Trinamool leaders and supporters took to Twitter to launch hashtag #BJPInsultsMaaDurga after the saffron party approached the Election Commission against the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
According to media reports, the BJP wrote to the Election Commission asking the poll body to restrain Mamata Banerjee from taking part in the upcoming assembly by-election. This was after the Trinamool government declared a grant of Rs. 50,000 each to all 36,000 Durga Puja committees in the state. Around 2,500 of them are based in Kolkata.
The Bengal unit of the BJP wrote in its complaint, “We draw your attention to the program organised by the West Bengal Government in the Netaji Endoor Stadium addressed by the unelected Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee and Chief Secretary. In this program the Durga Puja organising clubs were invited wherein cash donation and other the facilities by the State Government were announced for 36,000 clubs in the State including 2,500 clubs in the KMC area.”
Urging the Election Commission to take appropriate action, the BJP demanded ‘steps against the AITC candidate including restraining her from participating in the ensuing bye-election.’
The Trinamool fired back accusing the BJP of having insulted Durga. It said, “The self-proclaimed custodians of Hindu culture & values clearly DO NOT understand Hinduism, forget about respecting Hindu festivals! Now, their scant regard for Maa Durga and the traditions of Bengal stands exposed! This is an act of utter shame.”
Others reminded how the BJP’s Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh had mocked Durga just before the assembly elections.
From banning Durga Puja in UP last year to police atrocities on Durga Puja procession in Bihar or be it @DilipGhoshBJP questioning Maa Durga's lineage to issuing IT notices & now attempting to stop financial help for Puja committees – #BJPInsultsMaaDurga time & again! pic.twitter.com/DVVvCigHfA
— নক্ষত্র | Nakshatra ❁ (@nakspeaking) September 8, 2021
If @BJP4Bengal had the slightest respect for the sentiments of the people of #Bengal, they wouldn't have dared to commit such an act! This is outrageous and hurts the sentiments of Bengalis & Hindus across the state.
Shame on BJP! #BJPInsultsMaaDurga
— Prasun Banerjee (@MP_AITMC) September 8, 2021
The sole reason @BJP4Bengal did not win Bengal, is that they don’t understand Bengal nor Bengali Sentiments!
The meaning of the word ‘Maa’ & ‘Durga’ is beyond BJP’s comprehension! Thus again #BJPInsultsMaaDurga !
Bengal will never forgive BJP for this sacrilege !! ENOUGH !! pic.twitter.com/tvN7n9qhR9
— ???????????????? ???????????????????? (@DrRijuDutta_TMC) September 8, 2021
In Bengal, Maa Durga is an emotion for us, she is our daughter whose arrival is celebrated across all religions, faith and cultures.
From the so called upholders of Hinduism, it's shameful to see how @BJP4Bengal has such high disregard for Durga Puja.#BJPInsultsMaaDurga
— Aditi Gayen (@adi1191) September 8, 2021
Last year, the @BJP4UP ruled UP govt prohibited Bengalis from celebrating the festival that's closest to their hearts! And now, this year @BJP4Bengal is already walking on a similar path.
Should such oppression on Hindus be tolerated? Why is BJP so riled up?#BJPInsultsMaaDurga
— Mukul Roy (@MukulR_Official) September 8, 2021
The Election Commission had recently announced that the by-poll in Kolkata’s Bhowanipore would be held on 30 September. The seat was earlier held by Mamata Banerjee, but the Trinamool supremo had left this constituency to contest from Nandigram in the last assembly polls. Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, who resigned from this seat to allow Banerjee to contest from here, had won the seat by a huge margin in this year’s assembly polls.