West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid the foundation stone for the ₹262-crore Durga Angan project on Monday, in the presence of Hindu and Buddhist monks, Muslim and Christian leaders, and former national-level hockey player Gurbax Singh, symbolising her stand for inclusiveness.
“Whenever anyone comes to me for any religious assistance, be it Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Christian, or Parsi, many say I do appeasement. I don’t do appeasement. I do it in the right secular way,” said Mamata Banerjee, hinting at the BJP taking potshots at her, accusing her of indulging in appeasement politics.
Mamata spoke about UNESCO granting Durga Puja the Intangible Cultural Heritage tag in 2021, linking the idea of the Durga Angan with a grand celebration of Durga festivities throughout the year.
“The blueprint is ready; work will start from today itself,” said the CM.
“Everyone’s religion is personal, but festivals are for everyone,” added Mamata.
The project, on a plot of more than 15 acres in New Town, will include space for cultural programmes, halls, shops, self-help groups, sculptures, and artists, aimed at creating employment for local artisans while keeping the spirit of the Goddess alive throughout the year. The Durga Angan is expected to cover 2 lakh square feet, with a courtyard to accommodate 1,000 people, and the main sanctum will be 54 metres high, filled with 108 idols of gods and goddesses and 64 idols of lions. There will also be a 20-feet-wide walkway around the complex.
“Whatever money is in the Durga Temple Trust covers the cost of making the Maa Durga idol. Money has been arranged. I talk less nonsense,” said Mamata.
The CM also criticised the BJP while mentioning the Gangasagar Mela, which takes place in January, with thousands of devotees flocking to West Bengal.
“Kumbh Mela is connected via rail, bus, and plane. Not Gangasagar. You (devotees) have to cross the river to reach the Gangasagar Mela. It is troublesome. But more than 1 crore pilgrims flock here. I tried for 12 years for the Central Government to build a Gangasagar bridge. I don’t want to blame them on an auspicious occasion,” said Mamata, while mentioning that funds for building the bridge have been arranged despite the odds, and work will start on January 5.
In an attempt to show her commitment to inclusiveness, Mamata referred to her government’s efforts in building the Dakshineshwar Skywalk and the Jagannath Dham in Digha. The Durga Angan is expected to be completed in two years.
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh alleged that Mamata Banerjee is making a Durga temple to appease Hindus and has sent her stooge Humayun Kabir to build the Babri Masjid to get the Muslim vote. "There are a lot of stunts, but there has been a lot of controversy surrounding Durga Angan. There has been a case filed regarding the land acquired and money not given to the landowners," he added.
