Someone can slit my throat but no one can tell me what to do: Mamata Banerjee after court verdict on idol immersion

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has responded defiantly to a Calcutta High Court order on Thursday revoking the West Bengal government’s decision to disallow Durga idol immersion on the same day as Muharram.

"Someone can slit my throat but no one can tell me what to do" she was quoted as saying by news agency ANI hours after the court order.

Nullifying the order, a division bench of the High Court, headed by Justice Rakesh Tiwary, allowed Durga immersions till 12 am on September 30 and asked the state government to ensure that there are separate routes for the immersion and tazia processions.

The bench advised the government to learn from the Mumbai police how to manage the situation when Ganesh idol immersion and Muharram fall on the same day.

The judges also rebuked the state government for using what they called excessive power. "Just because you are the state, you can't issue arbitrary orders and use extreme power without any basis," the bench said.