West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee: BJP Leaders Using Rath Yatra to Divide Society

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday mocked BJP leaders for traveling on raths "as if they are gods", and alleged that their political agenda is to create division in society on the basis of religion. She also accused the saffron party of resorting to lies about Hinduism.

"Rath Yatra is a religious festival. All of us have participated in this festival. We know Lord Jagannath, Balaram, and Goddess Subhadra travel in those chariots. "But, the BJP leaders are using this Rath Yatra for their own political purposes to divide the society and pit one against the other. BJP leaders are traveling on raths



as if they are gods," she said while addressing a rally in Raiganj.

Repeating her charge that BJP is carrying pariahs to the state for the assembly elections due in April-May, the TMC manager asserted that everything they do is eat at places of local people for a photograph opportunity. "A few pariahs are coming in extravagance vehicles and enjoying photograph meetings to show they are having food at places of residents," she said, claiming that the food is brought from five-star lodgings.

"Bengal will be ruled by those from the state and not by people coming from Gujarat," Banerjee asserted.