KKN Gurugram Desk | Ram Navami, a festival celebrating the birth of Lord Rama, took a tense turn in Kolkata this year. What was meant to be a peaceful procession filled with devotion, chanting, and saffron flags ended in alleged violence.
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed that a group participating in a Ram Navami procession was attacked in Kolkata’s Park Circus area—a locality known for its religious diversity and density. According to BJP leaders, the participants were targeted for carrying saffron flags and chanting religious slogans.
However, the Kolkata Police and West Bengal’s ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC) have strongly denied the allegations, adding fuel to a politically charged environment.
The Incident: What Reportedly Happened in Park Circus?
On the evening of April 6, 2025, a Ram Navami rally reportedly passed through Park Circus, a busy area in central Kolkata. According to BJP leaders, as the rally entered the neighborhood, stones were allegedly hurled at the procession, damaging several vehicles and forcing people to flee.
While videos circulated on social media showing broken windshields and people running, there’s no official confirmation yet of who was behind the attack.
BJP claims that the participants were peaceful and only carried saffron flags while chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” a common religious slogan during Ram Navami. They say the attack was premeditated and that police failed to intervene in time.
BJP Reacts: “Targeted for Being Hindu”
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar came out strongly, accusing the ruling TMC government of enabling the violence through its “appeasement politics.”
“They were attacked just for holding saffron flags and chanting the name of Lord Ram. This is not just an attack on our faith, but on freedom of expression,” he said.
Majumdar also claimed that police officers were present at the location but did nothing to stop the violence.
The BJP released videos on social media showing damaged vehicles, alleging they were attacked while returning from the procession route. These visuals have since sparked massive online reactions, with hashtags like #RamNavamiAttack and #BengalBurning trending across platforms.
Kolkata Police Denies Allegations
In a late-night press release, Kolkata Police said that no official permission was granted for a procession in that area. They acknowledged that one vehicle was damaged, and a crowd had gathered without authorization.
“The situation was brought under control quickly, and there was no major violence. We are verifying CCTV footage and social media videos to determine the truth,” the statement said.
The police have urged people not to believe rumors or spread communal messages online.
TMC’s Stand: “BJP Provoking Polarization”
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership has accused the BJP of staging the incident to provoke communal tension in the run-up to the 2025 Lok Sabha elections.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said:
“They purposely held an unauthorized rally in a sensitive area. Then they create a fake narrative to polarize voters. This is their script every time before elections.”
According to TMC, the BJP’s motive is to turn a religious event into a political tool, something they’ve been accused of in previous years as well.
Ram Navami in Bengal: A Festival Turned Flashpoint
In the last few years, Ram Navami has become a politically sensitive event in West Bengal. The BJP has used the festival to strengthen its grassroots presence and promote its pro-Hindu narrative. TMC, in turn, has tried to maintain secular harmony while keeping its minority voter base intact.
This year, more than 2,000 processions were organized across Bengal, many of them with police permission and security. Most remained peaceful. However, the incident in Park Circus has once again brought attention to how easily religious celebrations can spiral into communal flashpoints.
Public Reactions: Fear, Confusion, and Politics
Locals from Park Circus expressed mixed feelings. Some said they witnessed panic and chaos, while others claimed they didn’t see any violence.
Rehana Khatoon, a tea vendor in the area, said:
“We heard loud noises and saw people running. It lasted a few minutes and then everything was calm.”
Rajiv Pandey, who said he was part of the procession, told us:
“We were not doing anything wrong. Suddenly, stones came flying at us. We had to run.”
Many residents have urged political parties to stop using communities as battlegrounds for their ideological wars.
Law & Order: What Happens Next?
Kolkata Police have confirmed that an FIR has been filed, and investigation is ongoing. Sources say:
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CCTV footage is under review
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Digital evidence from social media is being analyzed
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Political connections (if any) are being probed
The state government has promised a fair and transparent inquiry, but trust remains fragile, especially among local communities.
The alleged attack on a Ram Navami procession in Kolkata is not just a law-and-order issue—it reflects the deeper, persistent tensions between religion and politics in Bengal.
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