{
  "id": 15922246,
  "title": "CM Suvendu Adhikari Says 'Only Sanatan Dharma Followers Can Touch Durga Idols' During Kolkata Immersion",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/cm-suvendu-adhikari-says-only-sanatan-dharma-followers-can-touch",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T16:35:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/cm-suvendu-adhikari-says-only-sanatan-dharma-followers-can-touch-durga-idols-during-kolkata-immersion"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Wednesday that only individuals who follow Sanatan Dharma will be permitted to handle the idols of Goddess Durga during the immersion process in Kolkata. During a visit to Babughat to assess security measures for the immersion, Adhikari, accompanied by Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand and Kolkata Municipal Commissioner Smita Pandey, emphasized the need for security arrangements to prevent any untoward incidents. Adhikari stated that he has requested the Commissioner of Police to identify those involved in carrying the idols into the Hooghly River. He further mentioned that the river's water will be cleaned after the immersion on October 24. Nearly 200 country boats were expected to be used to transport spectators during the event, and the Border Security Force (BSF) has been instructed to assist with arrangements at Taki, near the Indo-Bangladesh border. Adhikari claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government enjoys the support of 275 out of the 294 MLAs in the state Assembly. Later, Adhikari visited the residences of individuals who lost their lives during a stampede at a puja pandal in Chor Bagan, emphasizing that a potential floor test in the assembly could see the BJP secure an additional 4 legislators from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) tickets.",
  "summary": "Kolkata: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said that those who follow Sanatan Dharma can only touch the idols of Goddess Durga during the immersion process. On Wednesday morning, Adhikari, along with Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand and Kolkata Municipal Commissioner Smita Pandey, visited Babughat to review the security during the immersion process. Security arrangements for…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}