Police said Ram Navami rallies can’t pass near mosques or Muslim-majority areas.
KOLKATA: A tussle has broken out between the Mamata Banerjee government and the Sangh Parivar, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), over this year’s Ram Navami celebrations. A host of stringent restrictions have been imposed by the state government on Hindu organisations and the BJP, who plan to organise processions for the occasion. In response, the BJP has urged Hindus to step out of their homes and join the rallies, chanting “Jai Shri Ram” to assert their identity.
“Not less than 1.5 crore Hindus will take to the streets on the holy day of Ram Navami. Please don’t sit idle at home. Show your strength. Show that Hindus are united. This is the soil of Swami Vivekananda, Swami Ramakrishna, and Maa Sarada. We will celebrate Ram Navami peacefully,” asserted Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal.
Authorities have mandated that organisers limit participation in each procession to no more than 200 people, and banned weapons—including long lathis traditionally used to hoist flags bearing the image of Lord Ram. Additionally, police have imposed route restrictions.
Police officials stated that Ram Navami rallies will not be allowed to pass roads with mosques or areas predominantly inhabited by Muslims. Rallies are also prohibited from merging and must strictly adhere to pre-approved routes.
The administration has further prohibited loud music and devotional songs during processions. Organisers have been instructed to ensure that participants refrain from shouting religious slogans loudly.
In cities such as Kolkata, Howrah, Burdwan, Asansol, and Siliguri, police have summoned rally organisers and pressured them to restrict the size and duration of the events. Organisers have also been warned that they will be held fully responsible for any untoward incident.
Frustrated by these restrictions, several organisers have approached the Calcutta High Court.
On Friday, the court granted permission for two Ram Navami rallies in Howrah—one by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and another by Anjani Putra Sena. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh directed that the rallies must remain peaceful and prohibited participants from carrying weapons, including flag-bearing lathis. However, the use of plastic ‘gadas’ (maces) was permitted. The court also directed participants to submit copies of their Aadhaar and PAN cards to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Howrah Commissionerate.
“It seems as if the Mamata Banerjee government does not want us to hold Ram Navami celebrations,” said a VHP functionary who is organising a major rally in North Kolkata. “We shall wait and see if the High Court or the state government also prevents the display of weapons during Muharram,” he added.
The restrictions come in the wake of recent communal violence in Malda’s Mothabari. On March 27, Muslim mobs reportedly attacked Hindu homes and businesses in retaliation to a religious procession held the previous evening that passed near a mosque. The singing of bhajans during the procession allegedly angered some Muslims, who demanded that the group disperse. A heated exchange escalated into physical altercations. The next day, attacks were carried out on Hindu properties.
“The attacks on March 27 were deliberate. They aimed to instill fear in Hindus and send the message that in Muslim-majority areas, Muslims will dictate the terms of conduct for Hindus,” said BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar.
Mothabari, just ten kilometres from the Bangladesh border, has undergone significant demographic shifts over the past six decades. As in much of Malda, Murshidabad, and Uttar Dinajpur, the Hindu population has declined while the Muslim population has surged.
“Large-scale illegal immigration of Bangladeshi Muslims into these and other border districts has led to a significant demographic imbalance,” claimed Suvendu Adhikari. “Both the Mamata Banerjee government and the earlier Left Front regime encouraged this influx to secure vote banks and remain in power. This has emboldened radical elements.”
“Muslims have objected to Hindu religious practices like blowing conch shells, beating drums, ringing bells, and singing bhajans and kirtans,” said former BJP state president Dilip Ghosh. “Even the passing of a Hindu procession near a mosque is now seen as provocative.”
BJP leaders allege that the Mamata Banerjee government, in its bid to appease Muslims, has been excessively accommodative, often yielding to their demands. This, they say, has encouraged radical elements to enforce their own restrictions on Hindu festivals.
The failure of the state to prosecute those responsible for attacks on Hindus has, according
“This counter-mobilisation is inevitable. Hindus, with their backs against the wall, are beginning to fight back. Desperate Hindus will no longer be silenced by threats or punitive actions from Mamata Banerjee’s biased and spineless police force,” said Adhikari.
Despite the tension following the Mothabari incident, and fears that similar flare-ups may occur, Hindu groups say they will use Ram Navami celebrations to assert their presence and unity.
Organisers of several Ram Navami events have said that despite police restrictions, attendance this year is expected to surpass previous years.