Today, On 26th June, The controversy involving Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the monks started on May 18 in Arambagh. During this event, Mamata gave a fiery speech targeting several monks from the Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha. The public interest litigation filed against her was a response to these remarks. The High Court has now dismissed the case, providing its reasoning in the ruling.
Calcutta: The Calcutta High Court dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) filed against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee concerning her remarks about sadhus.
On Thursday, the division bench comprising Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya stated that the affidavit did not justify a PIL and suggested the petitioner might explore other legal options.
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The controversy began on May 18 in Arambagh, where Mamata Banerjee criticized monks from the Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha.
She particularly targeted Kartik Maharaj of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Beldanga, Murshidabad, saying,
“Not all sadhus are the same. Not all relatives are the same. Are we all the same among ourselves? There is a Maharaj in Behrampore, Kartik Maharaj. I used to respect the Bharat Sevashram Sangha a lot. They have been on my list of respected organizations for a long time. But if someone says that they will not allow a TMC agent to sit, I do not consider that person a sadhu. He is directly involved in politics and is ruining the country.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP seized on this issue during the election season, with Modi repeatedly targeting Mamata for her comments on sadhus.
Kartik Maharaj responded by sending a legal notice to the Chief Minister, accusing her of making ‘false’ and ‘misleading‘ statements intended to defame him.
The matter eventually escalated to the court, with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and some of its monks filing a PIL in May, seeking legal action against Mamata Banerjee.
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This decision by the Calcutta High Court serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between upholding free expression and maintaining respect for religious sentiments in India’s diverse and pluralistic society. The ruling also reflects the judiciary’s cautious approach in adjudicating cases that intersect with political controversies, reaffirming the principle that legal processes should not be misused for political vendettas.
Overall, the dismissal of the PIL against Mamata Banerjee is a notable instance of the courts upholding democratic values while navigating the complex interplay of politics and religion.