Only ‘Sanatanis’ Can Touch Durga Idols At Immersion Ghats: Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari

News india Only ‘Sanatanis’ Can Touch Durga Idols At Immersion Ghats: Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari

Last Updated:October 23, 2026, 09:48 IST

Emphasising the importance of religious customs, he added, “To preserve sanctity, we must follow traditions, scriptures and norms followed for thousands of years.”

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said that only those who believe in ‘Sanatan Dharma’ would be allowed to touch Durga idols during immersion. He made the remarks while reviewing security arrangements at Baje Kadamtala Ghat, dismissing allegations that the directive had a communal motive and saying it was intended to preserve the sanctity of immersion rituals.

Adhikari said Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand had been instructed to maintain a record of people participating in the immersion process and ensure their identification.

“Only those who believe in Sanatan Dharma should touch the idols. I have told the CP to record the names of those who come here. They must also be identified," the chief minister said.

Emphasising the importance of religious customs, he added, “To preserve sanctity, we must follow traditions, scriptures and norms followed for thousands of years."

The remarks triggered criticism from opposition leaders, who accused Adhikari of promoting religious exclusion and going against constitutional principles.

Former CPM MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya questioned the basis of the directive, asking, “Does he (Adhikari) have a list of who is a ‘sanatani’ and who is not? Can he explain how someone becomes a ‘sanatani’? He has no answers."

Bhattacharya also alleged that the chief minister was acting in accordance with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agenda.

Senior Bengal Congress leader Suman Roy Chaudhuri condemned the remarks, arguing that they contradicted India’s constitutional commitment to pluralism. Trinamool leader Baiswanor Chatterjee also criticised Adhikari, saying, “One cannot understand Hinduism with such a narrow mindset."

Earlier, Adhikari had cited tradition to announce that trolleys, rather than cranes, would be used during idol immersions and that DJ music would be prohibited.

The arrangements at immersion sites on Wednesday reflected these directives, with rail-mounted trolleys replacing cranes at Hooghly. Special mechanical ramps, trolleys and conveyor systems were installed at major ghats, including Baje Kadamtala, Nimtala and Gwalior Ghat.

Loud music from speakers, commonly heard in previous years, was absent from the immersion sites. However, fireworks disrupted the relative quiet in some areas.

Environment activist Naba Dutta of Sabuj Mancha welcomed the restrictions on DJ music, saying, “We have been protesting the use of DJ music, but for the first time, our wishes have been fulfilled."

According to sources at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), around 2,800 idols were immersed on Wednesday. Doighat recorded approximately 700 immersions, while 560 idols were immersed at Baje Kadamtala Ghat. Nimtala and Judges Ghat also witnessed an increase in immersion activity, although most puja organisers did not participate in the process.

However, heaps of idol structures remained at Baje Kadamtala Ghat on Thursday afternoon, when a Times of India team visited the site. A KMC official attributed the accumulation to low tide, saying, “We are waiting for high tide to clear the accumulated structures."

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Aanchal SinhaSub Editor

Aanchal is the Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than four years of experience in national and international news. My work involves covering breaking news, politics, current affairs and developments...Read More

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