Didi plans 'Harmony Rally' during Ram Mandir inauguration

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Tuesday that she would lead a harmony rally with representatives of all communities across Kolkata on January 22, the day of the Pran Pratishtha at the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Trinamul Congress supremo, who has decided to stay away from the Ayodhya inauguration, directed her party workers to hold similar rallies with the message of communal harmony in the districts.

Taking a swipe at the PM in a veiled manner, she observed during a press meet at the state secretariat, Nabanna, that the Pran Pratishtha was the job of priests and not politicians.

Ms Banerjee said, “You keep asking me about various temples. I have nothing to say about it. I always hold that religion is personal while festivals belong to all. We celebrate January 23, January 26. On January 22 I will visit Kali Temple and offer puja there.”

She added, “Later I will hold a harmony rally on behalf of TMC with the representatives of all religions and faiths from Hazra to Park Circus Maidan. The rally will pass by temples, gurudwara, mosques, and churches. This is not related to any other programme.”

The CM is expected to address the gathering at the end of her rally. On the 'Pran Pratistha' event, she pointed out, “It is not our job to perform 'Pran Pratistha'. Priests are there to do that. Our job is to create infrastructure."