March 31, 2025: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks on Hinduism during an Eid celebration have sparked a fresh political controversy, drawing sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Speaking at an event organized by the Calcutta Khilafat Committee at Red Road in Kolkata, Banerjee accused the BJP of distorting Hinduism for political gains. She alleged that the saffron party was using religion as a tool to divide the country and said, "BJP is making Hindu dharam ‘ganda dharam’ (impure religion)."

Defending her religious identity, Banerjee asserted that she believes in the unity of all communities. She recalled being asked about her faith and responded, “I was asked if I am a Hindu. I said, I am a Hindu, I am a Muslim, I am a Sikh, I am an Indian. What can you do? They want to divide and rule, but we won’t let that happen.” She urged people to stay united and resist attempts to provoke communal tension. Emphasizing that her government would not allow peace to be disrupted, she reassured the public that efforts were in place to maintain harmony in the state.

Addressing the gathering, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief claimed that deliberate attempts were being made to instigate riots. She warned people against falling into such traps and assured that the West Bengal government stands firmly with minorities. Questioning the BJP’s stance, she asked, "If they have problems with minorities, will they change the Constitution of the country?" Banerjee reaffirmed her commitment to secularism and accused the BJP of playing "jumla politics" by attempting to create divisions among communities.

Her remarks quickly drew a sharp rebuttal from the BJP. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla lashed out at Banerjee, accusing her of insulting Hinduism. He claimed that the TMC leader and the opposition INDIA bloc had a history of disrespecting Hindu beliefs. "Hindu dharam ka karo apmaan, yahi ban chuki hai Mamata Banerjee aur I.N.D.I.A ki pehchaan," he said.

Poonawalla further alleged that Mamata Banerjee has consistently targeted Hindu sentiments, recalling past incidents where she opposed the chanting of "Jai Shri Ram" and where TMC leaders allegedly made controversial remarks about Hindu deities. He claimed that her latest statement was in line with the INDIA alliance’s history of attacking Hinduism, citing previous remarks labeling Sanatan Dharma as a disease, Hindu terror allegations, and criticism of the Ramcharitmanas. He said that making such statements, especially during Navratri and Eid, proved that the TMC was prioritizing vote-bank politics.

The controversy has once again fueled political tensions in West Bengal, a state that has frequently witnessed fierce clashes between the TMC and BJP over religious and identity issues. With the Lok Sabha elections approaching, Banerjee’s comments and the BJP’s response are expected to further intensify the political battle. As the debate rages on, both parties continue to trade accusations, keeping the state’s political landscape on edge.