Mass Ganesha immersion procession passes off peacefully in Maddur

The mass Ganesha idol immersion procession passed off peacefully in Maddur town on Wednesday, with 108 idols taken through Pete Street amid tight police security.

Participants shouted slogans and danced as the procession made its way through the town.

Additional Superintendent of Police (in-charge), Mandya district, L. Nagesh clarified that no crackers were burst in front of the mosque.

“Though crackers were burst along the route of the procession, no crackers were burst in front of the mosque,” he said.

The Ganesha idol immersion procession in Maddur had turned violent last year following the alleged pelting of stones at the procession.

“This year, the procession has concluded peacefully with the cooperation of the people of Maddur,” Mr. Nagesh said.

Superintendent of Mandya district police Shobharani was also present and supervised the security arrangements.

Meanwhile, several BJP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and BJP MLC C.T. Ravi, participated in the procession.

Speaking to reporters after taking part in the Ganeshotsav procession, Mr. Ashoka criticised the Congress government in Karnataka over what he described as restrictions on the celebration of the Ganesha festival.

He said the T. Narsipur police inspector had spoken in a “rude manner” to youths planning to take out a procession for the immersion of Ganesha idols. He alleged that the Congress government had imposed more restrictions on Ganeshotsava than the British.

“This cannot be called Hindus’ Ganeshotsava. It has to be called police Ganeshotsava,” he said, questioning why the police were allegedly threatening only Hindus and not issuing similar warnings to Muslims.

Mr. Ashoka also accused the Congress government of failing to enforce court orders relating to the use of loudspeakers for azan from mosques.