Cuttack: The Cuttack unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has given a 12-hour bandh call in the city for Monday demanding withdrawal of restrictions imposed by the state government on organising Durga Puja.
Informing about the bandh, senior BJP leader Sameer Dey said all the shops, markets and commercial establishments will remain closed during the bandh. Similarly, vehicular movement will remain suspended. “Essential services will be kept out of the bandh purview,” he added.
“It is yet to be understood why the state government has imposed restrictions on Durga Puja when it has already relaxed the restrictions. The city dwellers are not in a position to part with the 1000-year-old tradition of celebrating Durga Puja. With each passing day, resentment among people is only growing stronger. They are opposing the restrictions, particularly on the height of the idol, restricting it to four feet,” he said.
“The city dwellers have been observing the Covid-19 guidelines sincerely. Meanwhile, the government has eased the restrictions to a great extent, lifting weekend shutdowns, allowing malls and cinema halls to do business. But when it comes to observing Durga Puja, there are restrictions. It is not acceptable,” he further added.
Notably, several puja committees recently staged a peaceful demonstration, protesting against the restrictions on celebration imposed by the government.
Similarly, the puja committees and the Cuttack city peace committee Saturday decided to meet the Chief Minister and seek his personal intervention on the restriction on the height of Duga idols.
According to the guidelines issued by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) of Odisha August 9, the size of the Durga idol should be less than 4 feet. The order also said there will be no more than seven people in the mandap.
PNN