‘Bhoomi pujan’: Mamata Banerjee appeals for unity

Kolkata: While refraining from directly criticising the “bhoomi pujan” event in Ayodhya, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday tweeted underscoring the spirit of “unity in diversity” found in the country traditionally.
“Hindu Muslim Sikh Isaai
Aapas mein hain Bhai Bhai!
Mera Bharat Mahaan,
Mahaan Hamara Hindustan”.
“Our country has always upheld the age-old legacy of unity in diversity, and we must preserve this to our last breath!” Banerjee tweeted.
While the Opposition had been initially critical of the BJP’s “Ram Mandir” project, most of the parties, including the Congress, toned down their objections with the nearing of the date of the “bhoomi pujan’ ceremony”.
Mamata Banerjee also turned down the BJP’s demand for taking note of the programme at Ayodhya today and effect a change in the state’s corona management plan and withdraw the order for observing “lockdown” on Wednesday.
While the dates of traditional Hindu festivals like “Rakshabandhan”, “Manasa Puja”, “Janmasthami” and “Ganesh Chaturthi” were excluded from the lockdown regime for August in deference to the religious sentiment of Hindus, Mamata refused to give any concession to the Ayodhya event representing political Hindutva.
The Raj Bhavan, however, presents a different picture. Ghee (clarified butter) lamps will be lighted in the Raj Bhavan in the evening. “Joy and ecstasy amongst millions all over globe- a dream come true. Will celebrate at Raj Bhawan with lighting of ‘diyas’. Historic Supreme Court judgment paved the way”, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, a former BJP minister, said in a tweet describe how he will celebrate the “bhoomi pujan” at Ayodhya.
In another tweet, Dhankhar said “Mamata’s silence” smacked of “appeasement” (meaning minority appeasement).