BJP slams Mamata, calls HC immersion order a victory for people

Kolkata: Terming Calcutta High Court's decision against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's earlier orders as a victory for the people, Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Vice-President Chandra Kumar Bose and Rajya Sabha member Roopa Ganguly on Thursday accused Mamata Banerjee of indulging in divisive politics.

"We have observed since 2011 when Mamata Banerjee came to power and became the chief minister, she has been indulging in divisive politics, vote bank politics, and appeasement of a certain community," Bose said.

Meanwhile, Ganguly said that Banerjee's move had come with a motive "to keep her Muslim vote bank intact."

Stressing on the harmony between the Hindu and Muslim community in Bengal, Bose said the Muslims did not need appeasement, but Banerjee deliberately went out of her way "to capture the 27-28% vote bank."

"I think in the Durga Puja festival, all communities participate irrespective of religion, caste, and creed," Bose added.

"If her government was secular, it would've supported both processions simultaneously," Bose said and added that if BJP forms the government in West Bengal, both the Durga Puja immersion procession and the Muharram procession would happen together on the streets of Kolkata.

"She (Mamata Banerjee) is creating division deliberately because she's scared. because people are getting into BJP," accused BJP MP Ganguly.

Cornering the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief over her remark that she'll reiterate her orders even if she is accused of appeasement, Ganguly said that Banerjee is propagating appeasement as a part of her plan and in fact, enjoying the accusations.

Ganguly further said that Communist Party of India (Marxist) ruined Bengal, and Mamata Banerjee has taken the life out of it, but people have now understood the reality of Mamata Banerjee government.

Talking about the Court's orders, Ganguly said that Police should organize both processions according to such time and location that they have separate routes.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had issued orders that no idol immersion would take place after 10 p.m. on September 30 and October 1, in light of Muharram procession on the same day.

However, Calcutta High court on Thursday announced the verdict against Benerjee's orders and allowed the idol immersion and Muharram processions to continue simultaneously.