‘Police nod must for Oct. 1 immersions’
Mamata govt not to move SC
Undeterred by the Calcutta high court’s order allowing the immersion of Durga idols on Muharram day in West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee government on Friday made it clear that no immersion would take place without police permission on October 1, that is Ekadoshi as well as Muharram.
The state government’s decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the chief minister at Nabanna, the state secretariat, with many Trinamul Congress ministers and top officials seeking a way out after her government chose not to challenge the high court’s ruling in the Supreme Court to avoid further controversy following a consultation with veteran Congress leader and top lawyer Kapil Sibal.
At the meeting it was decided that puja organisers would have to apply for permission from the police if they want idol immersions on October 1. Ms Banerjee directed the police to hold another round of coordination meetings with all Durga Puja and Muharram organisers by Sunday to chalk out specific routes for idol immersion and Muharram processions.
Later, state home secretary Atri Bhattacharya
said: “Depending upon the circumstances and situations, if found fit, permission will be granted to puja organisers. If found unfit, permission will not be granted.” State DGP Surajit Kar Purkayastha said the high court’s order speaks of a condition “if permissible”.
Kolkata police commissioner Rajiv Kumar said: “No puja committee has so far applied for idol immersion on October 1.” BJP leader Rahul Sinha hit out at the state government’s new strategy, and said: “The permission has to be given if any puja organiser applies for it. Otherwise, it will be contempt of court.”
The CM also directed her party’s elected representatives to be in their respective areas to ensure peace and communal harmony.
This development came on a day West Bengal governor Keshari Nath Tripathi called for peace and communal harmony in the state. He said: “The high court’s order on Durga Puja idol immersions is neither victory nor defeat for anyone. It is an appeal to the people of West Bengal to maintain peace and harmony. The question of tension does not arise.” Mr Triapthi noted all must ensure that both the communities could organise their religious occasions peacefully.
Stung by the high court’s interim order on Thursday, the state government discussed the legal implications with Mr Sibal. In the morning, Trinamul Lok Sabha MP and lawyer Kalyan Banerjee went public with the state government’ move before the BJP could jump in to get political mileage out of the high court’s order. Turning the tables, he claimed the high court’s ruling did not go against the state government.
Mr Banerjee reasoned: “The high court in its ruling empowered the state government and its administration to decide the immersion modalities. It was discussed with Mr Sibal before the plan to approach the Supreme Court was dropped. The order says other directions will not come into effect if the immersion is not found permissible.”