A Durga Puja committee based in Kolkata has made headlines by rejecting the annual donation provided by the West Bengal government, in protest against the recent rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital.
The incident, which took place earlier this month, has sparked outrage and led to growing discontent among various community groups.
The community club, ‘Mudiali Amra Ka Jan,’ located in the minority area of Garden Reach on the southern fringes of Kolkata, issued a statement on Friday announcing their decision.
“We are not accepting the donation of Rs 85,000 given by the state government this year. We have taken this decision as a protest against the rape and murder of a junior doctor of R.G. Kar on 9 August. We want justice for the victim,” the statement declared.
The decision to refuse the government’s increased donation up from Rs 70,000 the previous year is gaining traction as a form of peaceful protest against the heinous crime.
Uttarpara Sakti Sangha, Women-Led Durga Puja Committee, & Malda Theatre Group Reject State Donation
In recent days, several other community clubs have followed suit, notably in Hooghly district.
Additionally, the Uttarpara Sakti Sangha Club was the first to decline the state funds, and soon after, a women-led Durga Puja committee from the same area made a similar decision.
These Puja organisers however acknowledged that while rejecting the funds might necessitate some budget cuts, they felt compelled to take a stand in their own way.
The protest is not limited to Puja committees; a theatre group from Malda district, Malda Somobeta Prayash (Malda Combined Effort), also refused a Rs 50,000 state donation intended for organizing a theatre fair in the district.
Public support for these organizations has surged on social media, with many praising their actions and encouraging other Puja committees to take similar stands.
In response to the growing protests, the Trinamool Congress leadership has appealed to the public not to associate the tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College with Durga Puja, the state’s most significant festival.
The Forum for Durgotsab, a body representing various community Puja committees, also issued a similar plea, urging people to separate the issue from the festivities.
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