In a recent development, Swami Pradiptananda of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS) has taken legal action against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following her accusations against a group of monks allegedly supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The issue arose when Mamata Banerjee, during a public address on Saturday, implicated monks from three organizations, including the BSS, of advocating for the BJP among voters. Specifically naming Swami Pradiptananda, she raised concerns about monks interfering in political matters.
In response, Pradiptananda’s counsel, Billwadal Bhattacharyya, has sent a legal notice to Mamata Banerjee, demanding an unconditional apology within 48 hours. The notice asserts that Banerjee’s statements were defamatory and malicious, aiming to tarnish Pradiptananda’s reputation. Failure to comply within the stipulated time could result in further legal action, including the initiation of criminal cases.
The notice emphasized that Pradiptananda, also known as Kartick Maharaj, holds key positions within BSS units in Aurangabad, Beldanga (Murshidabad), and Payradanga (Nadia), and reserves the right to pursue legal recourse against Banerjee’s allegations.
This incident adds to the political tension in West Bengal, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also weighing in on the matter during a rally. Modi accused Banerjee of “bad-mouthing” and “threatening” organizations like ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission (RKM), and BSS to safeguard certain voter demographics, insinuating a broader political strategy by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Sources By Agencies