Row Over Height Of Durga Idol: BJP Calls 12-Hour Cuttack Bandh

Cuttack: Protesting the decision of Odisha government to limit the height of idol of Goddess Durga within four feet, the Cuttack district unit of BJP on Sunday called a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh of the city on Monday.

Briefing the mediapersons here, BJP leader Samir Dey said the bandh has been called as the state government insulted senior citizens of Cuttack city by turning a deaf ear to their request to increase the height of the idol of the Goddess.

He, however, said barring emergency services, all business establishments, government and private offices and educational institutions will remain closed from 6 am to 6 pm.

Referring to the meeting of the Chief Secretary and Special Relief Commissioner with the members of Puja Committees and Mahanagar Puja Committees and Shanti Committee on Friday, Dey said there is no coordination between the government and administration.

“Why did the Chief Secretary not hold a meeting with the Chief Minister on the matter before convening one with the Puja Committees and Shanti Committee? He should have convened the meeting after a discussion with the Chief Minister,” he pointed out.

The former BJP MLA also criticised the BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab. “Was Mahtab not aware of the issue? Now he is willing to take up the issue with the Chief Minister. Why he did not meet him earlier?” Dey wondered.

Also Read: Durga Idol’s Height: Ruckus In Puja Committees’ Meeting In Cuttack

Terming the decision of the state government as ‘one-sided’, BJP leader Dey said the BJD sincerely wants that there should not be Durga Puja in Cuttack city.

Referring to the meeting of the Chief Secretary and the Special Relief Commissioner with the members of the Puja Committees and Mahanagar Puja Committees and Shanti Committee, he questioned as to why members of other parties were not invited to the meeting.

“A ruling party MLA and former party MLA were deliberately invited to the meeting while members of other parties were ignored as they would put pressure on the government. We strongly condemn the biased attitude of the state government. We urge the government not to dance to the tune of bureaucrats and impartially reconsider the decision on its own while respecting the religious sentiments of the people of twin cities,” Dey maintained.

Addressing the meeting of the puja committees of twin cities, Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee and Purvanchal Shanti Committee yesterday, Mahtab criticised the decision of the government to limit the height of the idol within four feet. “Will the Coronavirus run away if the height of the idol is kept within four feet? This is ridiculous. Anybody can move the court against the lop-sided decision of the state government,” he said.

He further maintained that limiting the height of the idol of the Goddess will be a gross violation of the centuries-old rituals.

Former BJD MLA and secretary of Cuttack Mahanagar Puja Committee Pravat Tripathy said Shanti Committee will meet the Chief Minister in person and ventilate the religious sentiments of the people. “We are hopeful that the Chief Minister will consider the sentiments of the people. We also expect the decision of the government on this matter by September 16,” he added.

Also Read: Height Of Durga Idols: Odisha Govt To Decide On Restrictions In Cuttack In Two Days