West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. (Twitter)
After the Calcutta High Court lifted restrictions on Durga idol immersion in West Bengal on Thursday, the Mamata Banerjee government of the state has decided not to challenge it in the Supreme Court, according to CNN-News18. Sources told the channel that puja committees, willing to do idol immersion on the day of Moharram, will have to take prior permission from the administration.
Earlier on Thursday, several reports had claimed Mamata government was mulling to challenge the order in SC. But a final decision in this regard has not yet been taken. According to Hindustan Times, Mamata government was expected to take a decision on whether to approach SC or not today. Government sources had told HT that a “possible petition” of West Bengal government would counter the High Court’s judgement in the apex court.
On Thursday, the Calcutta High Court allowed immersion of Durga idols on all days from ‘Vijayadashami’ on September 30,
including on Muharram on October 1. A division bench of the court comprising Acting Chief Justice Rakesh Tiwari and Justice Harish Tandon directed the West Bengal government to make necessary security arrangements. It also asked the state government to chalk out designated routes for immersion and tazia processions.
Mamata government had imposed restrictions on Durga idol immersion on Vijayadashami on September 30 after 10 pm and said that no immersion would be allowed on October 1, the day Muharram is scheduled to be observed.
Following the state government’s restrictions on idol immersion, the opposition and critics charged her indulging in Muslim appeasement. However, on Thursday, Mamata slammed the critics, saying, “No one accuses me of appeasement when I attend programmes of the Hindus, Christians or Buddhists. This charge is levelled only when I attend programmes of the Muslims…Such utterances are insulting…I attend functions organised by people belonging to all religions and faith. I believe in all the religions. I feel angry when those, who have no idea about Bengal, give advice. Does anyone immerse (Durga) idols on a Saturday or on ‘Ekadashi’ (the day after Vijaya Dashami)?.
The BJP, however, said the HC order “exposed” Banerjee. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijarvargiya, who is in charge of the party’s affairs in the state, said, “The order has exposed those who do communal politics under the garb of secularism. It has unmasked the state government. It is proved now that it can not maintain law and order in the state. It has no right to remain in power.” (With PTI inpouts)
