Kolkata: In the aftermath of the brutal rape and murder of a female resident doctor at Kolkata’s state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, several Durga Puja committees have decided to reject the West Bengal government’s festival honorarium as a mark of protest.
Last month, the Mamata Banerjee-led government had raised aid for the puja committees, ranging from Rs 60,000 to Rs 85,000, and other sops, for this year’s celebrations.
In a letter to the district magistrate, Hoogly’s Apanader Durga Puja Committee secretary wrote, “In solidarity with the RG Kar incident, residents/well wishers/members of our organisation have decided not to accept the government grant of 85,000 rupees at least for this year.”
Another panel, the Konnagar Masterpara Sarbojanin Durga Puja Committee has also decided not to accept the government aid this year. Soma Chakraborty, a committee member, informed the residents about the decision, saying, “Women need to be respected first, only then can we celebrate and spread happiness.”
The all-women Krishnapur Sanyasitala Durgotsav panel from Bengal’s Murshidabad district wrote to the local police station, informing the officer-in-charge about their decision to refuse the grant. Kalpana Ghosh, the committee’s secretary, said, “A woman has been brutally raped and murdered. We are protesting on the streets and joining rallies, then how can we take money from the chief minister and celebrate this puja? This is inhumane.”
Similar calls for boycott of the grant by puja committees have come from South 24 Parganas District’s Joynagar, North 24 Paragana’s Barasat and Kolkata’s Hiland Park.
There are nearly 43,000 recognised puja committees in West Bengal, of which around 3,000 are based in Kolkata. Every year, the ten-day festive fervour grips the state as people from all walks of life come together to worship Goddess Durga.
The state government, which marks the culmination of the festivities with a grand carnival on Red Road in Kolkata, has increased this year’s grant. The festival features on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
Announcing the puja grant, Chief Minister Banerjee had also assured the committees that next year, she would distribute Rs one lakh to each panel for organising the festival.
Meanwhile, the Forum of Durgotsab, an association representing community pujas in Kolkata, urged puja organisers not to mix the RG Kar incident with the celebrations. “Forum for Durgotsab condemns the gruesome crime at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and demands justice for the victim, but we appeal to the puja committees to let the festival continue on its own path, and not mix the emotions of Bengalis with this heinous crime,” read the organisation’s statement.
In an attempt to douse the fire, the Trinamool Congress dared the committees to return the grants used for previously held pujas. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh posted on X: “Those puja committees, who are mixing the RG Kar issue with pujas to not accept the grants, should return the earlier grants, too. Those who are part of these puja committees should also ensure they won’t take any benefits from the state government schemes.”
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sajal Ghosh, who is an organising member of Kolkata’s popular Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja, posted a video statement on his social media account, urging committees to join the boycott. “Those who can’t protect the living Durgas, how can they give respect to the Durga idols? That’s why I urge the people not to accept this blood-soaked money. I’m sure those committees, who have decided not to accept this grant, will find the public stand by them and donate for the pujas,” he said.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)