West Bengal Pandal Display Featuring PM and Ganesha Stirs Controversy
· India · India Today, NDTV
A Durga Puja pandal in West Bengal has sparked a political row by displaying a model of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lord Ganesha drinking tea beside a saffron-coloured map of India. The installation drew immediate criticism from opposition parties who accused the organisers of blending political messaging with religious festivities. Supporters of the display defended it as artistic expression and a tribute to the leadership. Local authorities have not yet intervened or released a formal statement regarding the installation. The controversy highlights ongoing sensitivities surrounding the intersection of political imagery and cultural celebrations in the state.
Why it matters
The controversy highlights the growing political tensions over religious celebrations in West Bengal, where public pandals frequently serve as battlegrounds for competing political narratives.
Read the original report — India Today
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