BJP-backed Geeta Recitation Event in Kolkata Sparks Political Controversy

Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kolkata to attend a Hindu religious congregation on the eve of Christmas. He will recite Bhagvad Geeta along with one lakh devotees at a first of its event in Brigade Parade Ground in the heart of the city on December 24.

The event, Lokkho Konthe Geeta Paath, (Recitation of Geeta in One Lakh Voices), is being organized by Akhil Bharatiya Sanskrit Parishad, Sanatan Sanskrit Parishad and Motilal Bharat Tirtha Seba Mission Ashram. State BJP is backing the celebration.

It's president Sukanta Majumdar, accompanied by the organizers, met Mr Modi in New Delhi on Friday and invited him to grace the event. The Balurghat BJP MP later said, “The PM instantly promised to attend the event.”

He also added that around 1.20 lakh people already registered for the event. The ruling Trinamul Congress however sees the religious event as a warm-up by the BJP amid the festive mood for the next year's Lok Sabha Election with Hindutva agenda.

TMC leader Joyprakash Majumdar wondered, “Will it remain merely a religious event or will it become a political rally? December 24 is Christmas Eve. This is a special day for the Christians. Doesn't the PM have any other issue for the 2024 polls?”

Echoing him party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed, “The more the PM, union home minister and other national BJP leaders will come here before the LS polls like they did in 2021, the more the people will become united against them with the aim of ‘No Vote to BJP’ and will ensure TMC’s electoral victory in a bigger margin over issues like Centre’s apathy, injustice and vendetta towards our state.”