Calcutta High Court stays idol immersion curbs

Source – financialexpress.com

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday put on hold the West Bengal government’s decision to impose restrictions on the immersion of Durga idols to avoid an overlap with Moharram processions, and ordered police to chart different routes for both. Hearing three pleas challenging the restrictions after the five-day puja festival, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Rakesh Tiwary and Justice Harish Tandon said immersions can take place without any restrictions until midnight from September 30 (Vijayadashami), including October 1 (Moharram). Following the court’s order, sources said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with government officials at the state secretariat and asked them to make the necessary arrangements. ANI quoted Banerjee as saying, “Someone can slit my throat, but no one can tell me what to do.I will do what I can to keep peace.”

Later, Banerjee accused the Centre of hatching a “conspiracy” against her government. “I do not appease anyone. The Centre has hatched a conspiracy against us. It takes only a second to ignite a fire but a lot of effort to douse it. The allegations of appeasement against me are deeply insulting and disrespectful. Today, I am saying this with a heavy heart,” she said. “Some people are trying to demean the festival. They are trying to disrupt peace. If anybody tries to create unrest, I would be their biggest enemy. If anyone conspires to disturb the peace, they would have to take the responsibility,” Banerjee said. The state government had banned the immersion of idols beyond 10 pm on September 30, the last day of the festival, and October 1 to prevent a clash of processions, and maintain law and order.