Kolkata/IBNS: With over 50 Ram Navami rallies planned in Kolkata on Sunday, including five large processions, police have demarcated routes and deployed heavy security cover, which will remain in place until April 7, media reports said.

Commissioner of Kolkata Police Manoj Verma met with senior officers of the city police and visited key locations to check the preparations on Saturday.

An additional 5,000 police personnel have been deployed in the city, he said.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were seen trading barbs at each other in the build-up to Ram Navami celebrations.

Several posters and banners related to Ram Navami have been put up across the city by the saffron outfit, including outside the Raj Bhavan, Victoria Memorial, and the legislative assembly.

“The BJP is trying to make Ram Navami into a political event. They are not into politics of development. They want politics over religion. They want to create some disturbance. Bengal will not tolerate this,” TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said.

In areas like Sankrail in Howrah, rallies were held on Saturday, with large contingents of police deployed.

The TMC has also planned to hold some rallies on Sunday to celebrate Ram Navami.

“A few million Hindus are expected to hit the road on Ram Navami. I would urge the state government to take steps so that it can be celebrated peacefully. Any attempts to forcefully halt the celebrations won’t be tolerated. Ram Navami celebrations will be held no matter what you do,” state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said in a video message.