The BJP on Thursday complained to Governor CV Ananda Bose against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking his intervention to expunge her remarks on Maha Kumbh deaths in the Assembly.
While state BJP chief and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar wrote a letter to the Governor, a delegation of party leaders, led by Leader of Opposition in Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, reached Raj Bhavan to register their complaint.
Referring to the chief minister’s remarks made on the floor of the Assembly on Tuesday, Majumdar in the letter to the Governor wrote: “…Such a statement is not only highly insensitive, but also deeply offensive to millions of Hindus across the nation and beyond.”
Referring to the deaths in the January 29 stampede in Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj and at the New Delhi railway station last Saturday, the chief minister had said: “I respect Maha Kumbh, but what they have turned it into is sad. They are saying 30 people died, but thousands of bodies have been swept away… They have hidden hundreds of bodies to bring down the toll. Maha Kumbh has turned into a ‘Mrityu Kumbh’ under the BJP rule.”
Majumdar wrote: “The Kumbh Mela is one of the holiest gatherings in Hindu tradition, symbolizing faith, devotion, and spiritual awakening. By calling it ‘Mrityu Mahakumbh,’ the Hon’ble Chief Minister has insulted the sentiments of crores of devotees who participate in this sacred event with utmost reverence… It is imperative that constitutional authorities ensure that such remarks do not go unchecked, as they can lead to social disharmony and hurt religious sentiments.”
After submitting a memorandum to the Governor, Adhikari said: “The Governor is the head of the constitution of the State, he should intervene, he should direct the Speaker to expunge. 100 crores of Hindus have been hurt due to this type of unethical and lowly words used by the administrative chief of the state. The Hindus are not accepting this type of autocratic statement by the chief minister.”
Meanwhile, the CM on Thursday said she respected all religions and cultures.
Addressing a programme after laying the foundation stone of Narayana Health City in Newtown, Mamata said: “Who said I do not respect my religion? Remember, religion belongs to an individual but festivals are for all. In our country, we have several states and each of them has different languages, education, cultures and beliefs. But we respect all cultures and that is why unity in diversity is our philosophy and ideology.”
“Sometimes people ask me whether you are a man or a woman and I reply that I consider myself as a human being and humanity is my subject,” she said.