No one immerses Maa Durga on 'Ekadashi': Mamata on Durga idol immersion controversy

"We worship goddess Durga as our mother and no one immerses mother on Ekadashi," Mamata Banerjee said while addressing a rally, organized by Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s students' wing Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) in Kolkata.

"We have asked Durga puja organizers not to immerse Druga idols on Ekadadhi (Oct 1). They have four more days, September 30 and October 2-4, for immersion," TMC supremo added.

Days ago, after meeting puja organizers in Kolkata, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a curb on Durga idol immersion on Bijoya Dashami, Sept 30, after 6 pm. and on Ekadashi (Oct 1) whole day for Muharram processions.

West Bengal units of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and RSS condemned of the state's restriction on Durga immersion and have threatened to move to Calcutta High Court against the decision.

Hitting out the BJP, Mamata Banerjee said on Monday, "BJP is trying to trigger communal violence over this issue in our state, where people cooperate with each other to celebrate the festivals of all religions."

"Few Delhi-based National news channels, which are funded by BJP, are misrepresenting the matter to the people," Banerjee added.

Last year, after the Mamata-government had put restrictions on Durga idol immersion for Muhharam, few puja organizers moved to Calcutta High Court against the decision.

The High Court slammed state government for the order and granted additional time to the petitioners for idol immersion.

Though Mamata Banerjee claimed that no one immerses goddess Durga on Ekadashi, Bengal had witnessed large number of Durga idols' immersion on the auspicious eleventh lunar day in the past.

(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)