Pune Police Refuse Permission To Showcase Maharashtra Political Struggle By Ganesh Mandal

Pune, 28th August 2022: Ganesh Mandals have started preparations to celebrate Ganesh Utsav in full swing this year after a break of two years due to the Covid pandemic.

A mandal was going to present the scene of the transfer of power between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, and the necessary idols were prepared for it. But the police have objected this time to avoid controversy. Therefore, the concerned board has decided to cancel the show of the post-power events in the state.

The Narendra Mitra Mandal in Budhwar Peth in Pune was going to play the scene of the power struggle in the Maharashtra state this year. For that, the mandal had given an order to Pradeep Taru, an sculptor from Budhwar Peth, to make idols of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. The sculptor created the idols. But, after the mandal informed the police about the appearance at the police station, the police objected to it as it could create controversy through the said scene.

The Ganesh Mandal had decided to cancel this performance and prepare another one.

Similarly, a group in the Kothrud area of Pune had demanded that the police perform the killing scene of Afzal Khan. Though initially, the police denied permission, the show was allowed after political pressure.

Rajendra Landge, Senior Police Inspector of Faraskhana Police Station, said, “Narendra Mitra Mandal asked us for permission to decorate with flowers this year. But after we received information from the other side that they would make an appearance regarding the power struggle in the state, we asked the board about it. He informed us that the idols were created after an activist advised him to present a political power struggle scene. But it has been informed that we will not present this scene.”