Suvendu Adhikari Says Only Sanatan Dharma Followers Should Handle Durga Idols During Immersion

Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration, not a photograph of the event or individuals involved.

KOLKATA, 22 October 2026 | From the Breaking News Desk. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said during a review of Durga Puja immersion preparations at Babughat on Wednesday, 21 October, that only followers of Sanatan Dharma should physically touch and carry Durga idols into the Hooghly during immersion. He presented the measure as a way of observing religious tradition while authorities intensified security.

What the chief minister said

Speaking during the Babughat inspection, Adhikari said police should maintain identification details for the people assigned to carry idols into the river, and that those handling the idols should follow the relevant religious tradition. He said the instruction was not intended to create communal conflict. These are the chief minister’s stated position and explanation, not an independently established assessment of the measure.

What remains unclear

MOJO PULSE has not independently obtained a detailed, signed statewide government notification specifying how religious affiliation would be established, which jobs fall within the instruction, whether exceptions exist, or how it will be enforced at all immersion sites.

A public statement should not be treated as proof that every immersion site has adopted an identical screening or entry process. Questions remain about how contractors, municipal workers, emergency responders and volunteers who support immersion operations would be treated in practice.

Immersion security after Chorbagan

The announcement came as immersion arrangements were reviewed following the 17 October Chorbagan crowd crush, which killed 19 people according to reported official figures. Eighteen IPS officers were assigned to supervise immersion activities across Kolkata, Howrah, Barrackpore and Chandannagar through 24 October, along with police, civic authorities and disaster-response teams.

For residents and visitors, the immediate practical advice remains to use designated immersion routes, follow instructions issued by police and ghat personnel and keep emergency access clear. MOJO PULSE’s continuously updated immersion-safety advisory contains the relevant visitor information.

This report distinguishes the chief minister’s remarks from a verified written legal order. Further clarification from authorities will be added if available.