CM orders action on armed marches

Mamata at the meeting in Pailan on Monday

TT, Calcutta: Mamata Banerjee on Monday asked senior police officers to crack down on armed processions and warned that law enforcers who overlooked such marches would face stern action.

At an administrative review meeting of South 24-Parganas district in Pailan on Monday, the Bengal chief minister came down heavily on armed Ram Navami marches held across the state on Sunday.

"Did Lord Ram ever say that rallies with pistols and swords should be organised, thereby maligning his name? We have read scriptures. Ram fought Ravan with a bow and arrows.... Ramakrishna Mission, Bharat Sevasram Sangha, Gangasagar, they stand for the religion, not this hooliganism," said Mamata.

"For centuries, Hinduism has preached love, brotherhood and tolerance.... What they practise is whimsical hooliganism. This is neither true religion, nor true politics," she added.

The chief minister ordered director-general of police Surajit Kar Purkayastha and all district police chiefs to spare none while initiating stern action against those who defied the government's ban on armed processions.

Ahead of Ram Navami, Mamata had said permission would be given to only those who had been organising marches with arms for at least a decade.

Defying the ban, numerous armed rallies have been taken out since Saturday by affiliates of the BJP-RSS parivar across the state.

The chief minister said permission had been specifically given for holding peaceful rallies. 

"The administration has a responsibility. The death of a person in Purulia is akin to the death of my own family member. What his religion was is immaterial," she said.

Mamata then issued a warning for the force.