Durga Puja Pandal in Kolkata makes use of sneakers for ‘ornament’, organizers say Pandal theme is ‘farmers’ protests’, VHP and BJP protest

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) have strongly objected to utilizing sneakers and slippers for adorning a Durga Puja Pandal within the Dum Dum space of Kolkata. Shubhendu Adhikari, chief of the opposition, has sought the intervention of the Chief Secretary of the State to intervene and get the sneakers faraway from the Pandal.
On October 9, Adhikari revealed a tweet with a picture of the Pandal on Twitter. He referred to as it an insult to the Hindu religion and demanded speedy motion from the authorities. He wrote, “A Durga Puja pandal in Dumdum Park has been decorated with shoes. This heinous act of insulting Maa Durga in the name of ‘Artistic liberty’ won’t be tolerated. I urge the Chief & Home Secretary to intervene & compel the organizers to remove the shoes before Shashti.”
A Durga Puja pandal in Dumdum Park has been embellished with sneakers.This heinous act of insulting Maa Durga within the identify of “Artistic liberty” gained’t be tolerated.I urge the Chief & Home Secretary @egiye_bangla to intervene & compel the organizers to take away the sneakers earlier than Shashti. pic.twitter.com/h3uQPbNIpS— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) October 9, 2021
Tathagata Roy, senior BJP chief and former Governor of Meghalaya, additionally echoed Adhikari’s sentiments. In an announcement, he stated that within the identify of freedom of artwork, every part couldn’t be tolerated. He additional referred to as the ornament an insult to Mata Durga and stated that such decorations harm the spiritual sentiments of Hindus.
VHP has additionally written a letter to the Home Secretary of Bengal. They demanded the removing of the sneakers from the Pandal. The VHP wrote, “We request you to take immediate and appropriate steps to remove the shoes from the Pandal. Unless these objectionable shoes are removed from the place of worship, the religious sentiments of Bengali Hindus will not calm down. I request you to take strong action against these miscreants that are destroying communal harmony and insulting Bengali Hindus.”
Organizers claimed sneakers positioned from Pandal
Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra Samiti’s official stated that the sneakers had been positioned away from the Pandal. He stated, “Our theme this year is Kisan Andolan. Accordingly, shoes have been installed on the way to the Pandal, which symbolizes a scene of police lathi-charge on the agitating farmers.”
The organizers of Dum Dum Park Bharat Chakra Club Puja additionally used farmers’ protests because the theme for this yr Pandal. They have positioned a reproduction of a tractor on the way in which of the Pandal. On one half, they’ve written the names of the farmers who died through the protests. There can be a poster that reads, “We are farmers. Not terrorist. Farmers are food soldiers.”