Senior BJP chief Dilip Ghosh on Saturday stirred controversy throughout Ram Navami celebrations by defending the presence of weapons at spiritual processions, saying, “What’s unsuitable if somebody carries a weapon?”

Talking at an occasion in Kharagpur, Ghosh asserted that Ram Navami can be celebrated with nice fervour throughout West Bengal, and that the Hindu group has each proper to look at its festivals in its personal manner.

“Ram Navami can be celebrated in a grand manner throughout West Bengal. It’s the obligation of the police to make sure the peaceable conduct of celebrations. The Hindu group celebrates the competition as per their traditions, there shouldn’t be any downside with this,” he stated.

“Crores of individuals will take to the streets. If anybody tries to create bother, it’s the duty of the police and administration to cease them,” he added.

Ghosh additional claimed that, in current occasions, temples have been vandalised, idols stolen, and pandals set on hearth. “In such a scenario, if Hindus step out to guard themselves, how is it a criminal offense?” he requested, referring to members in Ram Navami rallies carrying weapons like swords and sticks.

“Nobody ought to object to how Hindus have a good time their festivals,” he stated.

Commenting on campus politics, Ghosh additionally focused Jadavpur College. “If slogans like ‘Bharat tere tukde honge’ will be tolerated, what’s the issue with chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in Jadavpur?” he requested.

His remarks got here amid experiences from a number of districts the place Ram Navami rallies witnessed open show of arms. In Malda, a big procession started from Ramakrishna Palli Maidan, with members overtly brandishing swords and different weapons.

In Howrah’s Sankrail, related scenes had been reported. In response to police sources, the organisers didn’t have official permission to hold arms through the rally. Authorities are actually anticipated to take authorized motion towards the organisers for violating the phrases of the occasion.

Amid rising issues, Trinamool Congress MP Dola Sen reacted sharply to the developments. “I’ve by no means seen such heavy police presence for Ram Navami earlier than, however now the police are required to be vigilant. Dilip Ghosh appeared with weapons through the Ram Navami celebration…” she stated, questioning the normalisation of armed spiritual processions below BJP’s management.

Regardless of the tensions, Ghosh maintained that the show of arms is a symbolic gesture and shouldn’t be criminalised. “What crime is it if somebody carries a weapon?” he reiterated.