Hindu Mahasabha puts up 'asura' idol depicting Mahatma Gandhi in West Bengal

Kolkata, Oct 3: A police complaint has been filed against the All India Hindu Mahasabha for depicting Mahatma Gandhi in an 'asura' idol at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata's Ruby by-pass. "People should know that nobody called Mahatma Gandhi the father of the nation," says the organizer.

 

 

 

 

The idol of asura resembling Mahatma Gandhi was installed at the pandal, following which West Bengal Congress leader Koustav Bagchi on Sunday filed a complaint with the Kolkata Police to file a Zero FIR in connection with the matter. However, changes were made to the idol of asura following the intervention of the Kolkata Police.

 

 

 

 

 

Chandrachud Goswami, who is the organizer of the puja and also the state working president of the Hindu Mahasabha, admitted to portraying the asura as Mahatma Gandhi and said that they do not accept the "forceful" changes. As per the reports of ANI, Goswami said, "The idol of Asura did resemble MK Gandhi, we do not deny it. It has been changed. We have not made the changes. We received a lot of calls. We have been made to change it forcefully. We do not accept the changes. Our freedom of expression has been curtailed."

 

 

Goswami denied calling Mahatma Gandhi as the father of the nation, and said that the organization would "spread the word about Gandhi's activities" among people in the future. "People should know that nobody called Gandhi the father of the nation. There is no such resolution passed in this regard. We do not consider him as the father of the nation because of these activities, what he did to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh ji, has to be condemned. After pressure was put on us, Kolkata Police supported us and requested to make the change. So forceful changes have been made. We do not believe in this change. We will spread the word about Gandhi's activities among people in the future. He is the person who divided our country," the organizer said.