'Distorting history': Mamata slams Mohan Bhagwat over his Ram Temple consecration 'marking true independence' remark

Banerjee, a fierce critic of the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, slammed the remarks by Bhagwat that the consecration of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya last year marks "the true independence of Bharat".

"This is anti-national. I strongly condemn this dangerous remark... it should be withdrawn. This is an attempt to distort history. We are dedicated to keeping our independence intact (and) ready to sacrifice our lives for India...but not to tolerate this," she told reporters in Kolkata.

Responding to the remarks, Junior Education Minister Sukanta Majumdar called the Trinamool Congress chief an "anti-national Chief Minister" and pointed to claims from September last year that Banerjee refused to provide land for the Border Security Force (BSF) to build a fence along the Bangladesh border.

However, Banerjee is not the only senior opposition leader to have slammed Bhagwat.

On Wednesday during the opening of the Congress' new Delhi office, Rahul Gandhi said the RSS chief's comment amounted to "treason" and he would be arrested and tried if he was in any other country.

The BJP also slammed Rahul Gandhi after he said the Opposition was fighting not just the BJP, but the Indian State.

Union Health Minister and BJP President JP Nadda said the Congress's "ugly truth now stands exposed".

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked why Gandhi carried a copy of the Constitution if he thought the Opposition was fighting the State.