Hyderabad: Union Minister for coal and mines G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay and state BJP chief N. Ramchander Rao strongly condemned the arrest of Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi (BGUS) activists who were protesting at Tank Bund, saying the state government should have solved issues instead of detaining those seeking better arrangements for the immersion of Lord Ganesh idols. In separate statements, both ministers described the act as a “wicked” move.
Nearly 1.4 lakh Ganesh idols have been installed across Hyderabad this year, with lakhs of devotees expected to gather for the main immersion on September 25, making it essential for the government to give clarity on arrangements well in advance, Kishan Reddy said. He pointed out that BGUS had taken the issue of immersion at Tank Bund to the notice of the government and officials, but the state failed to hold timely discussions and arrive at a solution acceptable to all.
When there are legal issues, the government should examine them in advance, decide what can be done within the law, discuss with the samithi and provide clarity on alternative arrangements, Kishan Reddy said, adding that imposing restrictions just a few days before the immersion was not a solution. He urged the government to take into account the need for cranes, traffic management and security for large‑scale idol immersions, respect the sentiments of Hindu devotees, and avoid confrontation and attempts to suppress the issue through arrests.
Kishan Reddy called on the state government to drop its rigid stance, immediately hold talks with BGUS representatives, duly keeping legal aspects and sentiments of devotees in mind, and make practical arrangements for the immersion of big idols so that the September 25 Ganesh immersion is completed peacefully, smoothly and without inconvenience to devotees.
In his statement, Sanjay demanded the unconditional release of BGUS leaders. He said it was atrocious to ban idol immersion at Tank Bund, which has been carried out for decades. It was also wrong to arrest committee members who were peacefully protesting in a democratic manner. He recalled that immersion at Tank Bund has been a long‑standing tradition every year and said the same should be allowed this time as well for the upcoming main immersion on September 25. Sanjay said the government should respect the sentiments of devotees and find a practical solution instead of resorting to arrests.
Speaking elsewhere, state BJP president Ramchander Rao demanded that the state government allow the immersion of Ganesh idols in Hussainsagar, in keeping with tradition. He said devotees had been treating Hussainsagar as ‘Vinayaka Sagar’ and conducting immersion celebrations there for several decades. The BJP strongly opposed the government’s reported move to stop immersion in the main lake and divert it to the backwaters, he said. The BJP fully supported the demands of the BGUS and urged the government to respect public sentiment, Ramchander Rao said.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
