BJP Criticise Mamata for Wearing Slippers While Pulling Chariot at Rath Yatra
The Rath Yatra, a revered Hindu festival, has once again become a subject of controversy in West Bengal. This time, it’s not the festival itself, but the attire worn by the state’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, that has sparked a heated debate. BJP leader Amit Malviya took to social media to criticize Mamata for wearing slippers while pulling the chariot of Lord Jagannath at the Rath Yatra in Digha.
In a tweet, Malviya shared a picture of Mamata in slippers, while pulling the chariot, and wrote, “If she (CM Mamata) doesn’t believe in Hindu customs…that’s her personal choice…but she has no right to insult the sentiments of millions of Hindus.” The tweet quickly went viral, sparking a heated debate on social media.
The Rath Yatra, a centuries-old festival, is a significant event for devotees of Lord Jagannath, who believe that the chariot procession is a way to appease the Lord and ensure His blessings. The festival is celebrated with great fervor and enthusiasm, with lakhs of devotees participating in the chariot procession.
However, Mamata’s decision to wear slippers while pulling the chariot has been met with widespread criticism from the BJP and several other Hindu organizations. According to them, wearing slippers is a sign of disrespect to the Lord and the festival.
“This is not just about Mamata wearing slippers, it’s about her lack of respect for Hindu customs and traditions,” said Malviya. “As the Chief Minister of West Bengal, she has a responsibility to uphold the sentiments of the people, especially when it comes to sacred festivals like Rath Yatra. By wearing slippers, she has shown that she has no regard for the sentiments of millions of Hindus.”
However, Mamata’s supporters have come out in defense of her, saying that she has every right to wear whatever she wants while participating in the festival. “It’s her personal choice, and she has every right to wear slippers or anything else she wants,” said a senior Trinamool Congress leader. “The BJP is trying to create controversy out of nothing, and it’s not going to work.”
The controversy has also led to a spat between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP, with both parties trading barbs on social media. The Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of trying to create a controversy out of nothing, while the BJP has said that Mamata’s action is a clear sign of her lack of respect for Hindu customs and traditions.
The Rath Yatra festival is a significant event in West Bengal, and it attracts lakhs of devotees from across the state and the country. In recent years, the festival has become a symbol of Hindu unity and solidarity, with devotees from all over the country coming together to participate in the chariot procession.
However, the controversy surrounding Mamata’s slippers has once again brought attention to the deep-seated divide between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP in West Bengal. The two parties have been locked in a bitter fight for years, with the BJP accusing the Trinamool Congress of being anti-Hindu and the Trinamool Congress accusing the BJP of trying to create communal tensions.
As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen how the people of West Bengal will react to the controversy. Will they see Mamata’s slippers as a non-issue, or will they join the BJP in criticizing her for her lack of respect for Hindu customs and traditions? Only time will tell.
Source: https://x.com/amitmalviya/status/1938602160888934613
