Bengal govt orders strict lockdown as BJP, allies plan Ram temple events

The Trinamool Congress government on July 28 announced a series of dates in this month when total lockdown would be imposed across West Bengal to contain the spread of Covid-19

Politically volatile West Bengal is likely to witness a showdown on Wednesday, when VHP and other saffron outfits will perform religious rituals in temples and elsewhere to mark the ‘bhoomi pujan’ ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya amid complete lockdown to be enforced by the state administration. The Trinamool Congress government on July 28 announced a series of dates in this month when total lockdown would be imposed across West Bengal to contain the spread of Covid-19. Some of the dates were changed later but August 5 and two others were not.

The state unit of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) said that as part of its countrywide programme, its members would offer puja, light diyas (earthen lamps) and take part in devotional songs at their homes, offices and temples on Wednesday on the occasion of the ground breaking ceremony of ‘Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir‘ at Ayodhya.

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, who demanded withdrawal of August 5 from the list of lockdown days, said that the party would not conduct any programme on the occasion but its workers would attend prayer meets organised by VHP and other organizations.

A senior police official said that the lockdown would be enforced tightly and any attempt to disrupt the law and situation would be thwarted. “We would celebrate the day by performing rituals and puja at our homes and offices. In temples, our members would gather by observing all lockdown norms to offer puja. It would have been better if the state government altered the lockdown date,” VHP All India Assistant Secretary Sachindra Nath Singha said…

Darjeeling unrest: Mob chases West Bengal BJP chief, beats up party workers

An angry Ghosh claimed that 'goons were deployed' to disturb the meeting

 

 

A day after the Jana Andolan Party activists protested against his visit in Kalimpong, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh was on Thursday heckled, his party workers were roughed up and his meeting had to be aborted midway in hill town Darjeeling.

An angry Ghosh claimed that "goons were deployed" to disturb the meeting, and blamed the Binoy Tamang faction of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for "roughing up" BJP activists. He also hinted that the instigation for the "attacks" could have come from "Kolkata" in an indication to the Mamata Banerjee government.(economy policy)

There were two incidents of protest against the BJP leader, who was first shown black flags and 'go back' posters by another hill-based outfit Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) on his way to Darjeeling.

Later, there were protests and demonstrations at the Bijoya Sammilani which he attanded in Darjeeling, forcing the organisers to cancel the function.

Television grab showed Ghosh being abused and heckled, BJP activists being beaten up amid shouts of "go back" on the road outside the function venue.

"Our meeting was attacked by goons who were drunk. Our people were beaten up. So we had to stop our meeting. On the road outside without any provocation, they chased our men and beat them up. Some of them (BJP activists) were bloodied. These are hired goons sent to create trouble. These are the same goons who have fomented unrest in the hills for three months," said Ghosh....Read more