In Maharashtra, BJP has demanded not to ban the homemade Ganesha idols made of Plaster of Paris. BJP says that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should wait for the report of the technical committee of the government. Mumbai BJP President MLA Ashish Shelar said, ‘We do not agree with the decision of BMC to ban domestic Ganesha idols made of Plaster of Paris. Ganeshotsav is one of the most important traditional festivals in Mumbai. The livelihood of many families depends on the business of making POP idols for this festival. Until the final report of the technical committee appointed by the state government is out, banning idols made of POP would be unscientific, unconstitutional and unfair.’
In the backdrop of the upcoming Ganeshotsav festival, a meeting of the representatives of All India Ganeshotsav Federation and Ganesha Murtikar Kamgar Sangathan was called under the leadership of MLA Advocate. Ashish met Cultural Affairs Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on Thursday.
Statue smaller than 4 feet should not be banned
MLA Ashish Shelar said that he is satisfied with the decision taken by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde regarding Ganeshotsav in the meeting held last week, but we do not accept the stand of BMC regarding banning Ganesha idols made of POP smaller than 4 feet. We are against it. He said why BMC did not create a system to clean the sea and ensure pollution control? The sewage coming out of the houses in Mumbai has been polluting the sea for years, which is affecting the environment.
Was BMC sleeping for 25 years?
The MLA asked whether BMC officials were sleeping in this matter for the last 25 years? Ashish Shelar said that today these people are pretending as if the sea and the environment are being affected only because of the idols of Ganesha. These things are not acceptable. He said, we have already made our stand clear to the government.
Wait till the report of the committee comes
When asked about the technical committee constituted by the state government, MLA Shelar said that he would personally meet the CM and Deputy CM. Will ask them to appoint scientists and other people having scientific knowledge in this subject.
He said that recently some anti-social elements tried to create nuisance during the procession taken out on the occasion of Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti. Police has already caught them. The route of immersion has also been decided during Ganeshotsav. He said that law and order should be ensured. Our demand was that if Aarti is performed without electronic gadgets even after 10 pm during the festival, then it should not be banned. The state government has given necessary instructions expressing consent and we are satisfied with it.
