West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for trying to politicise religion ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and called the saffron regiment as "anti-women" for “omitting” Goddess Sita from their discourse about Lord Ram.

While addressing the TMC's 'Sanhati Rally', the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo emphasised Bengal's critical role in upholding the nation's secular and inclusive values, and said, "I don't believe in politicising religion ahead of elections. I am against such practice. I have no objection against those worshipping Lord Ram, but object to interference with the food habits of people."

The CM accompanied by religious leaders of various faiths and party leaders, began the 'all-faith harmony' march from Hazra More and it concluded at Park Circus crossing in Kolkata.

"They (BJP) talk about Lord Ram, but what about Goddess Sita? She was all along with Lord Ram during his exile. They don't speak about her as they are anti-women. We are worshippers of Goddess Durga, so they should not try to lecture us about religion," the CM asserted.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the rituals of the "Pran Pratishtha" ceremony at the "historic" Ram temple in Ayodhya on Monday after which the Ram Lalla idol was unveiled at the Shri Ram Janmaboomi Temple.

PM Modi completed his 11-day fast by taking Charanamrit from the hands of Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

Drawing an analogy to that moment, the Prime Minister said that he got the belief that today's moment will also be the one to alter the circle of time and move forward.

Mentioning Pancwati Dham in Nashik, Thriprayar Temple in Kerala, Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh, Shri Ranganathswamy Temple in Srirangam, Shri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the journey from the sea to river Sarayu.