No Durga idol immersion today despite Calcutta High Court nod. Another victory for Mamata government?
The Mamata Banerjee government has secured a resounding win in fight against Hindu hardliner outfits over idol immersion on Muharram row. But how?
Towing the Mamata government-drawn line of not immersing Durga idols today on the occasion of Muharram, Durga Puja Committees in Kolkata have awarded Didi a win in fight against Hindu fundamentalists, or have they been made to?
The state government had imposed restrictions on Durga idol immersion on Vijaydashami on September 30 after 10 pm and October 1 which is the 10th day of the holy month of Muharram.
But the order was stayed effectively by the Calcutta High Court.
Regardless of the high court order, no organising committee sought permission for idol immersion today, thereby silencing the BJP and Hindu hardliner outfits who had long been trying to browbeat the TMC government.
According to sources, about 95 per cent Trinamool Congress leaders are associated with pandals or organising committees in their districts, which could have pivoted the Durga idol immersion plans in favor of Banerjee government .
Interestingly, of all the 25,000 worship communities in Kolkata, not one has till now sought permission from the police or the local administration for statuary immersion.
CALCUTTA HC RAPS DIDI GOVT
Quashing state government's diktat, the Calcutta High Court on September 21 had ruled that Durga idol immersion can continue till 12 am on all days, including Muharram.
During the hearing, in a castigating remark, the high court told the Mamata Banerjee government that it was "exercising extreme power without any basis."
While adding, "If you get a dream, that something will go wrong, you cannot impose restrictions... There is a difference between regulation and prohibition." The court further instructed the police to make separate routes for both Durga idol immersion and Muharram processions.
Defiantly to which, the state government then issued a new order that read- a government permit is mandatory for immersion .
Dismissing murmurs that TMC leaders are exercising 'influence' over the worship committees, a senior Kolkata Police officer said that an application might come at the last moment. Further adding that if it did, the police and local administration will act upon it in accordance with the high court order.