'Nothing Less Than Talibani Regime': BJP Hits Out at Mamata After Attack on Ramakrishna Mission Monks in Jalpaiguri

The BJP on Monday hit out at West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, blaming her for the attack on Ramakrishna Mission monks in Jalpaiguri. Calling it the “worst thing” she could have done to the state, the party’s senior leader Amit Malviya alleged that this happened after her “threatening” comments against the Mission, Bharat Sevashram Sangha and ISKCON.

“This is the worst thing Mamata Banerjee could have done to West Bengal. After she threatened Ramakrishna Mission, Bharat Sevashram Sangh and ISKCON from an open stage, criminals, with firearms and daggers entered Ramakrishna Mission Ashram under Kotwali PS in Jalpaiguri, and attacked the monks, broke CCTV, brandish firearms, forcefully detained the Sadhus and threw them on streets. This is nothing less than a Talibani regime,” he said in a post on X.

According to the police, the Ramakrishna Mission building Jalpaiguri’s Sevoke Road was allegedly attacked by a group of miscreants carrying firearms, who entered the premises late on Saturday night. They thrashed the security guard and some workers at the ashram, and threatened to kill them. Before leaving, they vandalised the ashram property and damaged the CCTV cameras.

The ashram authorities have lodged a written complaint, while the police have started an investigation into the incident.

On May 18, Banerjee alleged that some monks of the Ramakrishna Mission or Bharat Sevashram Sangha were working “under instructions of the BJP”. “Some monks of the Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha are working under the influence of BJP leaders in Delhi. While those who manage temples are doing commendable spiritual work, not all are involved in such activities. This is unacceptable. We respect the monks,” she said at an election rally in Goghat under Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency.

The statement drew sharp criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who alleged that she was “under pressure from Muslim extremists” and was threatening these socio-religious organisations to “appease” the TMC’s vote bank. During a rally in Purulia on Sunday (May 19), he had criticised the TMC for crossing the limits of decency by “spreading falsehoods against ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission, and Bharat Sevashram Sangha”.

Earlier in the day, however, she attempted to soften out her stance by praising the two monastic orders for their philanthropic works and said she was not against any institution but criticised one or two persons for indulging in politics.

“I am not against Ramakrishna Mission, why should I be against an institution or insult it? I have spoken about one or two persons,” she said, while addressing an election rally in Bankura’s Onda.

The chief minister also praised Bharat Sevashram Sangha, saying it works for the people. “I had spoken about Kartik Maharaj, he did not allow Trinamool Congress agent to sit (at a polling booth) in Rejinagar,” she said.

Claiming that the Bharat Sevashram Sangha monk from Murshidabad district was working for the BJP, she accused him of instigating people when clashes between two groups happened at Rejinagar. “If he wants to do BJP, he can, but should do it wearing its badge,” she said.

Kartik Maharaj, or Swami Pradiptananda Maharaj, meanwhile has sent a legal notice to the CM demanding an apology for her allegedly defamatory remarks about the organisation. “If chief minister Mamata Banerjee had defamed me personally, I would not have been concerned. As a spiritual leader, we are not affected by personal criticism as we are here to serve the people. However, she defamed the organisation, which is unacceptable.”

Sangha national secretary Swami Biswatmananda Maharaj, however, said he is unaware of the issue.

(With PTI inputs)

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