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Instead of reacting to provocative chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' by BJP goons, @MamataOfficial and Bengalis should launch a cultural counter-offensive. They should smile and greet them with 'Jai Maa Durga'. The Goddess has slayed worthier opponents than Hindutva fascists. 1/n
Bengal traditionally worshipped the divine feminine; the Holy Trinity of Durga, Saraswati and Kali. 'Jai Shri Ram' is not as much a part of their culture as the goddesses are. It is time for Bengalis to reassert and reclaim their cultural space trampled upon by sanghis. 2/n
Bengalis prefer 'Jai Maa Durga' 'Jai Maa Kalkattewali' over 'Jai Shri Ram' any day. And the entire East revers Saraswati, the gentle goddess of wisdom and culture. Please restrain Lord Ram to Nagpur and Yogi's cow-belt, thanks. :) 3/n 
.@MamataOfficial & Bengalis shouldn't get hassled by Sanghi goons shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' at them. It's counter-productive, will be twisted by BJP to paint them as anti-Hindus & by majoritarian stretch, anti-India. Either ignore or respond with 'Jai Maa Durga' & 'Jai Kaali'. 4/n
Hired Sanghi goons chasing @MamataOfficial around and ambushing her at her workplace is tantamount to provocation & harassment. Even stalking. Had this been a right-wing female leader, Sanghan feminists (a misnomer, but never mind) would have been chest-thumping by now. 5/n
If Hindutva terrorists send @MamataOfficial postcards of Jai Shri Ram, either ignore it or respond by sending them & Modi ji postcards of Durga, Kali & Saraswati. Goddess knows, sanghis need lessons in respecting women. And hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Lol 6/n
Even non-religious Hindus and all Bengalis respect the Goddesses as *cultural icons* of justice, courage, education and wisdom. The Pujos is a great example of all faiths, believers and non-believers celebrating a *cultural festival* together. 7/n
Sadly, Hindutva has barged into the Bengali citadel abetted by TMC turncoats, erstwhile Left voters & local BJP cadre. Only thing worse than a Sanghi is a Bengali Sanghi. They're a disgrace to RRM Roy's rationalism, Vidyasagar's reformism & Tagore's humanism. Ahem.. Swapan Da 8/n
Bengali Renaissance leaders RRM Roy, Vidyasagar, etc focused on women empowerment TWO CENTURIES AGO. They fought for women's education, widow remarriage, abolished Sati & child marriage. Reformers, now being maligned by Sanghi fascists who want to take us back to the 19thC 9/n
Traditionally, Ramayan & its protagonists haven't gained as much traction in Bengal as the Goddesses. Self-sacrificing Sita was hardly an icon of women empowerment. Lord Ram who abandoned his innocent, pregnant wife on heresay failed contemporary standards of gender justice. 10/n
'Jai Shri Ram' (Hail Lord Ram) is an innocent Hindu greeting wishing 'power & goodness' to the recipient. It's been appropriated by Hindutva fascists just as icon Swastika was by Nazis. An ancient symbol of auspiciousness was turned into a symbol of hate & racism by Nazis. 11/n
Today, the innocent greeting 'Jai Shri Ram' has been appropriated by violent Hindutva extremists & turned into a danga-naara (riot slogan). It's become the chant of sword, knife & trishul brandishing Hindutva fascists & cow-terrorists. Sensible Hindus should weep at this. 12/n
Please don't hate or mock the innocent slogan 'Jai Shri Ram' because it's unfair & counter-productive. But condemn bloodthirsty Hindutvaadis who misuse it. Despise those who have turned it into a danga-naara/riot-slogan that terrorises innocent minorites, Dalits, dissenters. 13/n
All Hindutva fascists organisations like Bajrang Dal, VHP, Shri Ram Sena, BJP mainstream, etc have turned the innocent greeting 'Jai Shri Ram' into a killer / riot slogan. Literally. And lines between Hinduism & Hindutva become terrifyingly blurred. 14/n
Hindutva organisations like Yuva Vahini (young women's wing) are radicalised and given arms training amid chants of 'Jai Shri Ram'. Weep, all sensible Hindus. 15/n
Within Hinduism, all sects & regions worship specific gods. Durga in East, Shiva in Kashmir, Krishna in West, Balaji in South. Why impose a uniform chant 'Jai Shri Ram' just becoz they're 'all Hindus'. It will meet with resistance, even hostility (exactly what sanghis want) 16/n
These Hindutva fascists claim to represent all Hindus. If these pictures don't chill your heart, you are part of the radicalised problem. And you need a therapist to check you out for sociopathy. 17/n
Even if you're an atheist, agnostic or a 'cultural Hindu', pls don't enable Hindutva fascists appropriating Hindu symbols & practices. Because if you don't actively resist it, they will carry out violent abominations in your name. As self-proclaimed goalkeepers of Hinduism. 18/n
PS: I'm a Hindu and the aim of this thread is to initiate thought, not malign them. Also, please avoid whataboutery and references to other religions / beliefs should you have a difference of opinion. Thanks.
'Jai Shri Ram' an innocuous slogan was politicised during Rath Yatra /Babri demolition in 1992. The slogan hit home as Ayodhya is considered the birthplace of Ram. It has since become the war-cry of blood-lusting Hindutva terrorists from Gujarat 2002, Muzzafarpur, lynchings, etc
