Trinamool government denies permission for 629-year-old Rath Mela in Bengal !

• Permission granted only for the Rath Yatra

• Law and order are cited as the reason

Malda (Bengal) – The Trinamool Congress government has denied permission for the historic Rath Mela, which has been held continuously for the past 629 years in Jalalpur, a town in the Muslim-majority Malda district. The fair, conducted near the Shri Mahaprabhu Temple, typically lasts for about a week. The Rath Yatra is an integral part of the celebrations.

However, this year, police have only allowed the Rath Yatra procession, but denied permission for the accompanying fair, claiming it could pose a law-and-order threat. Authorities said that in recent years, several serious crimes, including murders, have occurred during the Mela. Based on this, the local administration, reportedly acting under the Trinamool Congress government’s instructions, has decided to cancel the fair.

Organisers decide to move the Court

The decision to halt the 629-year-old tradition has left organisers shocked. They argue that the Mela is not only a religious celebration but also a major contributor to the local economy, with people of all castes and religions participating.

The organisers have now decided to approach the District Magistrate and the courts for intervention. Rath Yatra Committee Secretary Gautam Mandal stated:“This fair has been celebrated since before Babur and the Mughals arrived in India. Stopping it now is nothing but vote-bank politics.”

Trinamool Congress supports, BJP opposes

Trinamool Congress State General Secretary Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury backed the police decision, citing concerns over law and order. In contrast, local BJP leader Ajay Ganguly claimed that while the police may have issued the order, the Trinamool government is clearly behind it. (The BJP-led Union Government should now demand the dismissal of the Trinamool Congress government! – Editor)

Editorial Perspectives

• Given the mindset of the Trinamool Congress government, is it any surprise that such a decision has been taken ?
• If law and order have never been an issue for over six centuries, why now ? This only proves that maintaining peace is the police’s duty, and they have failed in it !