The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has condemned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in response to an attack on Ramakrishna Mission monks in Jalpaiguri, calling it the “worst thing” she could have done to the state. Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya alleged that the attack followed Banerjee’s “threatening” comments against the Ramakrishna Mission, Bharat Sevashram Sangha, and ISKCON.
“This is the worst thing Mamata Banerjee could have done to West Bengal. After she threatened Ramakrishna Mission, Bharat Sevashram Sangha, and ISKCON from an open stage, criminals, with firearms and daggers, entered Ramakrishna Mission Ashram under Kotwali PS in Jalpaiguri, and attacked the monks, broke CCTV, brandished firearms, forcefully detained the Sadhus and threw them on streets. This is nothing less than a Talibani regime,” Malviya stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The incident reportedly occurred late Saturday night when a group of armed miscreants entered the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram on Sevoke Road, Jalpaiguri. According to police, the attackers thrashed the security guard and several workers, threatened to kill them, and vandalized ashram property before damaging CCTV cameras. The ashram authorities have lodged a complaint, and the police have launched an investigation.
The attack comes in the wake of controversial remarks made by Banerjee on May 18, where she alleged that some monks from the Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha were acting under BJP influence. “Some monks of the Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha are working under the influence of BJP leaders in Delhi. While those who manage temples are doing commendable spiritual work, not all are involved in such activities. This is unacceptable. We respect the monks,” Banerjee said at an election rally in Goghat, Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticized Banerjee’s comments, suggesting she was under pressure from Muslim extremists and accusing her of threatening socio-religious organizations to appease her vote bank. During a rally in Purulia on May 19, Modi claimed the TMC was spreading falsehoods against ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission, and Bharat Sevashram Sangha.
Banerjee later sought to clarify her stance, praising the two monastic orders for their philanthropic work and insisting she was not against any institution. “I am not against Ramakrishna Mission; why should I be against an institution or insult it? I have spoken about one or two persons,” she remarked at an election rally in Bankura’s Onda.
Additionally, Banerjee praised Bharat Sevashram Sangha but criticized Kartik Maharaj, a monk from Murshidabad district, accusing him of working for the BJP and instigating clashes at Rejinagar. “If he wants to do BJP, he can, but should do it wearing its badge,” she said.
In response, Swami Pradiptananda Maharaj, known as Kartik Maharaj, sent a legal notice to Banerjee demanding an apology for her allegedly defamatory remarks about the organization. “If chief minister Mamata Banerjee had defamed me personally, I would not have been concerned. As a spiritual leader, we are not affected by personal criticism as we are here to serve the people. However, she defamed the organization, which is unacceptable,” he stated.
Swami Biswatmananda Maharaj, the national secretary of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, stated he was unaware of the issue.
