Kolkata (PTI): A Durga idol in Kolkata in which the 'Mahisasura' was replaced by a crudely-crafted Mahatma Gandhi-look alike created controversy on the birth anniversary of the father of the nation.

Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, organisers of the puja near Ruby Crossing in southwest Kolkata, changed the appearance of the idol that looked like Gandhi following instructions from the police after a complaint was lodged.

The organisers said the similarities were "just a coincidence".

According to mythology, Goddess Durga slew Mahusasur in an epic battle to end his evil reign.

"The Durga idol that was worshipped here initially had a Mahisasur whose face looked similar to that of Mahatma Gandhi. The similarities are just a coincidence. After photos of it went viral, a police team visited the pandal and asked us to change the face," Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha state working President Chandrachur Goswami told PTI on Sunday.

A journalist had earlier in the day tweeted a photograph of the Durga idol, tagging the Kolkata Police. He deleted the post later, claiming that the police asked him to do so as it might create tension during the festival.

"I have been requested by @KolkataPolice cyber cell @DCCyberKP to delete my tweet on a particular puja in Kolkata as they think it might create tension amid the festivities. As a responsible citizen I abide by their request," Alt News Senior Editor Indradeep Bhattacharyya said in a fresh post.

Goswami said the organisation didn't mean to hurt anybody's sentiments.

"The police asked us to change it, and we obliged. We put a moustache and hair on Mahishasur's idol," he said.

The move drew condemnation from various quarters.

"We don't support what Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha did. We condemn it. We too had differences with Gandhi ji's views, but this is not a way to protest against it," said Sandip Mukherjee, president, Bangiya Parishad Hindu Mahasabha.

Political parties such as the Trinamool Congress and the BJP also slammed the alleged depiction of Gandhi as 'Mahisasura'.

The ruling Trinamool Congress state spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said if this was really done, it was nothing but sacrilege.

"It is an insult to the father of the nation. It is an insult to every citizen of the country. What would the BJP say about such an insult? We know the assassin of Gandhiji belonged to which ideological camp," Ghosh added.

The state BJP too criticised such a representation.

"If such a move had been made, it is unfortunate. We condemn it. This is in poor taste," BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar told reporters.

Every year, puja organisers choose a theme, mainly social issues, and use their pandals, idols and lighting arrangements to depict it. Many a time, the traditional Mahisasura was replaced by something that represents social evil.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



New Delhi: State Assemblies across India convened for an average of just 20 days and spent 100 hours in sessions in 2024, according to a report by PRS Legislative Research.

The report, as cited by Deccan Herald on Friday, highlighted that some states had significantly more sittings than others. Odisha led the list with 42 sittings, followed by Kerala with 37 and West Bengal with 36 sittings. Karnataka, which has a target of 60 compulsory sittings per year, managed 29 sittings in 2024.

In contrast, Uttar Pradesh, despite having a mandate of 90 sittings a year, and Madhya Pradesh only held 16 sittings each. Manipur saw 14 sittings, while Jammu and Kashmir had the least at five sittings.

The Constitution requires legislatures to meet at least once every six months, eleven states met this obligation through short sessions lasting only one or two days. The report noted that state assemblies have met for fewer than 30 days annually since 2017, with 2020 seeing a drastic dip to just 16 sittings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The number has since remained close to 20 days each year.

The years 2021 and 2022 saw 21 sittings each while 2023 saw 22 sittings and last year witnessed a slump to 20, added the report.

In 2024, assemblies averaged 100 hours of sitting time, with Kerala topping the list at 228 hours, followed by Odisha with 193 hours. Other states with notable sitting hours included Maharashtra and Rajasthan (187 hours each), Goa (172 hours), Chhattisgarh (155 hours), and Telangana (149 hours). Karnataka’s Assembly had 145 hours of sittings.

Regarding legislative activity, 2024 saw a total of over 500 bills passed across the country. Karnataka led in bill passage with 49 bills, followed by Tamil Nadu (45), Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra (32 each). However, some states had minimal legislative activity, with Delhi passing just one bill and Rajasthan passing only two.