Don’t create divide between Hindus, Muslims: HC to Didi
KOLKATA: Questioning the West Bengal government’s curbs on Durga idol immersion, the Calcutta high court said on Wednesday the state cannot hinder a citizen’s right to practise religion on the basis of a mere assumption of law and order disruption and must provide sound reasons for doing so.
“Let them (Hindus and Muslims) live in harmony, do not create a line between them,” acting Chief Justice Rakesh Tiwary said, asking the government to provide a “concrete ground” for its decision to stop the immer- sion of Durga idols after 10 pm on September 30 (Vijaya Dashami day)andonOctober1onaccount of Muharram.
Hearing three PILs challenging the restrictions, a bench, also comprising Justice Harish Tandon,saida mere assumption that a law and order situation might arise, owing to Vijaya Dashami and Muharram falling one after the other, could not be the basis of imposing these curbs.
“People have the right to practise their religious activities, whichevercommunitytheymay be of, and the state cannot put restrictions, unless it has a concrete ground to believe that two communities cannot live together,” the acting chief justice said.
AMANG TOHEADGTA
Meanwhile, in an unexpected move,theBengalgovernmenton Wednesday announced the formation of an administrative board helmed by expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Binay Tamang to run the semi-autonomous Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).
Ironically,it wasTamang who led the agitation that culminated inGJMleadersburningtheGTA accord at Darjeeling on June 27.