In the wake of the controversy over the arrest of 10 persons who shouted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ near the convoy of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Trinamool chief on Sunday clarified that she had no problems with slogans, but had issues with the BJP’s design to mix “religion with politics”.
Ms. Banerjee had sharply reacted twice over the week when a group of men shouted Jai Sri Ram standing close to her vehicle. On both occasions, Ms. Banerjee came out of the vehicle and warned the crowd shouting at her, for which the BJP leaders had severely criticised her.
Ms. Banerjee said on social media that she had “no problem regarding any particular slogan” used by parties. “My party has Jai Hind, Vande Mataram [as slogans]. The Left has Inquilab Zindabad. Others have different slogans. We respect each other,” she said.
However, “the BJP is using religious slogan Jai Sri Ram as their party’s slogan in a misconceived manner by mixing religion with politics,” she said. She further indicated that action would be initiated if such religious slogans were used to stir “unrest, chaos, violence” and disrupt normal life.
