West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has always been a supporter of the Muslim community and a held a soft corner for them. From the time she has been the Chief Minister in Bengal Mamata on several occasions has proved her inclinations towards the Muslims.
After the Congress and the SP, now Trinamool Congress is also being counted among the Hindu-led Muslim-friendly parties. Bangladeshi refugees living illegally in West Bengal have also played a major role in Mamta Banerjee becoming the CM of the state for two consecutive times. Every move and decision taken by Mamta appear to be a policy trying to appease the minority class and these calculated policies of her have proved to be very effective also. With a motive to take another step in the favour of the minorities, Mamta had held a meeting with the Durga Puja organizers in Kolkatta on Wednesday.
During the meeting with the organisers Mamata said that on the day of Vijay Dashami, the practice of immersing the Durga idol in water can be carried out only till 6 pm as after that there will be the procession of Muharram. She further said that if both these events take place together, problems may arise as some people may take advantage of this opportunity and use Hindu and Muslim as a tool for their own interests. She urged the cooperation of the organisation regarding the matter.
However, after the meeting, Mamata tweeted that “Except for a period of 24 hours on the day of Muharram, immersion can occur on October 2, 3 and 4. ”
This year Durga Puja & Muharram fall on the same day. Except for a 24 hour period on the day of Muharram… 1/2
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 23, 2017
This is not the first time that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued such an order. Earlier in the previous year also, Banerjee led government in West Bengal had banned the immersion of Durga Idol. For this reason, Vijaya Dashmi was celebrated in Bengal a day before Muharram last year. However, this decision of the state government was named irrational by the Calcutta High Court and it was said that it is a clear attempt by the state government to appease the minorities in the state.
Many PILs were filed in the Calcutta High Court last year against the restrictions imposed by the state government on the immersion of the Durga statue. The filed petition said that the order of the state government to prohibit immersion of idol is against religious beliefs of the people. It also read that the government is pursuing a partisan attitude with the Hindus showing partial favours towards the minorities.
The bench, headed by Justice Dipankar Dutta, on October 6, 2016, in its order issued on this matter, reprimanded the state government saying that no such decision can be taken that provokes a community against another.
In spite of a warning given to the state government last year, yet again Banerjee has issued orders to restrict the timings and even the dates for the immersion of the Durga Idol again indicating the government’s inclinations towards the minorities.