FIR Filed Against CPI(M) Leader Mohammad Salim Over Alleged Insults to Durga Puja
CPI(M) leader Mohammad Salim faces FIR for derogatory remarks about Durga Puja, sparking tensions with the BJP in Kolkata.
Kolkata, October 19 (Daily Kiran) : Kolkata witnessed a stir on October 19 as an FIR was lodged against Mohammad Salim, the state secretary of the CPI(M), for allegedly making derogatory comments about Durga Puja. The complaint was filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Tala police station.
According to police sources, the FIR was registered based on the BJP’s complaint, and an investigation is currently underway. The complaint was initiated by BJP spokesperson and party leader Saptarshi Chaudhary, who claimed that Salim’s remarks had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.
Chaudhary expressed concern, stating, “The way he has been commenting about Maa Durga makes us Hindus uncomfortable. We are shocked by his statements regarding the Hindu community.” He confirmed that he had filed the complaint at the Tala police station and is awaiting police action.
The controversy intensified following a tragic incident at the Chorebagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal, where a stampede resulted in the deaths of 19 devotees. Salim criticized the ruling party and the state government over the incident, saying, “So many deaths and injuries! We are all in shock. No one wanted such a tragedy during the festival.” He emphasized the need for the government to provide timely information to the families of the deceased and injured.
In response to Salim’s criticism, the ruling party and state government have denied all allegations. Previously, Salim had mocked the BJP over a government advertisement that featured an extra hand on a Durga idol, questioning their understanding of the number of hands Durga is depicted with.
Salim remarked, “To this day, the BJP and the state government cannot decide how many hands Durga’s idol has. Even atheists know that Durga has ten hands.” He also accused the government of turning a public festival into a state-sponsored event, criticizing the expenditure on decorations and materials sourced from Gujarat for pandals. “Why is this happening?” he questioned.
Tensions continue to rise as the investigation unfolds, highlighting the intersection of politics and religion in the region.
