BJP MLA from Pynthorumkhrah, AL Hek, has defended the Durga Puja celebrations at RR Colony, asserting that the festivities have been held inside the temple premises for over six decades and questioning the need to shift the celebration to another location next year.
Speaking on the issue, Hek maintained that the RR Colony Durga Puja was different from celebrations that set up pandals on public roads and disrupt traffic movement.
“We have been celebrating Durga Puja for the last 60–70 years here in RR Colony. But we celebrate the Puja inside the temple. All the pandal and everything are inside the temple. How can you say that next year we have to shift the Durga Puja to some other vicinity?” Hek said.
He asserted that the celebrations had not caused any disruption to traffic along the road, arguing that the committee had conducted the festivities within the temple premises.
However, Hek also backed the administration’s position against roadside pandals that obstruct public movement, agreeing that religious celebrations should not come in the way of smooth traffic flow.
“On the roadside, we should not allow any Puja pandal or anything that disrupts the smooth movement of people and traffic. I also agree with that,” he said.
Reiterating his position, Hek said he was speaking as a resident who had witnessed the RR Colony celebrations firsthand, maintaining that the festivities remained within the temple premises.
His remarks come amid concerns over the location of Durga Puja pandals and the need to ensure that religious celebrations do not obstruct roads or inconvenience commuters. The central question now is whether RR Colony’s long-standing tradition can continue at its existing venue while complying with the administration’s requirements for public safety and uninterrupted traffic movement.