BJP workers, cops lock horns over Ganga aarti in Kolkata

BJP leaders, who were hell-bent on continuing with the 'Ganga Aarti' programme despite being denied permission by the Kolkata Police, engaged in a scuffle with the police on Tuesday afternoon. BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh was detained by the police when party workers tried to assemble for the "Ganga Aarti" near Babughat's Baje Kadamtala ghat. Several BJP leaders, including Ghosh, were then taken to Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar. Late in the evening, state BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar performed Ganga Aarti in a different ghat, avoiding the police. A large number of BJP workers assembled in the area and raised 'Jai Sri Ram' slogans. While the Army had given permission for the 'Aarti', Kolkata police denied permission for the event, citing huge assembly of pilgrims for the Gangasagar Mela and the ongoing G20 Summit in the city, police sources said.

"The state government does not believe in a democratic system.. We love the river Ganga. So, we planned this Ganga Aarti. It is due to purely political reasons that we are being stopped," Majumdar said.