‘Anti-Bengali party’: Mamata, BJP locked in row over puja pandal permission issue

New Delhi: The political battleground became increasingly tense as the BJP and TMC went toe-to-toe in West Bengal on Wednesday as the assembly elections neared. new bjp president Nitin Nabin Accusing the Mamata government of double standards, it claimed that Hindus must seek permission to perform poojas while Muslims can. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, addressing a rally in north Bengal, called the BJP “anti-Bengali”.Nabin claimed that citizens were forced to approach the High Court seeking puja pavilions. After offering prayers at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in North 24 Parganas, he described the alleged disparity between permissions. Durga Puja and other religious activities as “unfortunate”.Nitin Nabin told reporters, “I was blessed at Maa’s darbar. I also prayed before Makali because in this state, one has to take permission from the high court to set up puja pandars, but permission was not given to perform puja. It is unfortunate. We have sought Maa’s blessings to make the state ‘Sonar Bangla’ and Viksit Bengal.”Nitin Nabin’s visit to Kolkata’s historic Dakshineswar Kali Temple marks the second day of his organizational tour of West Bengal to review the BJP’s preparedness for the upcoming assembly elections.Meanwhile, TMC chief and CM Mamata hit back at her poll rallies. “There are serious concerns that the names of genuine voters have been removed from the electoral rolls. This raises questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process. At the same time, questions are being raised about identity and citizenship, who is recognized as a legitimate Indian elector and on what basis? The BJP has been asked to respond to this,” she said.“Addressing a rally in Maynaguri, she further alleged, “BJP [is an] Anti-Bengali party, beating Bengalis in other states. “Today they are snatching voting rights, tomorrow they will snatch citizenship through the National Council,” she also warned. “On the same occasion, Mamata suggested: “Our candidates will be asked to bring lawyers along with them to submit their nominations [have been] Canceled in Assam,” PTI reported.