As Dussera is just a day ahead of Muharram, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday asked the people to cooperate with each other and not to fall prey to provocation leading to communal problems.
Banerjee addressed a large meeting of Durga Puja organisers, leaders of the Muslim community and other religions. She told them that Durga idol immersions, set for September 30 after the four-day Puja festival ends, would be allowed only till 6 pm on that day and would resume on October 2, after Muharram.
“Some quarters may try to instigate people to flare up communal tension and there are people who may try to take political advantage of this”, Banerjee said.
“Why should we take the blame because of some people who are trying to take political advantage?”, she asked.
Banerjee directed SPs in the districts to talk to Durga Puja committees and Muharram committees regarding holding of their rallies and said that there would not be any idol immersion on October 1, on the scheduled day of Muharram.
“We will request all puja organizers not to hold immersions after 6 pm on Dashami, September 30. No immersions will be allowed on October 1. As a concession, we will allow immersions till October 4. The Red Road Carnival will be held on October 3,” Mamata said on Wednesday.
Banerjee also warned her people of provoking posts on the social networking sites which lead to communal disturbances. “People are posting fake photos of incidents on social networking sites. People must be very cautious about this and remember that cyber crime is also a crime,” she said.
“Muharram is not a festival we must keep that in mind. It’s our responsibility. I have heard that some people have plans to disturb and drive people in a wrong path,” she said stressing that the puja committees should play a “bigger role” in this context.
