In West Bengal, “Jai Shri Ram” has become a focal point of the Lok Sabha Elections in the state. While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken to confronting people on the streets for chanting the slogan terming it an abuse, the Bharatiya Janata Party has turned into a cry of protest against the tyrannical conduct of the Trinamool government.
At a rally in Jaynagar, BJP President Amit Shah dared Mamata Banerjee to arrest him for chanting “Jai Shri Ram”.
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He said, “Mamata di gets angry if someone chants Jai Shri Ram. I am chanting Jai Shri Ram here today. If you (Mamata) have the guts, arrest me. I will be in Kolkata tomorrow.”
Shah’s scheduled roadshow at Jadavpur was called off after permission was denied for his chopper to land at Baruipur. He stated, “The Mamata Banerjee government is visibly perplexed. She wants to stop me from attending rallies. The TMC can stop me from addressing rallies, but can’t stop the victory march of BJP in Bengal.”
The 7 seats in Kolkata will go to polls on the 19th of May in the last phase of the elections. Throughout the duration of the campaign and polling, BJP leaders have been denied permission for rallies and violence has been rampant.