BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 alleged that West Bengal is operating on double standards when it comes to permissions for religious activities, claiming that while namaz can be offered freely in the state, organising pujas or erecting pandals requires approval from the High Court.
Nabin made the remarks while speaking to reporters after offering prayers at the Dakshineswar Temple on the outskirts of Kolkata, calling the situation unfortunate. “Here, there is permission to offer namaz, but to perform puja and erect pandals, one has to seek permission from the high court,” he said.
The BJP chief’s comments come ahead of the Ram Navami festival on March 26, a date that has historically seen heightened political and communal sensitivity in West Bengal, with the BJP using the occasion to organise large processions and events that have at times faced administrative resistance from the state government led by the Trinamool Congress.
Nabin did not cite specific instances or legal orders to substantiate his claim during the press interaction, and the Trinamool Congress government in Bengal has not yet responded to the remarks at the time of publication.
The BJP has consistently alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government applies unequal standards in granting permissions for Hindu and Muslim religious activities, a charge the state government has denied. The issue of public space for religious events including Durga Puja pandals, Ram Navami processions, and namaz on public roads has been a recurring political flashpoint in the state.