New Delhi [India], February 18 (ANI): BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her recent remark calling the Kumbh Mela 2025 'Mrityu Kumbh' (Death Kumbh) and said she should be 'ashamed, embarrassed' of her statement.

He further expressed his outrage, stating, 'Mamata ji, you should be ashamed of what you said today. There is no bigger shame than calling such a sacred event 'Mrityu Kumbh.'

'Mamata Banerjee has called Kumbh as 'Mrityu Kumbh'. Can she say this about an Islamic festival? Can she say this when people go to Haj, thousands of people died there, can she say this about that place? Mamata ji, you should be ashamed and embarrassed about what you said today. You are calling such a holy place as 'Mrityu Kumbh'. There cannot be a bigger shame than this,' said Sirsa.

Earlier in the day, during her address in the State Legislative, the West Bengal CM caused a heated controversy by referring to the Maha Kumbh as 'Mrityukumbh.'

She criticised the organisers for the inadequate arrangements resulting in stampedes on January 29 in Prayagraj and on February 15 at New Delhi Railway station.

Her statement sparked protests led by Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP MLAs in the West Bengal State Assembly. The group raised slogans and voiced their opposition to the remarks made by the CM.

Adhikari appealed to the Hindu and saint communities on Tuesday to register a strong protest.

He said, 'I appeal to the Hindu community, saint community to register a strong protest. A little while ago, on the Floor of the House (State Assembly), West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said that this is not Maha Kumbh but 'Mrityu Kumbh'. Raise your voice against this attack on Hinduism, on Maha Kumbh.'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee responded to the same on Tuesday and slammed the opposition for deliberately preventing her from speaking in the State Assembly.

She accused the BJP, Congress, and CPI(M) of ganging up against her, preventing her from delivering her speech.

'BJP, Congress, and CPI(M) are together against me. They have not allowed me to give my speech.,' she said.

Responding to Governor CV Ananda Bose's speech, Banerjee while addressing the State Assembly, highlighted the unique dynamics of the West Bengal legislature, where the opposition is given ample time to speak.

'There are several states in India. There is a double-engine government there too. But in West Bengal, we have given 50 per cent of the time to the Opposition (to speak). They have thrown paper on the Floor of the House,' said the Bengal CM.

Mamata further spoke on the topic of freedom of speech, stressing that it should not be misused to promote communalism or target any religion.

'Freedom of speech does not mean to speak about communalism or instigate against any religion. You are selling a particular religion. I have seen some videos here where he (Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari) said that he is speaking about Hindu Dharma and that's why he has been suspended from the House. I never talk about instigating any religious matter,' Mamata remarked. (ANI)