Now Reading: Bengal minister proposes Kali Puja at every police station
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Bengal minister proposes Kali Puja at every police station
The Story in Brief
West Bengal Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay on Thursday (29 October 2026) proposed organising Kali Puja at every police station in the state, drawing a parallel to the tradition of Bijaya Sammilani gatherings already held at police stations. Speaking at the Birbhum district police's Bijaya Sammilani in Suri, Chattopadhyay said Kali Puja was part of police culture, not religious practice, and urged police superintendents to make arrangements.
The minister referred to folklore figure Raghu Dakat, a bandit who worshipped Kali before robberies, to argue that the police force draws strength from Devi Shakti. He also suggested installing Kali idols inside police stations, saying even a thief would pray to the goddess. The Times of India reported his remark that no one should view the proposal through a religious lens, while The Hindu reported that he drew a parallel to Saraswati Puja in schools and noted that doctors and patients bow to idols before entering hospitals.
The statement came on the same day Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari held a meeting at Nabanna on Kali Puja preparations across the state, with each minister given charge of one district, The Hindu reported.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Times of India and The Hindu both reported the same core proposal and the Raghu Dakat reference, with neutral framing. The Hindu added a parallel context: it noted that Chattopadhyay's statement coincided with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's meeting on statewide Kali Puja preparations, placing the minister's remarks within an administrative rather than a purely cultural announcement. The Times of India gave more space to Chattopadhyay's direct quotes and his argument that the move is about police culture, not religion. Neither outlet questioned the proposal or offered criticism. The coverage is uniform straight reporting with no significant divergence in framing.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), thehindu.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
