Kolkata Police’s orange T-shirt order for Durga Puja volunteers triggers ‘saffronisation’ row

A Kolkata Police tender to procure orange T-shirts and caps for temporary volunteers deployed during Durga Puja has triggered a political controversy in West Bengal, with the Trinamool Congress and Congress alleging an attempt to “saffronise” the police establishment and the ruling BJP rejecting the charge. The e-tender, estimated at Rs 89 lakh, has been floated for orange full-sleeve T-shirts and peak caps that will be provided to temporary volunteers assisting police personnel with crowd management during the festival.

Colour change sparks row

Around 20,000 temporary volunteers are deployed for about 10 days during Durga Puja to assist the police at major intersections, arterial roads and other crowded locations. NCC cadets, scouts, students and members of NGOs also participate in crowd-management duties, though those belonging to organised groups generally wear their own uniforms. The newly procured T-shirts and caps are intended for other temporary volunteers. Police officials said the colour of their attire was being changed from the earlier blue and white to orange this year so that volunteers could be easily identified in large crowds during the festivities.

Opposition raises questions

The decision drew criticism from the TMC and Congress, which linked the choice of orange to the BJP’s political identity. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh alleged that the change amounted to “saffronisation” and questioned the expenditure on replacing the existing attire. Congress leader Soumya Aich Roy accused the BJP government of attempting to mix administration with religion and alleged that the move was intended to associate the government with a particular religious identity. The criticism turned what the police described as an operational decision into a political dispute ahead of Durga Puja.

BJP rejects allegations

The BJP dismissed the accusations, maintaining that orange or saffron could not be treated as the exclusive colour of any political party. BJP leader Rahul Sinha pointed to saffron’s presence in the Indian national flag and said it represented courage and sacrifice. He accused the TMC and Congress of politicising the issue and rejected their claims that the change in volunteers’ attire amounted to saffronisation.

The controversy comes as Kolkata prepares for the annual Durga Puja festivities, when large crowds across the city require extensive traffic and crowd-management arrangements. Temporary volunteers supplement the police force during the period, particularly around major puja pandals and high-footfall stretches.