TMC, BJP in political tug-of-war on Swamiji’s birth anniv

Kolkata: A political slugfest that started over the 163rd birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda across Bengal on Monday turned into a volley of allegations and counter-allegations over posters of Trinamool neta Abhishek Banerjee in front of the Simla Street ancestral home of the Bengali icon.CM Mamata Banerjee took to her X handle to uphold Swamiji's ideals of patriotism, social service and communal harmony. It is always a guiding light, she said, adding how Vivekananda's teachings of love for the country, service to the poor and message of unity, peace and harmony always inspired her.
"On the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the symbol of India's indigenous spiritual consciousness, I offer my respectful salutations to him," she wrote. Mamata said the way to harmony among all religions shown by Swamiji was the foundation of Bengal's culture.Swamiji believed that the youth are the architects of a nation's destiny, she wrote. "Our govt is committed to empowering them with education, skills and opportunities to lead them into a new era of progress," Mamata posted.On Monday morning, Abhishek's posters, calling him a "Yuvaraj", were hung around Swamiji's Simla Street home. Union minister Sukanta Majumdar, who termed Swami Vivekananda the only "Yuvaraj", said: "The people of Bengal would respond to the arrogance in the days to come. File, coal and cattle thieves are roaming around on the land where Vivekananda was born. The youth will have to drive these forces out."Leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who took out a rally in front of Vivekananda's house and paid floral tributes, alleged that thieves had a free run in Bengal. "They destroyed the sanctity of the Constitution. They lost the moral right to uphold Swamiji's spirit," he said.Amid a volley of words, Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and TMC senior Shashi Panja showed political courtesy by greeting each other. "We come here every year with an open mind to celebrate Vivekananda's birthday. We pray for unity and harmony. We uphold the spirit of service which Vivekananda taught us," Panja said.Abhishek visited Simla Street in the morning and later posted on X: "Swamiji reminded us that to serve humanity is to serve the divine. At a time when divisions are amplified and identities weaponised, Swamiji's message of universal brotherhood and harmony among faiths stands as a timeless guide."