Mamata Banerjee Clarifies Stance Amid Legal Notice from Bharat Sevashram Sangha Monk

On Monday, Mamata Banerjee made it clear that she was not against any Hindu spiritual-philanthropic organizations, but that she did not agree with one or two of their members. She accused one of them of inciting communal unrest and being prejudiced towards the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The secretary of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha's ashram in Aurangabad, Murshidabad, Kartik Maharaj, sent a legal notice to the chief minister earlier on Monday, accusing her of defamation for remarks she had made on Saturday.

Remaining steadfast, Mamata declared during an election rally in the Bankura district's Bishnupur: "I am not against (an organization). How could I disrespect or be against an institution? I even visited (a senior monk) when he was ill a few days ago. I just mentioned one or two individuals.

The leader of Trinamul claimed that the gathering was arranged at the last minute to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi's insulting speech that was given on Sunday in Bishnupur.

Gangasagar is home to the ashram of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha. The chief minister remarked, "We have good relations with them, they love me, and I appreciate all that they do for the people." "I used the name of this man, Kartik Maharaj," the speaker said.

At an event held at Arambagh on Saturday, Mamata stated: "A few monks from the... are working under the influence of Delhi's BJP leaders." Those who maintain temples are engaging in outstanding humanitarian and spiritual activities. Not everyone engages in these kinds of activities.

"I do not think of Kartik Maharaj—the one who says, 'I will not allow Trinamool Congress agents to sit'—as a monk. Because he is wrecking the country with straight politics.

The chief minister was served with a notice by the monk's attorney requesting an apology from her for her "defamatory" remarks on Monday.

The statement said, "Your slanderous and defamatory innuendo/insinuations and imputations against my client are purposefully intended to damage my client's and his organization's reputation."

"Kartik Maharaj... he was also responsible for the communal violence that took place in Rejinagar days before the polls," Mamata declared at Bishnupur. I had highlighted that.

The chief minister went on, "He was previously associated with (state Congress chief) Adhir (Ranjan Chowdhury) and is now with the BJP."

Mamata expressed her admiration for the organization he represents and its Aurangabad ashram without fail.

Mamata questioned why there were no Trinamool operatives in that region and was informed that Kartik Maharaj had threatened to make it impossible for any of them to sit there.

"I stay educated for myself. In the garb of religion, he has been backing the BJP in a number of places. I don't mind if he participates in BJP politics, but he ought to do it with the party's emblem over his chest rather than hiding behind closed doors, she continued. "I never talk without proof. Should I spare those who incite conflict within the community?

Modi had criticized her harshly for her remarks against Arambagh at Bishnupur on Sunday.

Modi again attacked her on the matter on Monday in Jhargram.

It is the TMC in Bengal that is undermining your faith. The government stops celebrating Ram Navami because TMC leaders believe the Ram Mandir to be impure. Modi stated, "The chief minister herself puts Hindu monks in danger.

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