Bhadrapad Krushna 13, Kaliyug Year 5113
 HJS co-ordinator Shri. Vatkar submitting representation to State Industries Minister, Mr. Rane |
Mumbai: Denigration of Hindu Deities occurring through the medium of crackers manufactured with pictures of Deities and great national heroes on their covers should be stopped and some concrete action should be taken for the same. The above demand has been made in the representation submitted by Mr. Shivaji Vatkar, the district-coordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) for Mumbai to the State Industries Minister, Mr. Narayan Rane. Mr. Rane assured the HJS delegation that he would take necessary action as the drive undertaken by HJS was commendable. Similar representations were also submitted to the offices of the State Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Director Industries and Chief Secretary of Industries Department. Mr. Satish Sonar, an activist of HJS was present on the occasion.
1. HJS has been undertaking a drive for the past 7 years, in lawful manner, to stop denigration of Deities taking place through manufacturing and sale of crackers with pictures of Deities like Sri Lakshmi, Sri Vishnu and Sri Krushna etc. as also with pictures of great national heroes. As a result of such continuous drive of HJS, the Industries Directorate of the Maharashtra Government had issued a letter on 30th January 2008 to the Commissioner of Mumbai Municipal Corporation besides associate Director of Trademarks Division for taking further action. The associate Director of Industries (Mumbai Region) had stated in the letter that ‘Pictures of Deities and National Heroes should not be printed on crackers burst during Diwali festival.’
2. Activists of HJS have, by lodging complaints with the police, forced them to take action against the concerned shopkeepers and traders under the drive for prevention of such denigrations. Such wrong things are, however, followed despite HJS submitting representations to the police and State Administration all over Maharashtra; therefore, now, you may please take a note of the same and stop the wrong practices.
Demand with Industries Minister to take action against the companies doing nothing to stop denigration of Deities
A letter dated 11th December 2009 was sent to the Commissioner of Mumbai Municipal Corporation, All India Manufacturers Organization, Mumbai Small Entrepreneurs Association, Mumbai Small Scale Industries Association, Mumbai Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Federation of Indian Industries, Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Deputy Director, Industries (Environment) and Industries Directorate for further course of action. Mr. Vatkar had asked information about the same under RTI but the establishments avoided giving information. It has been observed that the above establishments have not taken any action in this regard; therefore, special attention may be given to the above issue and immediate orders should be given to the concerned for taking necessary action.
Source: Daily Sanatan Prabhat
