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Kolkata, Sep 16: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday issued a warning against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliates including Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) against disturbing peace in the state during the upcoming Durga puja festival. The Trinamool Congress chief also warned the right-wing organisation no to “play with fire” by using weapons during Durga puja.This year the saffron camp has planned ‘shastra puja’ on the occasion of Bijoya Dashami.
The occasion is largely celebrated by the RSS and VHP in various parts of the country.
Leaders of VHP from Bengal said that they will take legal steps if Mamata stops them.
Mamata on Saturday raised her voice against the saffron brigade and clarified that her government will simply not allow any procession with weapons and police will strictly deal with anyone trying to carry out any such plan.
This year the saffron camp has planned ‘shastra puja’ (weapon worship) on the occasion of Bijoya Dasami on September 30. Earlier in August, the leaders of VHP from Bengal said that they will take legal steps if Mamata Banerjee stops them to perform shastra puja.
The occasion is largely celebrated by the RSS and VHP in various parts of the country. But shastra puja has never been popular in West Bengal.
“Some people of RSS, Bajrang Dal and VHP-brand… if they think they can snatch away peace and hurt Bengal’s culture, then let me tell them clearly that don’t play with fire. You be good and celebrate the Puja well,” Banerjee said here at the state secretariat.
“Whoever it is, whether it’s you or I, Trinamool Congress, Congress, CPI-M, BJP… I will not spare anyone who orchestrates riots. Politics should be done with politics. Those who cannot do politics with politics they go for CBI, ED, riots, conspiracy. This is their game plan,” Banerjee said.
The Trinamool Congress supremo said any rally with weapons is illegal and such rallies won’t be permitted.
“Any violation will be dealt with strongly,” she cautioned.
Massive rallies were organised by RSS and its affiliates like Hindu Jagran Manch across the eastern state on April 5 in grandiose Ram Navami celebrations which saw thousands of Hindu activists, including school children, walking on the road brandishing sticks and sharp weapons.
Banerjee reiterated that there would be no Durga puja immersions on Ashura or the 10th day of Muharram (October 1).
With Ashura slated to be observed a day after Dussera or Bijoya Dashami (September 30), the administration had fixed September 30, as also October 2-4 as the dates for immersion of the idols of Durga and her children.A
Reviewing the 6 p.m. Dashami (September 30) immersion deadline that was earlier announced by Banerjee, the state government on Friday told the Calcutta High Court the cut-off was extended to 10 p.m.
