'We should be proud to say that we are Sanatanis': BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty on Ram Navami Shobha Yatra
Times of India | 7 April 2025
KOLKATA: After the Ram Navami Shobha Yatra in Barasat, BJP leader and distinguished actor Mithun Chakraborty proclaimed on Monday that people ought to be proud to acknowledge their Sanatani identity.
"This is the day of Ram Navami, the day of God, all Sanatanis have come under one roof, this is the happiest thing. We have been saying this repeatedly that we should be proud to say that we are Sanatanis," Chakraborty said.
Responding to TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh's assertion that Hindu-Muslims participating together exemplifies Mamata Banerjee's model, he said that they must be "joking."
"Again and again, these people (TMC leaders) say that BJP spreads violence. There were more than 1 lakh people on the streets today, did you see violence anywhere? So tell me where does the BJP spread violence? Hindu-Muslims are walking together, this is the model of Mamata Banerjee. You are really joking," he added.
Kunal Ghosh emphasised that Ram Navami epitomises interfaith harmony, while maintaining this represents Mamata Banerjee's Bengal Model.
"This is a festival of communal harmony. During Eid, Muslim bothers invite us and we participated in the Eid Milan. In today's Shobha Yatra, Muslims have also participated. People's beliefs can be different, but when we are coming on the streets to celebrate a festival, we have to be united. This is Mamata Banerjee's Bengal Model. The entire country should see this," Ghosh said.
On Sunday, BJP leaders including Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar and actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty took part in a "Ram Navami Shobha Yatra" in Barasat.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari joined a "Ram Navami Shobha Yatra" celebration in Purba Medinipur.
Adhikari said, "Hindus are out in large numbers today. The TMC has a habit of insulting Hindus."
During the festival celebrations, numerous Muslim youngsters actively participated by offering water bottles and sprinkling flowers on those who joined the Ram Navami procession.
Rustam Alam, one of the Muslim youths involved in the celebrations, said, "We are welcoming the rally coming on the occasion of Ram Navami. We are showering flowers on them. We want both communities to live peacefully."