Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja Row: BJP Leader Alleges Police Blocking Visitors, Threatens Early Immersion

**Kolkata: BJP Leader Alleges Police Block Visitors at Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja Pandal**

A day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja in central Kolkata, which portrayed the theme ‘Operation Sindoor’, one of the main organizers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sajal Ghosh alleged that police are blocking visitors from reaching the puja pandal.

“If police don’t stop their atrocities and if the audio-visual is not allowed for the visitors, then we will close the puja and immerse the idol before Vijaya Dashami. Is performing Durga Puja a crime in this state? The wide lane of 40 feet is reduced to 15 feet by police by erecting barricades. We have abided by every rule set by Calcutta High Court in setting up the pandal,” Ghosh complained.

### Allegation of Political Vendetta

Ghosh further accused the police of indirectly forcing the Durga Puja committee to close the pandal. “Due to the barricades, visitors are not able to come to this puja pavilion, and cars cannot enter the area. Continuing the puja while fighting with the police is not possible. Public opinion is the only way to continue the puja. Otherwise, we will put black cloth on the idol’s face and, after talking to the priest, immerse the idol,” he added.

He claimed that this is political vendetta by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), as the audio-visual presentation credits the central government for tackling cross-border terrorism and giving Pakistan a befitting reply.

### Police Denies Allegations

Kolkata Commissioner of Police Manoj Verma dismissed the claims made by the BJP leader, denying any obstruction by the police.

### TMC’s Response

Responding to the controversy, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh stated that the police had set up barricades purely for the safety of visitors.

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The situation highlights the ongoing political tensions during the festive season in Kolkata, with both parties presenting contrasting narratives over the Durga Puja pandal at Santosh Mitra Square.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/santosh-mitra-square-durga-puja-row-bjp-leader-alleges-police-blocking-visitors-threatens-early-immersion