BJP Trying to Force Everyone to Chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ : Mamata

Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, 6 May, said that 'Jai Shri Ram' is the BJP's slogan and it is trying to force everybody to chant it."Does Ramchandra become BJP's election agent when election comes?" the fiery TMC supremo asked at public rallies in West Bengal.None can be forced to chant what Narendra Modi or BJP want, she said adding that West Bengal's culture has never been what the the saffron party is trying to make it.The slogan of the people of Bengal is 'Vandemataram' of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and 'Jai Hind' of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, she said.“Why should I give your slogan? I will not chant the name of rotten Modi or rotten BJP. They are trying to erase the culture of Bengal,” a combative Banerjee said.Fani Row: Modi Says He Called Mamata Twice, She Responds With JibePeople of Bengal Not Allowed to Chant Jai Shri Ram: ModiA video has appeared in the social media that shows Banerjee stopping her car at a place in West Midnapore district and chasing some persons who chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' as her carcade was passing the area.Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing rallies at Jhargram and Tamluk in the state Monday said that in Bengal people are not allowed to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' and that saying it in public places is regarded as a crime here.Addressing the rallies, Banerjee said that it is not the culture of people of Bengal to chant a single person's name."When we do Durga Puja we say Jay Ma Durga, when we do Kali Puja we say Jay Ma Kali but we do not give any particular slogan always like the BJP," she said.Taking a dig at the saffron party's vow to construct a Ram Temple at Ayodhya, she said that while she has renovated Kali temples at Dakshineswar, Tarapith and Kankalitala in the state "BJP has not been able to set up a single Ram temple in the country in five years though they chant Jai Shri Ram."Modi Shouldn’t ‘Threaten’ Mamata If He’s Sure of Winning Bengal"Cheap Politics” Over Cyclone FaniModi on Monday also accused Banerjee of doing "cheap politics" over cyclone Fani, claiming she did not speak to him when he tried to contact her to talk about the calamity.He alleged his efforts to talk to state government officials to take stock of the situation too was "scuttled" by Banerjee. “'Speedbreaker' Didi is more interested in doing cheap politics instead of tackling the situation," Modi told election rallies in Tamluk and Jhargram.Banerjee responded to the prime minister's criticism, saying she could not talk to him because she was camping in Kharagpur to monitor the situation as the cyclone advanced towards West Bengal.Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to do politics over Cyclone ‘Fani’, Banerjee said “If you (Modi) think you will politicise it (cyclone) you must remember that I too understand politics.”Modi also said on Monday that even today he wanted to speak to Banerjee and state officials to take stock of the situation but the chief minister did not allow that to happen.Only Have Love for Modi Who Insulted a Martyr: Rahul GandhiAddressing an election rally in Gopiballavpur sub-division of Jhargram, Banerjee said Modi had indeed called her for a meeting at Kalaikunda, where he landed for an election meeting after touring cyclone-battered Odisha."Are we his servants that we have to go wherever he beckons? Now he will allege that I have not responded and not extended cooperation...My (poll) meeting at Jhargram today was already fixed. Election is on in West Bengal, while it is over in Odisha. Why should I share dais with an expiry prime minister during election time?" Banerjee shot back.“He (Modi) wants us to go to Jhargram (where he held a public meeting Monday) to discuss the situation related to the cyclone. He will sip tea and I will have to sit beside him and have pictures clicked. Why should I go?” she asked.Trinamool Congress had accused the prime minister of by-passing the chief minister in disregard for the federal structure of the polity. A senior central government official had, however, rejected the allegation, claiming Modi called up Banerjee who did not return it."He has come before the elections. He is bypassing the chief minister and calling the chief secretary, who is under the chief minister and not the prime minister," she said.

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BJP Trying to Force Everyone to Chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ : Mamata

“West Bengal’s culture has never been what the the saffron party is trying to make it,” Mamata Banerjee said.

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Topics: PM Modi Elections Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee