Kolkata, Apr 6 (UNI) Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday greeted the people to mark Ram Navami, as the people of West Bengal are celebrating the birth of Lord Ram amid tight security across the state with special vigilance in all the determined sensitive areas, official sources said.
"Greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami." I appeal to all to maintain and uphold the values of peace, prosperity and development for all. I wish the celebration of Ram Navami all success, in a peaceful manner," Banerjee said on her social media.
There were no untoward incidents reported from any part of the state, sources added.
A rally was already held in the central part of the city, led by BJP Councillor Sajal Ghosh at Ram Raja Tala, where his followers carried saffron festoons and shouted slogans of Jay Shree Ram and offered prayers.
The Calcutta High Court allowed some rallies of the Hindu organisations with some conditions after the city police denied them such rallies. The court said nobody can carry metal weapons in the rallies, or else punitive action should be taken against them.
Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma said they are expecting the organisations that would take part in the rally to abide by the Calcutta High Court order.
Reports are pouring in that the Ram Navami rallies are being organised in different parts of the state with tight vigilance to ensure sanity and normalcy. Leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari is scheduled to lay the foundation of a Ram Mandir at Nandigram, from where he represents the Legislative Assembly.
Besides the scores of Hindu organisations and the BJP to hold rallies, the ruling Trinamool Congress would also organise the rallies, sources said. The ruling and opposition parties are also blaming each other for allegedly indulging in provocation in relation to the Ram Navami.
City Police Commissioner Manoj Verma had held meetings with IPS senior officers of the city police and visited important areas to check the preparations on Saturday. The Kolkata Police and its counterpart, the West Bengal Police, have tightened security in their respective jurisdictions.
An additional 5,000 police personnel are likely to be deployed in the city. At least 10 police districts and police commissionerates, including Howrah, Siliguri, Malda, Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Islampur, Asansol-Durgapur, Barrackpore, and Chandannagar, have been identified across the state.
Around 29 senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers have been tasked with maintaining law and order in these areas.
The celebration this time has an added attraction with festoons and posters appearing across the city and its neighbouring districts. State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said lakhs of people would take part in the celebration, and he urged the police not to prevent the people from organising the allies.
UNI PC ARN