Rakhis depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are a rage ahead of Raksha Bandhan festival.
While BJP has launched rakhis bearing “Jai Shri Ram” chant Trinamul leaders are countering this with “Jai HindJai Bangla,” a newly coined slogan.
It is customary for sisters to tie 'rakhi' in the hands of the brothers as a symbol of goodwill and affection among siblings. The pictures of political leaders have taken precedence this season as political parties use this opportunity to advance their agenda.
The Telegraph reports that Trinamool cadres are equipped with 6.5 lakh rakhis bearing “Jai Hind Jai Bangla” in Bengali to be distributed on Independence Day, which coincides with Raksha Bandhan date this year. BJP workers also are armed with their rakhis bearing “Jai Shri Ram” written in English and Hindi, Modi’s face and Lotus to be distributed among people on the same day.
According to vendors, many Rakhi makers, based in West Bengal, have been flooded with orders for Modi rakhis and Didi rakhis for about four months.
Meanwhile, Mamata has slammed Income Tax department for serving notices to Durga Puja festival.
"CBDT clarification that no notices have been issued for this year makes little sense. It is only obvious that for pujas held this year, notices will only be issued next year, which is as per their scheme of tax assessment. So, the clarification itself proves that the imposition of tax very much stands. Then, why misleading?," she said.
The Press Release is a sheer distortion of facts with an aim to create confusion in the minds of local people and puja committees and cause mental tension, Banerjee alleged.
"This is also an attack on our culture and on our Durga Puja festival. I do not know whether this is being done knowingly or unknowingly, but it is certainly of bad taste, especially when people of all religions, caste, creed participate in our Durga Puja, which is just like a national festival. Any such taxation should be totally withdrawn and the festival should be allowed to be celebrated with its usual fervour," she said.
(With inputs from PTI)
