This refers to the editorial, “Costly appeasement” (September 23). West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should blame none but herself for the huge embarrassment she brought to herself by issuing a totally arbitrary order banning Durga idol immersion on the Muharram day and shifting it to the next day. The Calcutta High Court slammed her Government for disturbing communal harmony and for drawing line between the two communities. The court explicitly said that the Government has power but that doesn't mean it could do whatever it wants.
Banerjee's comment on the High Court's order, allowing immersion on all days, setting aside her Government’s ban, brought out her reaction that someone can slit her throat, but no one can tell her what to do, shows her arrogance and immaturity. Courts have set aside many orders even of the Union Government and have also issued directions. This is not for the first time that Hindu and Muslim festivals are falling on the same day. In fact, it was not the job of the Government but of the district administration to discuss the matter with representatives of both communities, mark separate routes for the Durga idol immersion and Muharram procession and deploy adequate police force to maintain law and order.