In Bengal BJP chief’s Durga remarks, Trinamool finds technique to push ‘outsider’ tag

WITH CAMPAIGNING for meeting elections in West Bengal more and more turning into polarised, the Trinamool Congress is hoping to reap the benefits of current feedback made by state BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Goddess Durga – to push ahead its argument that the BJP is a celebration of “outsiders” who don’t perceive Bengal’s tradition.
At a media occasion on February 12, Ghosh, whereas explaining the distinction between their ideas on Ram and Durga, stated that Ram was a “political icon” and an “ideal man”, and added at one level: “Durga kahan se aa gayi (where has Durga come from)”.
While the Trinamool alleged that the BJP has insulted Goddess Durga, the BJP has stated what Ghosh clarified, even on the occasion, that they noticed no comparability between the 2 deities.
Sources within the Trinamool stated the get together plans to take these feedback to the folks in Bengal, utilizing “technology, and through our workers on the ground”. Immediately after Ghosh’s feedback, senior get together leaders and ministers took to social media, utilizing the hashtag “BJPinsultsDurga”.
“This now has to be escalated. In several places, party workers are making sure people hear what Ghosh said. If you listen closely, twice he derides Durga. Once he says Ram’s ancestry can be recorded for 14 generations, while Durga’s can’t. At another he says where has Durga come in this conversation,” a senior chief stated, including that TMC has began campaigning aggressively over the problem.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Ghosh slammed the Trinamool for utilizing “Durga for political purposes”.
“Who is now using Durga for their political purpose? A party that put restrictions on Saraswati Puja. They are feeling insecure and having an issue of inferiority complex. They are trying to wash off their past sins with politically using Goddess Durga. Durga is a spiritual and religious icon for us. We do puja but Ram is a political icon for us. BJP talks about Ram Rajya and it’s our ultimate aim also. The TMC has no ideology nor icons. So they are trying to raise issues like this,” he stated.

At the India Today Conclave in Kolkata on February 12, Ghosh had stated, “Such parties (TMC) talk of religion instead of politics, and politics instead of religion. We do politics openly. Bhagwan Ram was a king. Some think he was an avatar. His ancestry of 14 generations can be traced. Can one find the ancestry of Durga? Ram is thought of as a king, an ideal man and administrator.”
“We have a Bangla Ramayana. Gandhiji had given us the imagination of Ram Rajya. I don’t know from where Durga has come. To destroy Ravan, he prayed to Durga. That is why that is another matter. I don’t understand how you can make Durga stand against Ram. These people have taught that Ram is not a deity in Bengal and I don’t know from where this conception has come,” he stated (translated from Hindi).
Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Chief Whip of the TMC within the Rajya Sabha, stated the BJP does “not understand the power of Durga across India”, not simply in Bengal. “In eastern India, Durga puja is a more popular festival than any other. This has been going on for centuries. Ram Navami or worship is a north Indian festival. So there cannot be a clash of both. People have faith and respect both for Ram and Maa Durga, and one should not distinguish between the two. One should not cast aspersions on either.”
TMC sources stated Ghosh’s Durga feedback could be a “politically crucial issue” going into the polls. They stated TMC would use the video to counter BJP’s narrative that CM Mamata Banerjee was in opposition to Jai Shri Ram slogans.