Gita Chanting Event in Kolkata: BJP’s Political Showcase

Lakhs of devotees, including all senior leaders of the West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Sunday participated in a mega Bhagavad Gita recital at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground.

The event, which came a day after the foundation stone of a Babri Mosque was laid at Beldanga in Murshidabad by suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, became an occasion of political muscle flexing for the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies.

The event titled Panch Lakho Konthe Gita Path, Gita chanting by five lakh voices, was organised by the Sanatan Sanskriti Sansad, a collective of monks and spiritual leaders from various monasteries and religious institutions in the State.

West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar and former State BJP president Dilip Ghosh were among the leaders who participated in the religious programme.

Kartik Maharaj, a prominent monk of the Bharat Sevashram Sangh from Beldanga, tried to describe it as a religious event organised by sadhus and saints. “This event has no big money involved, no big muscle power involved. This is an endeavour by a few saints who have nothing at their disposal,” Kartik Maharaj said from the stage. The monk, considered close to the West Bengal BJP leadership, had in the past organised protests against the targeting of Hindus in Bangladesh.

State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said that “for organising an event of Gita recital if people have to face criticism, then it proves where are we heading to“.

Mr. Bhattacharya referred to the foundation stone laying of the mosque in Murshidabad and accused the Trinamool government of allowing it. “The current government in West Bengal is a pro Babar government. This is a government which is opposed to Hindus and even Muslims of the State,” the BJP leader said.

Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said that it “was a unique feeling to participate in the recitation of the Gita in 5 lakh voices in the presence of revered saints and saints”.

West Bengal BJP veteran Tathagata Roy said that he was overwhelmed by the event. Mr. Roy, also the former Governor of Tripura, said that after decades of influence of the Left and the Trinamool Congress he “heard the thunderous proclamation of religion”.

Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said that the event was a “misuse” of the Gita. Mr. Ghosh said the BJP was polarising Hindus on one hand and trying to confuse a section of Muslims on the other ahead of the Assembly polls in the State.

Suspended Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir said that he would organise an event in Murshidabad where one lakh people would recite verses of the Quran.