Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced Rs 1,00,000 as donations for all community Durga Puja Committees for this year.
The Chief Minister made this announcement after a meeting with the members of the community Durga Puja committees in the state on Monday.
At the same time, he also requested the big-budget puja committees, who are capable of running their shows successfully with the state government aid, to voluntarily decline accepting that state government donation.
“Earlier, I said in a programme that I will give grants to those community Durga Puja committees with small budgets. However, I do not want to abuse the power of the Chief Minister. So, this grant will be open for all community Pujas. However, I will request those Puja Committees who are capable of organising their respective Pujas without the state government aid, not to take financial assistance from the state government. We want to give this grant of Rs 1,00,000 to those committees who cannot perform puja without this money,” the Chief Minister told media persons after the meeting with the representatives of different Puja Committees.
The Chief Minister, at the same time, assured that Puja committees across the state will not have to pay any price for electricity. However, the Chief Minister warned that DJs will not be allowed to play anywhere in the state during the Puja days.
“Liquor shops will be closed on the occasion of Maha Ashtami this year on October 19. Even liquor will not be available in the pubs and bars on that day. Maha Ashtami is an auspicious occasion. On that day, we offer flowers to Devi Durga. So, this year, we have decided to declare a dry day on that day. Puja is our religious tradition. Our cultural tradition is intertwined with the occasion. You should not do anything that hurts it,” the Chief Minister said.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister also ridiculed his predecessor and former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on this Puja grant issue. “In the previous regime, this grant almost took the shape of an auction to gain political mileage. But that strategy did not work in the last elections. Rather, many Puja Committees got dependent on grants,” the Chief Minister said.
(IANS)
