Satara (Maharashtra): Members of Hindu organizations lodged a complaint with Shri. Vikas Deshmukh, the District Collector that some of Sree Ganesha idols immersed in artificial water tanks, had to be re-immersed and some of the idols were thrown in the lake. This has hurt religious sentiments of Hindus and idols have been denigrated. (Congratulations to alert devout Hindu and the District Collector should declare what action he is going to take against the concerned. – Editor)
Dr. Achyutrao Godbole, the Mayor had assured that there would be no compulsion on anyone to immerse the idols in the water tank. But the ‘Mangalwar lake’ was locked to prevent Ganesh- devotees from immersing idols there and a notoce was displayed on the banner, in the name of District Collector, appealing people to donate the idols and there was deliberate attempt to hurt religious sentiments of Hindus. The road was opened to public after strong demonstrations by devout Hindus. Despite all this, Shri. Jayendra Chavan, municipal councilor and Shri. Satish Kulkarni, the chief officer forced some of the Ganesha-devotees to immerse idols in artificial water tanks. Some of these idols were, later, removed from the artificial water tanks and re-immersed in Kanher dam. Improper handling of such broken idols has hurt religious semtiments of Hindus. The idols were thorwn in the dam. (Satara Town Council should be punished for denigrating deities and for its demonic behaviour. – Editor)
Some of the idols were re-immersed in the lake and thus the Town Council proved its claim wrong that immersion causes pollution. A case has been filed in High Court to ban opposition for immersion of idols. The case is, however, pending and therefore, the Administration should have allowed immersion; but by making people immerse their idols in water tanks, it has committed contempt of Court.
The Chief of Police was given a representation in advance so that the Government and Admiistration should not bring a ban, under the guise of prevention of pollution, on the freedom of people. Still incidents as mentioned above have taken place and no action has been taken against the concerned. Leaders of Shiv Sena, Bajarang Dal, Bharateeya Vidyarthi Sena, Maharashtra Kranti Sena, Hindu Jagruti Sanstha and HJS and Sanatan Sanstha were present on the occasion.
Source: ‘Daily Sanatan Prabhat’
