In spite of the direction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on September 4 to police administration to thwart any attempt of ‘shastra puja’ or weapon worship on Dashami day of Durga Puja, sources within the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said that they intend to carry out shastra puja in at least 300 places across the state and to get a permission they would move court on September 18.
Chandranath Das, VHP’s vice president for South Bengal said that the process for filing a case has been initiated. “We have got the paper works ready and a case will be filed on September 18. Letters will also be shot off to authorities at Lalbazar, the Kolkata Police headquarters and local police stations concerned. Shastra puja is an essential part of Durga Puja. Mamata is the daughter of a Brahmin and she knows the paraphernalia of pujas but she ignores those to appease Muslims and ensure her votebank,” Das said. Asked if they would carry out shastra puja even if authorities didn’t give permission he said it would be decided later at the last moment.
It was found out that preparations were afoot to perform shastra puja at least 300 places in West Bengal.
VHP state general secretary Dr Chinmoy Dutta said that it was an attack on tradition. “It will be carried out within the pandal with the help of Bajrang Dal. It is a symbolic exhibition of bravery and an inspiration to fight against evil forces. We don’t intend to carry out any procession with arms but if over-enthusiast common people do it, we won’t be able to help that. The same had happened during Ram Navami when people took out rallies with arms,” Dutta told DNA.
Surendra Jain, international joint general secretary of VHP came down heavily on Mamata. “Soon she will put a ban on the entry of Hindus to Bengal, given her love for the minority votebank because of which she had resorted to blatant appeasement of Muslims. Putting a ban on shastra puja was the limit. Why can’t she stop the procession with arms during Muharrum?” he told DNA and added that they would carry out shastra puja with or without the permission of the state.
“We will do it even if she doesn’t give permission. She may go ahead and ask the authorities to arrest us. Let us see if there is enough space in the jails. Hindus will give her a fitting reply,” Jain said
