of West Midnapore argued that Ram temple would soon be a reality which would be followed by a state of Ram. Carrying a mace he however defended the display of weapons in the rally.

“It has been a long tradition in Kharagpur to display weapons in rallies over the years,” he said.

Mr Ghosh elaborated, “All come out with weapons every year. They would do so this time also. It is the culture Aakhra.”

Asked on the Ramnavami celebration by the Trinamul, he added, “It seems a state of Ram is on the cards. Ram temple will come up in appropriate time. It will happen if everyone wants it. Those who did not want it earlier now want it. It is the blessing of Ram.”

The state BJP president claimed, “The impact of Ram temple issue in Ayodhya has played its role here. That is why so enthusiasm is here. The work of a state of Ram will start after the Ram temple would come up.”

Slamming Mr Roy’s comments, Trinamul secretary general Partha Chatterjee said, “I feel sad about the political status of the person who was once given an important chair by Ms Banerjee.”

He alleged that the BJP was using Lord Ram for political gains. Lashing out at Mr Ghosh, Trinamul minister Sadhan Pande declared that he might send a mace to his residence.

He said, “Would they need to show Ram to the chief minister? We are all followers of Ram. Do they think they would get votes in the name of Ram? It is not possible.”