Immersion at Baghbazar Ghat
Dismissing suggestions that the directive had a communal intent, Adhikari said the measure was aimed at upholding the sanctity of immersion rituals. Kolkata: Only those who believe in ‘sanatan dharma’ will be allowed to touch Durga idols during immersion, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Wednesday while inspecting security arrangements at Baje Kadamtala Ghat.
Adhikari said Kolkata Police commissioner Ajay Nand has been instructed to maintain a record of those involved in immersion. I have told the CP to record the names of those who come here. They must also be identified,” the CM said. “To preserve sanctity, we must follow traditions, scriptures and norms followed for thousands of years,” he added. He has no answers,” former CPM MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said. Earlier, citing traditions, Adhikari had said trolleys, and not cranes, would be used in immersions and DJ music would be banned. Environment activist Naba Dutta of Sabuj Mancha said, “We have been protesting the use of DJ music, but for the first time, our wishes have been fulfilled. Holding low tide responsible for this, a KMC official said, “We are waiting for high tide to clear the accumulated structures.”
“Only those who believe in Sanatan Dharma should touch the idols. “Does he (Adhikari) have a list of who is a ‘sanatani’ and who is not? Can he explain how someone becomes a ‘sanatani’? Bengal Congress senior Suman Roy Chaudhuri condemned Adhikari’s remarks, arguing that they ran contrary to India’s constitutional commitment to pluralism. Special mechanical ramps, trolleys and conveyor systems have been installed at major immersion ghats like Baje Kadamtala, Nimtala and Gwalior ghat.
On Wednesday, cranes were out and rail-mounted trolleys took their place at immersions in Hooghly. On Thursday afternoon, however, a TOI team saw heaps of idol structures at Baje Kadamtala Ghat.