Reacting to the Calcutta High Court’s order on immersion of goddess Durga idols, West Bengal Chief Minister today said that she will do what she can to maintain peace in the state.
“I will do what I can to keep peace. Someone can slit my throat but no one can tell me what to do,” the CM said.
The CM said this while reacting to the Calcutta High Court order that lifted all the restrictions on Durga Puja immersion imposed by the TMC government. The court allowed immersion till 12 am on all days including on 'Ashura', the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram. It even termed Mamata government's directive as ‘arbitrary’ and asked police to designate separate routes for Durga Puja immersions and Tazia processions on the occasion of Muharram, in the city and ensure adequate security for both.
The CM further strongly countered allegations of appeasing the minority community, saying such comments against her are ‘deeply insulting’. “I do not believe in appeasement. These comments are deeply insulting. I believe in the religion of humanity that talks about the harmony among all the religions.”
She also accused the Central government of conspiring against Bengal. "The centre hatches several conspiracies against us. They take help of different agencies from time to time. But I am strong believer in divine powers. I believe we will demolish all the conspiracies."
Banerjee said she observes the rituals of all the communities with equal enthusiasm but nobody raises the question of appeasement when it comes to a non-Muslim festival.
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"If I go to Muslim festival, people terms it as appeasement. But when I go the Chhath puja celebrations or observe Buddha Purnima, does anybody ask whom am I appeasing? When I go to the temples or be present in the midnight prayer on Christmas, does anyone raise the question of appeasement?" she asked.
"It is not the custom to immerse the goddess on a Saturday or on Akadoshi (the day after Dussehra). So where was the problem? Some people are trying to demean the festival. They are trying to disrupt peace," Banerjee alleged.
Issuing a stern warning, she said those who are conspiring to create unrest in the state would have to take responsibility for it. "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," she asserted.
The Mamata Banerjee government had banned idol immersion after 10 pm on September 30 - Dashami - when the Durga Puja ends. The Muslim community will mark Ashura on October 1. The decision stoked a controversy with the BJP and RSS terming the state's order ‘unconstitutional’.
Earlier in the day, Mamata had greeted people on the occasion of Navratri which begins today.
