The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal protested in Agartala on Tuesday against an allegedly derogatory remark about Lord Hanuman made by former CPM MP Sankar Prasad Datta. They burned Datta in effigy and demanded that he apologise for the remark he allegedly made while speaking at a CITU conference two days ago.
“A few days back, the CPM leader called Lord Hanuman ‘shonda’ (bully). Hanumanji is our deity. Protesting against this, we burnt his effigy. We will recite Hanuman Chalisa in front of his home and we will compel him to seek an apology in front of Hanumanji and God in our presence,” said a VHP leader.
A group of BJP activists visited Datta’s home and offered him a portrait of Lord Hanuman and Hanuman chalisa.
“They (CPM) have made derogatory remarks about Hindu religion on several occasions. The BJP brings out people from darkness to light. We came to his house today with Hanuman Chalisa. We will pray that he gains knowledge and may Lord Hanuman forgive him,” said a BJP activist.
The BJP’s youth wing, the Tripura Pradesh Yuva Morcha, also protested against the remark in the capital city.
“The entire state has condemned the incident. We demand Sankar Prasad Datta should be immediately arrested. We have seen earlier that they tried to hurt our religious sentiments. After the rally, we will recite Hanuman chalisa near the Kali temple at Melarmath,” a protester said.
Datta or the CPM has not reacted to the controversy.
