Conspiracy was hatched to cancel my Chicago trip on Swami Vivekananda's speech anniversary: Mamata Banerjee

Sep 11 (AZINS) On the occasion of 125th year celebration of Swami Vivekananda's speech in Chicago, Mamata Banerjee lashed out at Central government without naming anyone. Speaking in Belur Math which is headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission set up by Swami Vivekananda, Mamata Banerjee cited the idea of tolerance preached by the great monk to hit out at her opponents. Mamata also said that she will not allow anyone to occupy Belur Math.

Mamata Banerjee was supposed to go to Chicago this time for the occasion of 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda Chicago speech but it got cancelled. Referring to that incident, Mamata Banerjee said, " I wanted to go to Chicago but could not go There was a conspiracy for which we could not go to that hall where Swamiji gave his speech. I felt bad. People behind this conspiracy please think Hindu religion is not imported. I have all the records who did it. I know Belur was also threatened, I know this and I also know that you people can't say this."

Mamata cited Swamiji's writing which says "If you are ruling country and I am a shoemaker that does not give the right to you to put your legs on my head. If you murder then also should I applaud you ?"  This was very significant as she read out this portion of Swamji's writing while she was stating that only harmony, not communalism can unite India. She used Vivekananda's writing to criticize BJP without naming them.

"Today when I see people giving lecture on what to eat what not to eat I feel ashamed.Bengal believes in tolerance. Bengal does not require lecture from anybody." In every way Mamata Banerjee's 40 minutes speech was targetted towards PM Modi  Narendra Modi shares a special relation with Belur Math. He stayed in Belur long back and came to visit twice after he became Prime Minister. At a time, when BJP is slowly making its presence in the state, Mamata took this opportunity to try to ensure that BJP can't appropriate Swami Vivekananda.