A bust of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, country’s first Union education minister, was allegedly pulled down in Kakinara in North 24-Parganas as several places in West Bengal witnessed violence following the Ram Navami processions. A video of the purported incident is making rounds on the social media.
As per media reports, the violence, stirred by clashes between two communities, has left at least three people dead and more than 50 injured.
Statue of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad demolished in Kankinara.
Do remember this just before pressing the EVM button (If it’s non tampered) in 2019.#maulanaabdulkalamazad #hinduextrimists #ramarajya #rssterror pic.twitter.com/TTxaSgXRHk— I Am A Communist (@iama_communist) March 27, 2018
On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a stern warning to the organisers of armed rallies.
“Did Lord Ram ever say that armed rallies with pistols and swords should be organised in his name? Did Lord Ram ever carry a sword?” asked a livid supremo of the Trinamool Congress, which too organised a few rallies in Kolkata, though unarmed.
“We have read in our scriptures that Ram fought against Ravan with a bow and arrow. Some hooligans are trying to give Lord Ram a bad name. Should we leave law and order in their hands? Will they run the administration now?” she thundered while addressing an administrative review meeting in the South 24 Parganas.
Though her government had imposed a ban on carrying weapons in public, several armed rallies were taken out by right-wing groups in various parts of the state.
An FIR has been lodged against BJP state president Dilip Ghosh under non-bailable sections for participating in a Ram Naami rally with a sword and a mace at Kharagpur in West Midnapore district.