Calcutta HC allows Durga immersion on Muharram: Mamata's selective secularism

Kolkata, September 22: Mamata Banerjee’s minority appraising politics has got a big blow from Calcutta High Court on Thursday. Bengal Chief Minister previously announced Durgal Idol immersion cannot take place on the same day of Mahram. Calcutta High Court Calcutta HC overturning the ban allowed the immersion of Durga idols till midnight on all days, starting from September 30 (Bijaya Dashami) and including October 1. The division bench also asked state government to take the responsibility of peaceful immersion and procession of Mahram.

The Advocate General (AG) Kishore Dutta has been ordered to inform the police commissioners and all district administrations to inform the new order by Calcutta High Court. The administration has to take responsibility for peaceful cooperation from both sides during immersion and procession.

"The state has no religion, which is one of the fundamental facets underlying secularism. There should not be any order of precedence in performing religious rites, rituals, ceremonies, and mourning among religious communities. There should be equality in every citizen's right to the corresponding obligation of the state to protect it," the bench observed.

Previously the state government had banned immersions after 10 pm on September 30, the last day of the five-day Puja, and October 1 to ward off possible communal clashes. Bench asked the state if there is any solid proof in favor of such claim. Without any proof, the decision would be taken as ban violating a constitutional right. The high court pulled up the Mamata Banerjee administration for “arbitrary” use of powers.