Bengal BJP accuses Mamata of insulting Hindu religion during Id celebrations

BJP leaders accuse Mamata Banerjee of insulting Hindu religion, sparking communal tensions in West Bengal.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from West Bengal on Monday (March 31, 2025) accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of insulting the Hindu religion by referring to a phrase made during her speech at the annual Id-ul-Fitr prayers at Kolkata.

Addressing a gathering at Red Road, the Chief Minister said, “I don’t support the (Ganda Dharm - dirty religion) which this jumla party had created”. Ms. Banerjee has often referred to the BJP as the Jumla party. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari asked which religion the Chief Minister was referring to when she said ‘dirty religion”.

“Which religion were you specifically referring to? Sanatan Hindu Dharma? What kind of provocative speech did you deliver at the Red Road on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr?” the BJP leader asked.

Accusing the Chief Minister of weaponising religion, the BJP leader asked was it a religious event or a political programme. “Why were you deliberately mongering hate with the deliberate intention of creating animosity between communities?,” Mr. Adhikari said.

During her speech at the Id gathering, the Chief Minister emphasised on unity and claimed that “Ram and Baam (BJP and Left)” were trying to incite the riots. She cautioned Muslims not to fall into the trap laid by the Opposition.

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar also raised questions on the usage of “dirty religion” phrase by the Chief Minister. “Is Sanatan Dharma a “Ganda Dharm” for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee? Despite numerous anti-Hindu riots under her watch, she has the audacity to mock Hindus and deride their faith,” Mr. Majumdar said. The BJP leadership had made similar allegation of insulting Hindu religion when the Chief Minister had dubbed Maha Kumbh as a “Mrityur Kumbh (Kumbh of death)“.

The war of words has erupted at a time when the BJP leadership is exhorting Hindus to participate in the large numbers in Ram Navami processions scheduled for April 6. The remarks have heightened communal divide in the State when reports of arson have already been reported from some areas of Malda and Murshidabad.