Sadhus hit Kolkata streets in protest against Mamata Banerjee's attack on Kartik Maharaj
Kolkata/IBNS: In protest against Mamata Banerjee's remarks slamming Kartik Maharaj, a monk in the charitable organisation Bharat Sevashram Sangha, whom she accused of acting on the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, several sadhus hit the streets of Kolkata on Friday.
The monks were seen chanting slogans to remove Mamata as the chief minister of the state. Kartik Maharaj also walked in the protest rally.
"All monks are not the same... I have always respected Bharat Sevashram Sangha. But I came to know there is a monk in Baharampur, named Kartik Maharaj, who said he won't allow TMC agents to perform his work. I don't respect such a monk. I don't consider him as a monk," said Mamata.
Following massive outrage against her remarks, she repeated her comment and clarified that she only spoke about a particular monk.
"I have only spoken against an individual. I have no problem if someone supporting the BJP but I urge him to do it publicly... I don't speak without evidence," Mamata had said.
Sadhus hit streets of Kolkata against Mamata remark on Kartik Maharaja/ Courtesy: Avishek Mitra/ IBNS
On Friday, the monks started their protest rally from Bagbazar in North Kolkata and concluded the same near Swami Vivekananda's birthplace on Shimla Street. Monks from across the state joined the protest rally which they named 'Santh Swabhiman Yatra'.
Speaking to reporters during their rally, "It is unacceptable the way Mamata Banerjee attacked Kartik Maharaj from the election campaign stage. It is highly condemnable the way she is attacking monks to appease the people of a particular religious group (minorities) for electoral gains."
In reply, Kartik Maharaj had said, "I haven't said this. I challenge the allegation. Our organisation will protest and a case will be filed in the court.
Sadhus hit streets of Kolkata against Mamata remark on Kartik Maharaja/ Courtesy: Avishek Mitra/ IBNS"
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday brought up the issue during his campaign for the BJP and accused the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of minority appeasement politics.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Locket Chatterjee supoorted the monk's rally and said Mamata'a comment "deeply wounded sentiments of many".
Mamata Banerjee's derogatory remarks against monks have deeply wounded the sentiments of many.
— Locket Chatterjee (Modi Ka Parivar) (@me_locket) May 21, 2024
On May 24, 2024, various Hindu groups, including ISKCON and Ramkrishna Mission, will lead a Mega Protest Rally in Kolkata demanding her immediate apology.
Stand united for respect… pic.twitter.com/czHdyjzlyy
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