Calcutta HC Says Mamata Govt Was Irresponsibly Brazen In Restricting Durga Pooja Processions
This year Dussehra, or Bijoy Dashami in Bengal, falls on October 11. On this day, the idols of Durga are taken out for immersion in processions.
In the current year, taziya processions as part of the observance of Muharram are also to be taken out on the same day.
In this context, in an unprecedented move, the Mamata government set a deadline for the immersion of Durga idols. According to this Indian Express report, the state government directive said that for Durga Pujas held in households and apartment complexes, the immersion could not be done after 4 PM on Bijoy Dashami.
This directive was challenged in the Calcutta High Court. In its order, the High Court came down strictly on the Trinamool Congress government. It observed:
“There has been a clear endeavour on the part of the state government to pamper and appease the minority section of the public at the cost of the majority section without there being any plausible justification. The reason therefore is, however, not far to seek”
The Court further said:
“The administration has failed to take note of the fact that Moharram is also not the most important festival of people having faith in Islam… To put it curtly, the state government has been irresponsibly brazen in its conduct of being partial to one community, thereby infringing upon the fundamental rights of people worshipping Maa Durga.”