MAMATA SEEKS TO QUASH DISSENT DURING DURGA PUJA

KOLKATA The Mamata Banerjee government, fearing protests, is pulling out all stops to quash dissent in the run-up to and during West Bengal's biggest festival, the Durga Puja.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

This follows the unprecedented protests that rocked the nation following the gruesome rape and murder of a young doctor at Kolkata's state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on 9 August.

From the junior doctors who led the 42-day protests, to ordinary citizens who came on to the streets demanding justice, to Durga Puja organisers who refused the government's dole, all sections are under the scanner of Mamata's police and party leaders.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front felt the heat last week. It alleged that the state government had taken back its permission to allow them to hold a convention at the government-owned Dhana Dhhanye Auditorium on 27 September to discuss the future roadmap for their movement for justice for the RG Kar rapemurder victim.

The agitating medics had withdrawn their 11-day sit-in before state Health Department headquarters Swasthya Bhawan last week and partially rejoined emergency and essential services at state-run hospitals after talks with the state government.

The doctors, in a statement, alleged that the government has put up roadblocks to booking other auditoriums in the city.

"Even the owners of a private auditorium refused to allow us to hold our convention. They said that the police had already warned them to keep us away," alleged a leading member of the doctors' front.

The junior doctors' front has invited people to take to the streets on 29 September, the eve of the Supreme Court hearing the case. It also announced a maha micchil (mass rally) and gathering at Dharmatala in Central Kolkata on the occasion of Mahalaya on 2 October. It is believed that Mahalaya marks the arrival of Goddess Durga to the realm of mortals for puja and kicks off the Devi Paksha fortnight during which the Goddess is worshipped.