3 committees collaborate to create Durga idol resembling Mamata; BJP says ‘it’s insulting’

Sept. 4: As Durga Puja, the most celebrated occasion of the Bengalis is knocking on the doors, Puja Committees are busy in designing the idol of the goddess and the pandal. Three Durga Puja committees in Kolkata are collaborating to produce an idol of Goddess Durga which resembles Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. However,  the look-a-like of Bengal Chief Minster Mamata Banerjee will not hold weapons. She will rather hold symbols of the state government’s welfare schemes like Lokkhir Bhandar, Kanyashree, Yuvashree etc. But the look-alike idol of Mamata Banerjee will not be worshiped. An idol of Goddess Durga will be kept in the pandal for the purpose of worship.

However, this has invited sharp criticisms from various quarters,particularly from TMC’s arch rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Condemning the act in strong words, BJP’s Amit Malviya tweeted, “This deification of Mamata Banerjee, who has blood of innocent Bengalis on her hand, following the gruesome post-poll violence in Bengal, is nauseating. This is an insult to Goddess Durga. Mamata Banerjee must stop this. She is hurting the sensibilities of Hindus of Bengal.”

This deification of Mamata Banerjee, who has blood of innocent Bengalis on her hand, following the gruesome post poll violence in Bengal, is nauseating. This is an insult to goddess Durga. Mamata Banerjee must stop this. She is hurting the sensibilities of Hindus of Bengal. https://t.co/1px1OqsFWA

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 2, 2021

Retweeting Amit Malviya’s tweet, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said, “When someone tries to elevate you to God’s stature only to please you & your silence indicates consent, it means your ego has reached a point where conscience can’t hold it accountable.”

When someone tries to elevate you to God' s strature only to please you & your silence indicates consent, it means your ego has reached a point where conscience can't hold it accountable. https://t.co/ezBlvdWjSN

— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) September 3, 2021

While Vice president of Nazrul Park Unnayan Samiti, Partha Sarkar said, “Mamata (idol) will showcase the mass benefit schemes of the chief minister to reach out to the marginalised sections of society.” Talking about the idol, idol maker Mintu Pal said, “The fibreglass-made idol will be prepared keeping in mind the facial impression of the chief minister. “The idol will sport a white saree and in the background of the idol, there will be the logo of Biswa Bangla,” he added. The cost of this idol is Rs 2,10,000.