Kolkata:
The recitation of the Bhagavad Gita on the Brigade Parade Grounds right here on Sunday aggravated the political discord between the BJP and the ruling TMC, with the saffron celebration urging Hindu unity and the TMC criticising the alleged political exploitation of the mega occasion.
In a one-of-its-kind gathering on the iconic floor, practically one lakh individuals from various backgrounds, adorned in conventional apparel, collectively chanted sacred verses from the Bhagavad Gita. Individuals of varied ages and societal standing recited the verses alongside revered sages.
Distinguished figures from the Bengal BJP unit and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) participated within the occasion. Organisers claimed that round 120,000 individuals had registered for the programme.
Regardless of claims of being apolitical, the occasion triggered a confrontation between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP within the state.
Reflecting on the occasion, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar stated, “Bhagavad Gita is the biggest gift of India to the world. Those who are mocking the event don’t have any respect towards the Hindu religion and its traditions. Those who are trying to divide the Hindus will fail in their endeavours.”
Chief of the Opposition within the West Bengal meeting, Suvendu Adhikari, stated, “After this event, the Hindus of the state will rise and unite against the divisive forces.” He stated the gathering was aimed not solely to recite the Bhagavad Gita but additionally to unite Hindus.
“This was not just a mega recitation programme of Bhagavad Gita, but also an effort to unite the Hindus. There are attempts to create divisions amongst us, the Hindus have to unite,” he stated.
In response, TMC management accused BJP leaders of making an attempt to politicise the occasion.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated, “We have nothing against the Gita recitation event. But the BJP leaders should not try to use it to serve its political purposes. The BJP has a habit of mixing religion with politics.”
Udayan Guha, North Bengal Improvement minister and TMC chief, criticised the BJP, suggesting they might have “organised a football match instead of a Gita recitation event.”
In the meantime, the state Congress management organised a ‘Learn Structure’ close to Birla Planetarium, near the Brigade Parade Grounds.
A Congress chief urged, “Instead of working towards creating a divisive society, all of us should work towards a secular society as inscribed in our Constitution.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi prolonged his greatest needs to the ‘Lokkhe Konthe Gita Path’ occasion in Kolkata, expressing his perception that the recitation of the Bhagavad Gita by an enormous gathering from various backgrounds would improve social concord and infuse power into the nation’s improvement journey.
In his message, PM Modi described the Srimad Bhagavad Gita as a sensible information imparting immense knowledge and offering a path to guide a significant life.
Expressing confidence within the optimistic influence of the recitation, PM Modi remarked, “I am positive that the recitation of Srimad Bhagavad Gita by such a huge gathering of people who have come together from different walks of life will not only boost social harmony but will also infuse energy into our nation’s development journey.”
Majumdar had stated on Wednesday that PM Modi wouldn’t be attending the programme.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)