Bengal BJP slams Mamata govt for August 5 lockdown

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh

Monday appealed to the TMC government to withdraw its decision on total lockdown on August 5, the day scheduled for 'bhoomi pujan' (groundbreaking ceremony) at Ayodhya for the Ram temple, and said the decision reflects the ruling party's strategy to turn "West Bengal into Bangladesh".

If dates of the lockdown could be changed keeping in mind the Eid festival on August 1, then why can't the same be done on August 5 keeping in mind celebrations for the Ram temple 'bhoomi pujan' across the country, he questioned.

"We appeal to the state government to change the date of the August 5 lockdown. We had no problem with state government changing dates for the lockdown due to the Eid festival. Similarly the sentiment of the Hindus over the construction of Ram Mandir should not be ignored," Ghosh said.