On January 10, there was tension in the Babu Ghat area of Kolkata regarding the BJP’s proposed Ganga Aarti. The police had refused permission for the programme. , Photo Credit: Debashish Bhaduri
A political row erupted on Tuesday over the BJP’s ‘Ganga Aarti’ event in Kolkata after the police denied permission for the event but BJP workers insisted on holding the event. State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar along with party supporters was detained by the Kolkata Police from Babu Ghat. There was a scuffle and ruckus for more than half an hour and several BJP supporters were taken into custody.
Mr Mazumdar, who alleged misbehavior at the hands of policemen, said there was never any ban on performing the Ganga aarti, but since the BJP decided to organize the event, the police did not give permission. He said, ‘Whenever the BJP plans to organize an event, the police deny permission. This is not the first time that such an event has been organized. We organize this program every year during the Gangasagar fair. But the police denied permission this time citing flimsy reasons,” Mr Majumdar said.
police communication
Earlier in the day, BJP leader Sajal Ghosh reached the spot where his party had proposed to organize ‘Ganga Aarti’, but was stopped by the Kolkata Police. There was chaos when the BJP supporters were stopped by the police. A letter by the Kolkata Police denying permission for the event stated that since a large number of pilgrims have started gathering at Babu Ghat to visit Gangasagar for the Gangasagar fair, the proposed event would be heavily crowded. The police communication also referred to the ongoing G-20 events in Kolkata.
The Trinamool Congress leadership said that by organizing such events, the BJP was just trying to create a spectacle and grab media attention. Trinamool leader Debanshu Bhattacharya said, “BJP is trying to import politics of Uttar Pradesh and Hindi belt and vitiate the atmosphere of the state.”
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has recently announced that the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi will be organized in Kolkata. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation is scouting the ghats to select a venue for the ‘Ganga Aarti’.