BJP leader, Kolkata Police spar over Durga Puja notice

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sajal Ghosh, who is also the organiser of the prominent Durga Puja in Kolkata, has alleged that the police are unfairly targeting his committee after it unveiled Operation Sindoor as this year’s theme of the festival.

Mr. Ghosh took to social media, claiming that he received a letter from the Kolkata Police just two days after the theme was publicly announced. He said the Muchipara Police Station issued a fresh set of safety directives to the Santosh Mitra Square Puja Committee earlier this week.

Kolkata Police, however, issued a statement on Friday clarifying that the letter was routine and related only to safety protocol and crowd management concerns.

While the police insist that the letter dated June 17, 2025, was a follow-up to an earlier communication, the puja committee has accused the authorities of “targeting” them unfairly.

“I want to ask, how many Durga Pujas in West Bengal were sent this same notice? I am sure no other. So, are the others above the law, or is the law different for us?” said Mr. Ghosh, President of the Santosh Mitra Square Puja Committee. He added that every year they face similar troubles from the police and receive similar notices.

Police response

In a detailed clarification issued on June 20, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Kolkata), Indira Mukherjee, denied allegations of selective targeting. “Certain statements and narratives… are factually incorrect and misleading,” read the official tweet.

According to the police, the Officer-in-Charge of Muchipara Police Station had already written to the committee on May 14, 2025, outlining standard crowd management protocols such as improved CCTV surveillance, wider exits, and a ban on light-and-sound shows. “This communication was made well before the Puja theme was even announced,” the tweet added.

The follow-up letter reiterated these concerns. “Efforts to create confusion or misrepresent facts only undermine the spirit of cooperation necessary for a smooth and successful celebration,” said the DCP.

The letter also noted that last year, the movement of visitors inside the pandal was extremely slow due to poor channelisation, leading to congestion. “Proper passage must be created inside the pandal to facilitate smooth police movement and crowd dispersal. The light-and-sound show significantly restricted crowd flow,” it said.

The police also said the Puja Committee had acknowledged the concerns in a reply sent on June 18 and expressed willingness to comply. Every year, the Sajal Ghosh-led Durga Puja at Santosh Mitra Square is known for its elaborate and often religiously themed pandals.

In 2023, the theme was inspired by the Ram Mandir, with the pandal built as a replica of the temple in Ayodhya.