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By Fighting Over Temple and Mosques BJP Cannot Provide Employment to India's Youth: Left Front in Bengal

Aritra Singha |
On the 27th anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition, Left Front organised a protest in Kolkata demanding immediate punishment for those accused in the three decade old case.
Left front in Kolkata demands immediate punishment for accused in Babri demolition.

Left front parties and their leaders during the protest on 27th anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition. Courtesy: Ashok Nath Dey

Kolkata: Shataf Balsar, a teenager, took part in the rally organised by the Left Front from Esplanade to Rajabazar in Kolkata, demanding immediate punishment for the culprits who demolished the Babri Masjid 27 years ago. He said that even though he does not know much about the Ayodhya land dispute, he participated in the rally as his ‘Abbu’ (father) had asked him to.

Devika Chakraborty, a homemaker from Beliaghata, who was also seen chanting slogans in favour of rebuilding the Babri Masjid, said, “Though I am from a Hindu Brahmin family but I still don’t support the vandalism of a mosque. What a temple is for the Hindus, mosques are for the Muslims. The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) doesn’t have any right to play with anyone’s sentiments.”

Chakraborty further claimed, “When Babri masjid was vandalised in 1992, I was a college student and have seen how my friends from the minority community had broken down. Instead of constructing temples, the BJP should follow the teachings of Swami Vivekananda and serve the mankind.”

The Left parties observed a Black Day, on the 27th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid, and demanded immediate punishment to those who brought down the historic mosque.

West Bengal Left Front secretary and polit bureau member of Communist Party of India (Marxist) Biman Bose, who was leading the rally, quoted former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu on the occasion and said, “Just to stay in power many political parties are trying to divide the country on religious lines. And destroying the heritage of India is a barbaric act. Those supported the move are also culprits.”

While senior leader and another polit bureau member, Suryakanta Mishra termed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government as one filled with thieves and said that due to the saffron camp’s divisive politics, the country is getting destroyed.

“BJP is not bothered about the growing prices of commodities or about unemployment. Is Pakistan responsible for the growing unemployment in India? By fighting over temple and mosques they (BJP) cannot provide employment to the growing unemployed youths in the country,” said Mishra.

Claiming that communalism and divisive politics won’t rule the country for long, West Bengal CPI leader Prabir Deb said that he believes only the communists can build a better nation.

Deb also said that from December 11, CPI (M) and all its allied parties will hit the streets across the state and will be spreading awareness among the people about the hazards of implementing the National Register of Citizenship in the state.

Taking a dig at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Forward Bloc leader Victor said that on one side, the TMC supremo is saying that she will not allow NRC implementation in Bengal, and on the other hand she is giving NPR (National Population Register) training to the state government officials.

“Only the Left Front believes in unity. The rest of the political parties play divisive politics. On August 4, 2005, Mamata Banerjee wanted to implement NRC and now, she is playing a dubious role. From April 1, if any official approaches people to see their identity cards, the people of Bengal should not cooperate with them. No one should cooperate with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and the BJP,” added Victor.

Interestingly, BJP leader Rahul Sinha refuted all the charges of playing divisive politics and said, “The CPI (M) cannot do anything alone. Their alliance with Congress also failed. Now they are acting as the mouthpiece of the TMC supremo. BJP believes in the safety of citizens of India for which implementation of NRC is required.”

On November 9, the Supreme Court had ordered the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya, and directed the central government to allot an alternative 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a new mosque within Ayodhya.

Courtesy: E News Room

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