Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari Says Only Sanatan Dharma Followers Can Handle Durga Idols During Immersion

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that only followers of Sanatan Dharma would be permitted to touch Durga idols during immersion in the Hooghly river, citing religious traditions and ritual practices.Reviewing immersion arrangements at Babughat alongside Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand and Kolkata Municipal Commissioner Smita Pandey, Adhikari said authorities had been instructed to verify the identities of those involved in carrying idols into the river. He maintained that the directive was rooted in religious customs.The Chief Minister said trolleys had replaced cranes following complaints, while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had been included in safety arrangements. He also announced plans to clean the river after the immersion process concludes on October 24.Expressing concern over spectator safety at Taki’s Ichamati river immersion, Adhikari said precautions, including life jackets and weight-balancing measures, had been planned for approximately 200 country boats expected to carry spectators.