Kolkata, 1 October (H.S.): A fresh controversy has erupted in West Bengal after a video went viral on social media showing Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Madan Mitra singing an Islamic-themed song in front of Goddess Durga’s idol during a Durga Puja celebration in Kolkata. In the video, Mitra is heard singing the popular line “Mere dil mein Makkah hai, meri aankhon mein Madina hai…” while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, present at the event, was seen clapping in appreciation.
The act has triggered outrage, with critics alleging it was a direct affront to Hindu faith and traditions. Many have accused the TMC government of hurting Sanatan sentiments for political gain.
Durga Puja is not only a religious festival but also a symbol of Bengal’s cultural heritage. In 2021, UNESCO inscribed Kolkata’s Durga Puja on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. During the nine days of Navratri, devotees worship Goddess Durga with recitations of Durga Saptashati and devotional hymns. Critics argue that replacing traditional chants with references to Islamic sites like Mecca and Medina inside a Durga pandal amounts to disrespecting centuries-old Hindu traditions.
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Social Media Backlash
Hundreds of users shared the viral video, accusing the ruling party of desecrating the sanctity of the festival. Comments poured in, calling it an “insult to Sanatan faith” and an “attempt to replace cultural identity with appeasement politics.” Many alleged that if Mitra’s devotion lay with Mecca and Medina, he should have sung such hymns inside a mosque, not before a Durga idol.
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BJP Slams Mamata Banerjee
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sharply criticized the incident. Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha remarked, “This is the same Bengal where the administration used its entire machinery to shut down a Durga Puja pandal based on ‘Operation Sindoor’, yet the Chief Minister herself claps when Islamic hymns are sung in front of Goddess Durga.”
The BJP has accused Banerjee of repeatedly insulting Sanatan traditions to consolidate her Muslim vote bank.
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Another Row Over Loudspeakers During Namaz
The controversy deepened when reports emerged from Amdanga in North 24 Parganas, where TMC MLA Rafiqul Rahman instructed local puja committees to switch off microphones during namaz timings. The timings were reportedly fixed in coordination with mosque authorities and written instructions circulated. Critics questioned why nine days of Durga Puja rituals were being curtailed in favor of daily prayers.
The opposition also recalled earlier decisions of the Mamata Banerjee government, including the 2017 ban on Durga idol immersion due to Muharram (later struck down by the Calcutta High Court), the 2014 ban on Durga Puja pandals in parts of Murshidabad, and restrictions on Ram Navami processions in 2023. These, they argue, reflect a consistent pattern of appeasement.
Analysts believe the row could play a significant role in upcoming state elections. Muslims constitute over 20 percent of the population in 121 assembly seats. In the 2021 elections, the TMC won a majority of these constituencies, with data showing nearly 80 percent of Muslim-majority regions voting in its favor. The BJP claims the latest incidents are part of Banerjee’s deliberate strategy to consolidate this crucial vote bank.
Meanwhile, citizens on social media continue to express anger, with many writing that Durga Puja, regarded as Bengal’s pride worldwide, should not be turned into a platform for political appeasement.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
