Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's reference to the religion which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) follows as "ganda dharm" has triggered sharp responses from Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari.

In her address to people from Kolkata's Red Road, Mamata said, "I dare them to change the Constitution in their bid to divide people... I subscribe to the religion of Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda but not to this jumla party's well thought out, dirty religion which I consider anti-Hindu."

"All Hindus and Christians are not against you people (Muslims). There are a few political leaders who make deals. I will shut their dealings if you are all united," she added.

'Kaun sa Dharm ganda hai Ms. Mamata Banerjee?'

In a strong response to Mamata's 'ganda dharm' remark, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari equated the Chief Minister's words with her alleged appeasement politics.

In a lengthy X post, Adhikari, who became a BJP MLA from Nandigram defeating her previous boss Mamata Banerjee, said, "Kaun sa Dharm ganda hai Ms. Mamata Banerjee? Appeasing the Muslim Community at the Red Road with your almost incomprehensible gibberish Urdu dialect, you made a statement that you don't follow the 'Ganda Dharm' or 'Dirty Religion'.

"Which religion were you specifically referring to? Sanatan Hindu Dharma? What kind of provocative speech did you deliver at the Red Road on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr? You uttered the words 'Danga' & Riots more than you repeated the word Eid."

"Was it a religious event or a political programme? Why were you deliberately mongering hate with the deliberate intention of creating animosity between communities? Ms. Mamata Banerjee, you are the one who weaponizes religion. It will boomerang on you very soon."

'Stay united,' says Mamata

Mamata on Monday appealed to people to "stay united" in a bid to thwart the aggressive BJP, which is aiming to consolidate the Hindu votes eyeing to unseat the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the 2026 assembly elections.

"Do not let riots take place. Their only aim is to cause riots while I am committed to prevent it. They will automatically be defeated if there is no riot. I request all of you to not fall into their trap of causing riots," Mamata said in the backdrop of reported incidents of communal tensions in the state.