A Ram Navami stage set up by the BJP was attacked and set on fire in Burdwan on Saturday. VHP and the BJP have blamed the ruling TMC for the incident. VHP leader Surendra Jain has accused Mamata Banerjee of turning ‘Shonar Bangla’ into ‘Barbaad Bangla’.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehV_U1-BXHw]

According to Zee 24 Ghanta, disturbances have been reported from Birbhum district as well after the Police imposed a ban on the armed procession. The TMC had earlier decided to participate in this year’s Ram Navami celebration as well as an attempt to curb BJP’s claim over the festival. She had recently done a U-turn on the Ram Navmi issue.

She had retracted her earlier statement and said ‘only organisations that carry out traditional processions with arms for the last 10-12 years will be allowed.’ She clarified, ‘I know that there are only a couple of organisations in Howrah and Asansol which traditionally hold Ram Navami processions with arms. Those who have been celebrating Ram Navami for more than a decade will be given special permission to hold processions with arms.’

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As expected, tensions are running high in the state on the occasion of Ram Navami. Some organizations appear to have flouted the state government’s orders banning the display of arms and weapons.

Bajrang Dal takes out illegal rally in Purulia as they brandish arms in clear violation of state government orders #RamNavamiPolitics pic.twitter.com/CGuXkrbkiw — TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) March 25, 2018

The BJP is also piling pressure on the West Bengal government on social media. Singer BJP leader from West Bengal, Babul Supriyo, pinned the entire blame for the incident in Burdwan on Trinamool Congress and alleged that Mamata Banerjee was deliberately “antagonizing” Hindu sentiments for votes.

TMC goons attacked VHP workers and set Ramnawami stage on fire at Burdwan. Please tweet with a hashtag #MamataAgainstRamnavamipic.twitter.com/NaAJ9utg22 — Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) March 24, 2018

BJP’s IT-cell in-charge, Amit Malviya also tweeted against the TMC over the incident.

With BJP President Amit Shah declaring that the saffron party will win 22 seats from West Bengal in 2019, politics in the state is expected to take an even uglier turn in the run-up to the General Elections. Mamata Banerjee will have to be extremely careful with her strategy with the saffron surge in full swing in the state.