Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has lately introduced a grant of Rs 25,000 to all of the neighborhood Durga Pujas in the state, rising it from Rs 10,000 final yr. Many really feel that the quantity has been raised protecting in thoughts the rise of the BJP in West Bengal. The saffron get together which had received solely two seats in 2014 elevated its tally to 18 in the 2019 Lok Sabha elctions.
Mamata Banerjee has additionally introduced that neighborhood puja organisers will get 25 per cent concession on their electrical energy payments from the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) as effectively the state electrical energy board. It ought to be said right here that pandals and gentle decorations are the main sights for folks visiting Kolkata throughout the Durga Puja.
“We have decided to increase the grant to the clubs organising Durga Puja from Rs 10,000 last year to Rs 25,000 this year,” Mamata Banerjee lately mentioned on the administrative and coordination assembly with the Puja committees. She additionally mentioned the state Police Department will present an extra help of Rs 5,000 to the neighborhood pujas organised by ladies.
Banerjee has additionally requested the outstanding Puja organisers in town to shun VIP entrance on the Puja pandals. “Do not make VIP gates for the pujas. People should stand in queue to see the idols,” Mamata banerjee mentioned.
Hailing Bengal’s age-old custom of communal concord, Banerjee mentioned nobody can be allowed to politicise Durga Puja in West Bengal. “Bengal is the only state where Durga Puja and Muharram can be observed simultaneously. No other states achieve such a feat. This is Bengal’s age-old tradition and all of us have to work to hold on to it,” the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo mentioned.
“We won’t let anyone politicise the Pujas in Bengal,” Mamata mentioned taking a veiled dig on the BJP.
But no matter she might say, the BJP which until final yr was not that includes prominently in the puja committees in Kolkata has began flexing its muscle tissue. Knowing very effectively that neighborhood pujas appeal to 1000’s of individuals regardless of their political affinity, the BJP is making an attempt its greatest to take over puja committees in some elements of Kolkata. And to high all of it Union residence Minister Amit Shah is ready to inaugurate this yr, quite a lot of high pujas in town.
So this puja, there can be many different attention-grabbing developments to be careful for different than simply pandal hopping and gorging delicacies.
PNN & Agencies
