Kolkata, 23 July (H.S.):

Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday clarified his stance amidst the ongoing intra-party debate over the use of religious slogans, stating that he will continue to chant both “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Maa Kali”, “Jai Maa Durga”. His remarks come in response to the political controversy sparked during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to West Bengal, where his invocation of Durga and Kali, but not Ram, drew criticism and triggered speculation within and outside the party.

Taking to social media, Ghosh wrote, “We will say ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and also ‘Jai Maa Kali’, ‘Jai Maa Durga’. Attempts are being made to create confusion among BJP workers and supporters, but such efforts will not succeed.” He urged party workers to remain steadfast and united: “Do not be disheartened. Trust the party, maintain mutual faith, and remember that your inner strength will be the greatest force in the days to come.”

Ghosh’s statement also appears to be a response to recent political attacks from the Trinamool Congress. On July 21, at TMC’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata, party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had taken a swipe at the BJP, stating, “They used to chant Jai Shri Ram, now they say Jai Maa Durga and Jai Maa Kali. By 2026, we will make them chant Jai Bangla too.”

The remarks reignited internal rumblings within the BJP, particularly concerning the shifting religious rhetoric adopted by the party’s leadership in Bengal.

Dilip Ghosh, once considered a key face of the BJP in Bengal, has in recent months been seen on the political sidelines, prompting speculation about his future within the party — including rumors of a possible switch to the Trinamool Congress. However, following a meeting with BJP national president J.P. Nadda, Ghosh re-emerged on the political scene with renewed assertiveness during a public meeting in Kharagpur on July 21.

His latest statement appears to be both a reaffirmation of his ideological stance and a message of reassurance to the party cadre, underscoring the BJP’s continued commitment to its core religious and cultural identity amid political crosscurrents in West Bengal.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh