West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya raised alarms over a surge in ‘radicalisation’ in certain districts, drawing a parallel with Bangladesh and assuring that this year’s Durga Puja will be celebrated peacefully. He criticised the previous TMC administration and called for safeguarding religious freedom and cultural heritage.

मुख्य बिंदु (Key Takeaways)

  • BJP leader highlights rising radicalisation in West Bengal
  • Draws parallels with Bangladesh to stress need for peaceful Durga Puja
  • Calls for keeping politics out of religious celebrations

Kolkata – Samik Bhattacharya, the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal, addressed a crowd at the Khuti Puja ceremony in College Square, promising a peaceful Durga Puja while warning of “tremendous radicalisation” in some districts. Citing Bangladesh, where Durga idols are broken and DJ music follows traditional chants, he warned that similar trends were emerging in parts of the state, especially Murshidabad.

Bangladesh Parallel and Cultural Shock

Bhattacharya described how in Bangladesh the hands of Durga idols are shattered and the sacred “ghat” is taken away, followed by loud DJ beats after devotional songs. He suggested that a comparable atmosphere is being felt in West Bengal, implying that unchecked radical elements could jeopardise the sanctity of the festival.

Political Context and TMC Critique

The BJP chief criticised the former Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for treating Durga Puja merely as a “festival” rather than a religious observance. “If the essence of a festival supersedes the religious practice, no one will come to College Square,” he said, emphasizing that the idol must remain central to attract devotees.

Historical References and Security Concerns

He invoked the legacy of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the young Vice‑Chancellor of Calcutta University, who once raised his voice against atrocities on Hindus in East Pakistan. Bhattacharya also recalled the murder of Haragobinda Das and Chandan Das during last year’s Waqf protests in Murshidabad, underscoring the ongoing threats to those who publicly display Hindu icons.

Future Direction and Party Stance

Bhattacharya urged BJP MLAs to participate in local Durga Puja celebrations while insisting that politics must stay out of the rituals. “If a Puja committee wants to make a party chairperson, they should act as public servants, not forcefully capture a Durga Puja elsewhere,” he declared. He also refused to head any puja committee, reinforcing the party’s stance that the festival should be free from partisan control.

In 2021, Kolkata’s Durga Puja earned UNESCO’s “Intangible Cultural Heritage” tag, highlighting its global cultural significance. Bhattacharya’s pledge to keep this year’s celebrations peaceful and rooted in tradition reflects both a political strategy and a response to growing communal anxieties.