Miscreants tarnish spirit of Ganesh Chathurthi in Maddur
In the pre-independence era, public celebrations of Ganesh Chathurthi carried a noble purpose. Leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak used the festival not merely as a religious gathering but as a rallying point to awaken patriotic fervour against British rule. Religion, culture, and spirituality were the vehicles through which national unity was built. Those motives were pure.
But in today’s India, that legacy has been corroded. Instead of uniting people, some political leaders have reduced Ganesh Chathurthi to a stage for division and hatred. Lord Ganesha, revered as the remover of obstacles, is being misused by cynical forces as a tool to create obstacles in society for petty political gain. Nothing could be a greater insult to the spirit of this festival.
The disturbing events in Maddur, Mandya district, show how deeply this rot has spread. What should have been a joyous immersion procession ended in violence, with stone-pelting and a police lathi-charge. Videos now reveal that miscreants within the procession itself hurled stones at a mosque, while hurling filthy, abusive slogans against an entire community. These were not acts of devotion but calculated attempts to provoke communal clashes. Even senior police officials have clarified that no stones came from the mosque, exposing the false claims made by Sangh Parivar groups.
This was no spontaneous outburst. The videos show it was premeditated. Instead of chanting prayers to Lord Ganesha, a group led by a woman weaponised obscenities to vilify Muslims. When their provocations failed, they turned to stoning the mosque. Shockingly, BJP workers are now parading these very miscreants as “Hindu activists.” By legitimising such impostors, leaders themselves are desecrating Ganesh Chathurthi and reducing it to a political weapon.
What happened in Maddur is not an isolated episode. In Raichur, two young men pelted stones during a procession not out of communal hatred but personal enmity. Yet, communal groups were ready to exploit the incident to blame Muslims and incite violence. In Sagara too, when two children spat from a terrace, miscreants tried to spin it into a riot. These repeated attempts reveal a dangerous pattern: festivals are being hijacked by troublemakers whose only aim is to ignite divisions.
If those behind such actions truly valued the festival, they would never indulge in such behaviour. It is now the responsibility of genuine devotees to reclaim Ganesh Chathurthi from impostors in saffron scarves who pollute its sacredness with hatred. True devotion lies in humility, respect, and unity, not in manufactured clashes.
Mandya, once proudly known as the “Sugar Bowl” of Karnataka, is paying a heavy price for this toxic politics. Farmers and ordinary citizens, who once made this region flourish, are being pushed into the background while communal poison takes centre stage. The tragic example of Mangaluru, once celebrated for education and healthcare but later scarred by communal strife, stands as a warning. If Mandya’s people do not resist these forces now, they risk the same fate.
The JD(S), weakened and desperate to retain political ground, has now taken refuge in communal politics. By joining hands with these forces, it is sacrificing Mandya’s harmony for survival. The farmers of this land must rise above these divisive games and protect the soul of their district.
Lord Ganesha has always symbolised prosperity and bounty. For Mandya’s farmers, his blessing should mean better harvests, not police curfews. The festival must return to its roots of devotion and unity. The obstacles planted by politicians and miscreants must be removed, so that Mandya once again sweetens lives, not with hatred, but with sugar and prosperity.
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Rahul Gandhi to go on two-day Raebareli visit from May 19
Raebareli (UP) (PTI): Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP from Raebareli Rahul Gandhi will arrive here on May 19 on a two-day visit, a Congress office-bearer said on Monday.
Congress district president of Raebareli Pankaj Tiwari said that on the first day, Gandhi will inaugurate a marriage hall at Thakurain Kheda in Bachhrawan. Subsequently, he will address a public meeting in Khiron. In Lalganj, he will participate in a 'mahila samvaad' programme.
He further said that on May 20, he will meet the public during a 'Janata Darshan' programme at the Bhuyemau Guest House. Following this, he will participate in the unveiling of a statue of Veera Pasi and attend a public meeting in Lodhwari.
He will then depart for Amethi.
In Amethi, Gandhi will hold meetings with party functionaries, workers and senior leaders at the party's district headquarters, Congress district unit chief Pradeep Singhal said on Sunday.
According to political observers, this meeting would form a part of the strategic preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, alongside an organisational review.
Discussions during the meeting are likely to focus on strengthening the party organisation down to the booth level, increasing participation of youth and women workers, and accelerating public outreach campaigns across villages.
According to sources, a large number of party workers -- from Gram Sabha to the district level -- have been invited to attend the meeting.
Gandhi is expected to interact directly with workers.
During the one-day visit, the Congress leader will also travel to Poore Ramdeen Pandit -- the native village of late Congress district president Yogendra Mishra -- to meet his family members.
Mishra, considered a close associate of the Gandhi family, passed away on March 1 following a prolonged illness.
Political activities in the district have intensified ahead of Gandhi's visit, and party workers have already started making arrangements for his reception.
Kishori Lal Sharma, the Congress MP from Amethi, is also holding regular meetings with local leaders and functionaries to review the preparations.
