West Bengal govt may move SC against Calcutta HC decision on idol immersion during Muharram

The West Bengal government may decide to approach the Supreme Court against a decision by the Calcutta high court that put on hold a controversial order restricting the immersion of idols on Durga Puja on account of Muharram.

The high court had slammed the Mamata Banerjee administration for “arbitrary” use of powers on Thursday and said idol immersion will continue on all days, including October 1, which is Muharram. The state government had banned immersions after 10 PM on September 30, the last day of the five-day Puja, and October 1 to ward off possible communal clashes.

“The decision will be finalised at a meeting with the chief minister at midday after considering the pros and cons of the move,” said a senior minister of the state.

Read | Calcutta HC order on Durga idol immersion: Defiant Mamata says 'no one can order me what to do'

The chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed her dissatisfaction over the judgement without mentioning it. While inaugurating a prominent puja pandal in south Kolkata, she said, “Someone can even slit my throat, but I will not succumb to conspiracy,” she said.

Mamata Banerjee did not clarify who the conspirators were, but it was seen as a veiled reference to the BJP that said the court order unmasked the state government’s communal politics.

Read | Durga idol immersion case: Calcutta HC says state govt using extreme power without any basis