TMC leader accuses BJP of desecrating holy Matua land
The Hindu
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee accused the BJP of desecrating the holy place of the Matuas by harassing women devotees hours before his visit to Thakurbari in West Bengal’s North 24-Parganas on Sunday.
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee accused the BJP of desecrating the holy place of the Matuas by harassing women devotees hours before his visit to Thakurbari in West Bengal’s North 24-Parganas on Sunday.
He accused Bongaon BJP MP and Union Minister Santanu Thakur of appeasing his party bosses in Delhi forgetting the work done by West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee for the welfare of the Matuas.
The senior Trinamool leader, who offered prayers to Matua sect founder Harichand Thakur at a nearby shrine since the main temple at Thakurbari was locked, said he could have forced his entry with his supporters but wanted to avoid any clash.
“The Harichand Thakur temple has been desecrated by Santanu Thakur and his cronies. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawans assaulted women devotees who had come to visit the shrine while throwing out the common people out of the compound,” he said.
Mr. Banerjee said he did not come to Thakurbari for politics. “My political campaign was in Habra, around 20 km away from Thakurnagar. Today will be remembered as a black day in the history of Bongaon,” he said.
The Trinamool general secretary appealed to the people to “throw away BJP MP Thakur and his minions" out of Bongaon Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 general elections.
Asserting he would visit the place every three months, Banerjee said, “Contrary to allegations by the BJP MP about disparaging comments made by TMC supremo against Harichand Thakur earlier this year, she had regretted the faux pas (Mamata had allegedly mispronounced the names of two Matua spiritual leaders, Harichanda Thakur and Guruchand Thakur, during a function in February). She has high regard for the sect and has been instrumental in the area’s development.”