Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has iterated that none will be allowed to give Bengal a bad name and politicising pujas will not be allowed. ” Bengal will move forward, ” said Ms Banerjee during a programme yesterday.
” A 25 per cent concession will be given in electricity rates charged by the CESC and the State Electricity Board. Fire and municipal services are not charged, and there will also be no charges for advertisements, ” she informed.
” In place of Rs 10,000, an assistance of Rs 25,000 will be given to both small and big Pujo committees. In addition, pujas organised by ladies will get a Rs 5,000 assistance for getting separate police help. All the big pujas will help ten small pujas each, ” she said.
” In earlier years, dates of Durga Puja and Muharram had coincided. But both were celebrated peacefully; both communities had extended cooperation, she said and questioned, ” Is any other festival celebrated simultaneously with Ganapati puja in other States? In Bengal, people of all religious communities stay together, something which the State is way ahead of others. ”
” Crores of people come to the State during Durga Puja, visiting pandals in the city and districts. The cooperation of clubs and Puja committees with the police has helped to maintain order, Ms Banerjee said and added, ” In the whole of Bengal, 28,000 Durga Pujos are held, along with pujas in many homes. Yet some people complain that I don’t allow Durga Pujas. I am very hurt at such comments. ”
” In Bengal, Durga Puja is being held for centuries, and as the years go by, the number of pujas is increasing. This year the Durga puja carnival will be held on October 11, ” Ms Banerjee stated. (UNI)
