BJP mixing religion with politics by using 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged that the BJP was mixing religion with politics by repeatedly using the 'Jai Shri Ram' phrase. "Jai Sia Ram, Jai Ram ji ki, Ram naam Satya hai etc have religious and social connotations. We respect these sentiments. But the BJP is using religious slogan Jai Sri Ram as their party slogan in a misconceived manner by way of mixing religion with politics (sic)," she said in a Facebook post.

Banerjee said she had no problem regarding any particular slogan being used in political rallies or events of a party. "We do not respect this forcible enforcement of political slogans on others...," she said.

The Trinamool Congress supremo also said attempts were being made to propagate the ideology of hatred, which should be opposed.

"This is a deliberate attempt to sell hatred ideology through vandalism and violence, which we must oppose together," Banerjee wrote.

The chief minister has lost her cool twice in the past few weeks over people chanting 'Jai Sri Ram' at a few places in the state, as her motorcade passed through those areas.

On Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arjun Singh slammed Banerjee for having 10 people arrested for shouting Jai Shri Ram as her motorcade passed through the troubled Bhatpara area of North 24 Parganas district.

The BJP has decided to send 10 lakh postcards with 'Jai Shri Ram' written on them to Banerjee. "We have decided to send 10 lakh postcards with 'Jai Shri Ram' written on them to the chief minister's residence," newly elected lawmaker Arjun Singh told news agency PTI.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Singh said since Banerjee had 10 people arrested for chanting Jai Shri Ram, let her arrest the 10 lakh people now. The BJP leader also said that Mamata Banerjee has lost her mental balance.

"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrested 10 people for chanting 'Jai Sri Ram', so now BJP will send 10 lakh postcards with 'Jai Sri Ram' written on them to her. Let her arrest 10 lakh people. It seems she has lost her mental balance," Singh said.

(With PTI inputs)