'Islamic' prayers inside Bengal's puja pandal sparks row, BJP charges TMC for 'appeasment'

The Opposition BJP in West Bengal unleashed a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led State Government following an incident where Islamic prayers were allegedly observed alongside worship rituals at a Durga Puja pandal in Uttarpara, Serampore. The saffron party accused the State Government of ‘defiling’ the sanctity of Durga Puja. 

The BJP accused the Mamata-led government of engaging in 'appeasement' under the guise of 'secularism' and asserted that all actions were carried out at the direction of the Bengal Government, which grants approval for all puja pandals. 

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the saffron party wrote, “In the name of ‘secularism’, a convenient euphemism for ‘appeasement’, Mamata Banerjee’s administration is defiling the sanctity of Durga Puja. At a puja pandal in Serampore’s Uttarpara, devotees of Maa are being subjected to Islamic prayers. This is being done at the behest of the West Bengal Govt, which approves all pandals.” 

The BJP added that Serampore saw high-octane communal violence during the occasion of Ramnavami and accused the Mamata Government of inciting such violence by actions similar to playing Islamic prayers inside a puja pandal. 

“Let us not forget that Serampore witnessed widespread communal violence during Ramnavami. Shame on Mamata Banerjee for reducing Hindus to second-grade citizens in Bengal.” 

In the name of ‘secularism’, a convenient euphemism for ‘appeasement’, Mamata Banerjee’s administration is defiling the sanctity of Durga Puja.
At a puja pandal in Serampore’s Uttarpara, devotees of Maa are being subjected to Islamic prayers. This is being done at the behest of… pic.twitter.com/T2kVvsHQNk

— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) October 23, 2023

‘Azaan’ in Durga Puja pandal 

In a separate incident that sparked massive outrage, a city Durga Puja committee incorporated Azaan, a Muslim call for prayer, along with Sanskrit hymns as the theme music for their festive celebrations in 2019. The organisers said it was in line with the "communal harmony" theme chosen by the committee for the respective year's puja. Santanu Singha, a Calcutta High Court lawyer, said he filed a complaint at Beleghata police station accusing the organisers of "disturbing peace and tranquillity" in West Bengal.