The UP CM was referring to the West Bengal government’s decision to change the timing of Durga Puja idol immersion to avoid a clash with Muharram processions on the streets.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath at rally. (Photo: IANS)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of playing the minority card.
Addressing an election rally in Barasat, Adityanath said, “In whole country, Durga Puja and Muharram fell on same day. In UP, officers asked me, ‘should we change timing of puja?’ I said, ‘timing of the puja won’t be changed. If you want to change timing, change the timing of Muharram procession’.”
The UP CM was referring to the West Bengal government’s decision to change the timing of Durga Puja idol immersion to avoid a clash with Muharram processions on the streets.
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According to reports, the West Bengal Police had not given permission for Yogi Adityanath’s rallies in the state.
BJP said that a scheduled rally by Adityanath in Kolkata’s Phool Bagan was cancelled after the stage was vandalised and the stage organiser was beaten up.
The BJP and the ruling TMC are at loggerheads in the state, where violence has been reported in every phase of Lok Sabha elections held so far.
On Tuesday, stones were pelted at BJP chief Amit Shah’s roadshow when it reached College Street in Kolkata. The incident led to clashes between BJP supporters and TMC supporters near Calcutta University.
Shah claimed he would not have escaped the violence had it not been for the CRPF personnel present there.
The TMC, on the other hand, accused the BJP of creating the violence by bringing in outsiders. They also alleged that the BJP supporters had a hand in the vandalism of a bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar inside a college during the violence.
At a press conference, Adityanath accused the TMC of breaking the bust and trying to divert attention.
“We condemn the incident that happened yesterday. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was one of greatest sons of India and a social reformer. It was the TMC which broke his bust and it now blaming BJP to divert the attention,” Adityanath said in Kolkata.
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