Hindu festivals restricted in WB. Needs High Court Permission. Are Hindus subjugated in the state?

Hindu Rights of Worship is tormented under the rule of CM Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. 

Dismissing state’s objection, procession can be held in Srirampur on Ramnavami and BSS Basanti Puja Procession at Beldanga: High Court permitted with conditions.

Aditya Banerjee | HENB | Kolkata | April 12, 2024:: Calcutta High Court granted conditional permission for processions in Srirampur of Hooghly on Ramnavami day. The state government had objected to the procession apprehending unrest in the Lok Sabha polls. But on Friday, the High Court dismissed the state’s objection and allowed the procession. However, the court ordered to reduce the number of participants in the proposed procession. Besides, Justice Jai Sengupta also granted permission for a procession on the occasion of Basanti Puja of Bharat Sevashram Sangh at Beldanga in Murshidabad on April 14.

While the Eid-ul-Fitr was observed everywhere pompously in the state just a day before without any objection from police, Hindu festivities in Ram Navami and Basanti Puja are objected by the state authority reminding the majority Sanatani people as they  are still in a subjugated condition under the rule of Mamata Banerjee.

Last year, several places in the state became heated due to Ramnavami processions. Srirampur GT Road is one of them. NIA is investigating the  incident. The state did not allow the procession at the same place this time due to fear of communal disturbance. The police were afraid that if 35,000 people marched, there might be a lot of clash like previous year as some parts of the route of the procession is a sensitive areas. As a result, the administration did not want to take risks with the Ram Navami Procession. The state’s objection was rejected by the High Court. The proposal to change the route was also rejected. On Friday, a bench of Justice Jay Sengupta said that the Ramnavami procession can be held through an area of 700 meters on the GT Road in Srirampur. However, there are also several conditions as imposed by the court. The court directed that a maximum of 200 people can stay in 13 processions. According to the court, the proposal to change the route will not be accepted if the number of people in the procession is ordered to be reduced. The court felt that the police had the capacity to handle a procession of 5000 people. The judge has also made it clear that the state can take help from the central forces if it deems necessary. Incidentally, there were allegations of brick pelting in the procession last year. Police filed three FIRs on that incident. NIA is investigating that case.

On the other hand, the Bharat Sevashram Sangh has also appealed to take out procession on April 14 on the occasion of Basanti Puja at their Beldanga Branch in Murshidabad. The state government also rejected that application fearing communal disturbance. Challenging the state’s decision, the Bharat Sevashram Sangh approached the Calcutta High Court. The Sangh’s lawyer Billwadal Bhattacharya said that a bench of Calcutta High Court Justice Jai Sengupta had given permission for their rally. In addition, the question has been raised, if there is a risk of an incident, will we stop the daily activities just because of this apprehension of any disturbance?  Justice Jay Sengupta said, “For the last twenty years, the Bharat Sevashram Sangh has held this procession on the occasion of Basanti Puja. Their school students will take part  there. How justified is the reason for objecting to the procession there?” The judge asked the state intelligence agency to collect more information on the matter. If necessary, this procession should be allowed with the help of central forces. However, in that case, the number of participants in the procession should be reduced from 5,000 to 3,000, the court said.

Though the Calcutta High Court has granted the permissions of Hindu procession of Ram Navami at Srirampur on April 17 and Basanti Puja procession of Bharat Sevashran Sangha at Beldanga on April 14, the conditions imposed by the court has grossly hurt the Hindu sentiments.

Where there is no restrictions for the observation of the festivals of other religions from Eid to Christmas, only Hindus are restricted to observe their festivals and procession in West Bengal.  Hindus in West Bengal under CM Mamata Banerjee’s rule are not allowed for their freedom in Rights of Worship.

In many earlier occasions, Hindus in West Bengal had to knock the door of Calcutta High Court to obtain permission for Durga Puja, Saraswati Puja programmes, and other Hindu processions.

Even the judiciary is unable to .ensure the Hindus to exercise their full religious rights defeating all the political repression thundered upon them.

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__Inputs from ABP.