Kolkata, 26 October (H.S.) : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday asserted that the tragic Chorbagan pandal stampede will not be brushed aside as a small incident or a conspiracy, warning that the guilty will not be spared under any circumstances. Speaking at a Vijaya Sammilani event at the Milan Mela ground, the Chief Minister expressed his deep condolences over the tragedy while emphasizing his administration's commitment to ensuring safe and peaceful festivals in the future.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the transfer of 25 injured victims of the Chorbagan stampede from state-run facilities to private hospitals, Adhikari clarified that the decision was driven by the urgent need to save lives and provide superior medical care, rather than administrative ego. Taking a sharp dig at former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's governance style, he remarked that his administration did not hold patients hostage in government facilities out of false pride. He declared this to be the new West Bengal, where the government does not evade accountability or shield culprits.

Shifting his focus to the broader festive season, the Chief Minister hailed this year’s Durga Puja as the most peaceful in the state's recent history.

Highlighting a significant shift in the state's law and order environment, he noted that approximately 66,000 Durga Pujas were organized across West Bengal this year without a single committee needing to seek police permission or approach the High Court for organizing the puja or the subsequent immersion processions. He contrasted this seamless experience with the previous regime, recalling how restrictions were frequently placed on loudspeaker timings and specific immersion routes were blocked, which often led to public unrest and administrative chaos.

Launching a scathing attack on the previous Trinamool Congress government's policies, Adhikari accused them of bowing down to appeasement politics, which he claimed led to such administrative failures. Challenging a popular political slogan, he stated, It is not enough to merely say that religion is personal, but festivals are for all. In reality, it must be said that whose religion it is, it is their responsibility to protect it. He assured the gathering that the current state government is providing every community the freedom and security to celebrate their religious rituals independently.

Learning crucial lessons from the Chorbagan disaster, the state administration is currently on high alert. Adhikari announced that security preparations for upcoming festivals, including Chhath Puja, Jagaddhatri Puja, and Kartik Puja, will commence on a war footing starting October 28. To prevent any future untoward incidents, the government is drafting a new, robust security framework. The Chief Minister added that the state administration will convene another high-level meeting with all puja committees in three months to finalize and implement long-term safety protocols for all large-scale public events.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh