Mamata Banerjee's Muharram, Durga idol immersion plan

A day after the Calcutta High Court allowed immersion of Durga idols on all days of Vijayadashami including on Muharram which falls on October 1, a defiant Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today issued a new order that says a government permit is a must for immersion.

The order says those planning immersion of Durga idols must seek permission from the police. "Security is my first priority," she said, a day after the court order proved to be a setback for her and an opportunity for the BJP to accuse her of minority appeasement.

The state government had



imposed restrictions on Durga idol immersion on Vijaydashami on September 30 after 10 pm and said no immersion would be allowed on October 1, the day Muharram is scheduled to be observed. At least three public interest litigations (PILs) had challenged the restrictions.

In its ruling, the court pulled up Mamata for the controversial order . "Show us the material by which you are exercising the extreme step. You are exercising the power without any basis," the court said. "You are the State, welfare State. You cannot say one can be there and another cannot be there," it said.