With over 2,000 Ram Navami rallies planned across West Bengal on April 6, authorities are taking extensive precautions to prevent communal violence, given past disturbances during the festival. The large-scale mobilization, led by an umbrella organization of around 20 Hindu groups, has raised concerns among law enforcement agencies.
Police Urges Vigilance
“The next 10 days are crucial. We urge citizens to remain vigilant and not fall prey to any provocation or rumors,” said additional director general of police (law and order) Jawed Shamim, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
On Saturday, two individuals were arrested in Howrah for allegedly plotting communal violence, according to police sources cited by The Indian Express.
Organizers Warn of Resistance
Bikarna Naskar, a member of Sri Ram Navami Ujjapan Samity, told The Times of India that organizers had received intelligence about planned attacks on their rallies at 43 locations. “If anyone attacks our rallies, we will not sit and watch,” he warned.
However, when asked by NDTV whether weapons such as tridents and swords would be carried—despite prohibitory orders—Naskar avoided a direct answer.
RSS Calls for Equal Treatment
Speaking to The Hindu, RSS South Bengal general secretary Jishnu Basu insisted that if weapons were banned in Ram Navami rallies, the same rule should apply to Muharram processions. He clarified that while the RSS does not officially organize Ram Navami rallies, it views large Hindu gatherings as significant. “We consider people from all faiths as Indians. People from all faiths will live in peace in India as long as Hindus are in the majority,” Basu told Hindustan Times.
BJP Targets Mamata Banerjee
Ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, the BJP has accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government of being biased against Hindus. Addressing a rally in Malda, BJP state chief and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar alleged that previous Ram Navami processions were attacked near mosques. “Hindus must hold rallies this year. We know how to counter such attacks,” he said, as quoted by ANI.
Majumdar further accused the police of harassing Hindus instead of arresting those responsible for communal violence in Malda’s Mothabari. “I am not saying all Muslims are involved, but some have turned Jihadi. Hindus must unite to overthrow Mamata Banerjee’s government in 2026,” he told India Today.
TMC Hits Back
TMC MLA Shabina Yasmin dismissed Majumdar’s allegations, accusing him of attempting to provoke unrest. “He is not an MP from Malda. He came here only to incite trouble,” she told The Telegraph.
Meanwhile, the Paschim Banga Rajya Sanatan Brahman Trust, linked to the TMC, has countered the BJP’s Hindutva push with hoardings emphasizing religious harmony among Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. Former minister Rajib Banerjee, the Trust’s chief adviser, accused the BJP of exploiting religion for electoral gains. “I was in the BJP for a short while. I told them the Jai Sri Ram slogan would not work in Bengal,” he told News18.
Election Politics and Communal Rhetoric
The debate over Ram Navami rallies is intensifying as BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has urged the party to focus solely on Hindu voters for the 2026 polls. According to The Quint, he has stated that if just 10% more Hindus support the BJP, it can defeat the TMC.
With security forces on high alert, West Bengal is gearing up for a politically charged and sensitive Ram Navami on April 6. As authorities prepare for the massive processions, all eyes will be on how the situation unfolds.
