Election Commission apologies for denigrating advt.!

Mumbai:

The State Election Commission had published an advertisement using Lord Sree Ganesh and the mouse as its theme with a view to encourage voters to apply for their voting identity cards. To this, the Mumbai District Convenor of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Shri. Shivaji Vatkar wrote a letter to the Election Commission (EC) of Maharashtra and brought to their notice that their denigrated advertise of  Lord Shri. Ganesh had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. He also telephoned and spoke with the Joint Chief Election Officer, Shri. Shekhar Channe about this.  After all this incident finally Shri. Channe apologised for the said advertisement and informed Shri. Vatkar today that he had earlier issued orders for withdrawing the same.

 
Shri. Channe said, “Lokmanya Tilak started public celebration of Ganeshotsava with the only purpose of spreading message to people and there was no intention of any commercial gains. The Commission also gave a message to the electorates that they should collect the identity cards through the medium of Sree Ganesha’s advertisement. I have consulted many persons in this connection and none of them felt that there was denigration of Sree Ganesha.” Shri. Channe also showed the advertisements received from Advertisement agencies where there was denigration of Sree Ganesha.

On this, Shri. Vatkar told him, “All the advertisements are denigrating and we have stopped publishing of those Ads which have come to our knowledge. If those Ads were robberies, your Ad is theft. The Commission has used Sree Ganesha like a model and has hurt feelings of all Hindus. Will The Commission use revered figures in other religions for the Ad? If you look at it from the point of view of a Hindu by birth, you will understand our feelings.”

Shri. Channe said, “Although I am a Hindu by birth, it is a personal matter. Here, I will think as an official of Indian Government.” Later, Shri. Vatkar informed him about various issues taken up by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and its campaign to stop wrong practices followed in public Ganeshotsava celebrations through the medium of its website.   

Shri. Channe also said, “Samiti (HJS) is doing a good job. If this advertisement has hurt feeling of anyone, I express apology. After receiving your phone call as also the letter, I have immediately issued orders to keep the Ad on hold and henceforth, the Commission will not take up such controversial matter.”