Kumar Bahukhandi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses people after ‘namaz’ on the occasion of ‘Eid-ul-Fitr’ festival, at Red Road, in Kolkata, on March 31, 2025.- Photo Credit: PTI
The Chief Minister while participating in the annual Eid-ul- Fitr prayers at Kolkata’s Red Road urged Muslim not to fall in the trap of orchestrating riots. She said if there are no riots the Opposition parties will disappear
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday March 31, 2025 participated in the annual Eid-ul- Fitr prayers at Kolkata’s Red Road and claimed that the Opposition parties in West Bengal “Ram and Baam (BJP and Left)” are trying to incite riots.
“It is their plan to incite riots and my job is to stop riots. Stop riots, If you can stop riots they will disappear on their own. Do not fall into their trap,” Ms Banerjee said at the gathering seeking cooperation from members of the community.
“Ram and Baam (BJP and Left) got tickets from here, went there, and asked if I am Hindu. I said with pride, I am Hindu, I am Muslim, I am Sikh, and I am Christian, I am Indian, what can you do?,” she said. A group of supporters of the Students Federation of India (SFI) had tried to disrupt the speech of the Chief Minister at the U.K. college on March 27.
Emphasising that she respects every religion, the Trinamool Congress chairperson targeted the Left parties in the State, “It is a matter of shame that the Red party, which talked of secularism, has joined hands with the gerua (saffron). Let them be one. We will remain and will fight alone,” she said.
The Chief Minister said that by inciting riots the Opposition parties want President’s Rule imposed in the State. “They said there are riots so President’s Rule should be imposed. But I asked: what did you do in Manipur, U.P., Bihar, Rajasthan. On Eid, they are posing restrictions on what people eat, wear,” she said.
The Trinamool Congress chairperson told the gathering that all Hindus were not against Muslims but only some political leaders who indulge in “saudagiri” (business) in the name of religion”. “I will put an end to this if you and we are all together,” she said.
Mamta Banerjee has been participating in the annual Eid- ul-Fitr prayers at Kolkata Red Road for the past several years. On Monday was accompanied by Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee among other leaders of her party.
The Chief Minister’s remarks assume significance in the backdrop of comments made by BJP leaders in the State who have been exhorting the participate in Ram Navami processions this year in large numbers. While there has been no major incidents so far communal flare up and arson has been reported from Mothabari in Malda and Nowda in Murshidabad.
