Tejasvi Surya calls BBMP’s Durga Puja guidelines ‘illogical’

Bengaluru: Reacting to the recent guidelines released by BBMP for Durga Puja in Bengaluru, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Wednesday said the order is “discriminatory” and “illogical” and demanded that the civic body reconsiders the rules.

“I spoke to @BBMPCOMM & asked him to revisit the Durga Puja rules which are discriminatory, arbitrary & illogical. He assured me that these rules will be reviewed forthwith & sentiments of devotees will be given utmost importance. Let’s celebrate with all fervour!,” Surya said in a post on Twitter.

“There is a general tendency in sections of the bureaucracy to think that it’s okay to put any and every kind of restrictions on Hindu festivals. This is a colonial relic. Post 2014, the awakened Hindu resists such attempts. This colonialism must end too,” Surya added.

In a letter sent to the BBMP, Surya said the guidelines are “arbitrary” in nature and need revision to be more “inclusive” for devotees.

“It is highly regrettable that the administration imposes such harsh arbitrary rules only during celebrations of Hindu community and turns a blind eye towards celebrations of other faiths. This discriminatory imposition of restrictions is condemnable and patently unconstitutional,” reads the letter

“I strongly demand that you revisit the rules and prepare a more inclusive, logical set of rules that are necessary for pandemic management only and not regulate the ways and means of celebration, which is best decided by the devotees,” he added.

In a guideline issued by BBMP for Durga Puja, the municipal body has said the idol size shall not exceed four feet and there shall not be more than 50 people at a time during prayers.