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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Allahabad HC orders police protection to married couple apprehending 'honour killing'
Prayagraj (PTI): The Allahabad High Court has granted protection to a married couple who expressed fear that they may be killed by the woman's family.
The order was passed by a division bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena on March 25.
"No individual can make an 'honour issue' out of a consenting adult marrying a person of their own choice. It is the state's duty to protect the life, limb, and property of such persons even against their own family members," the bench said.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Prachi Agrawal and her partner, who sought relief in connection with an FIR filed under Section 87 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for kidnapping, and abducting or inducing a woman to compel her marriage.
The couple submitted that they married at an Arya Samaj temple and possessed a marriage registration certificate issued under the Uttar Pradesh Marriage Registration Rules, 2017.
The petitioners alleged that the woman's family members were averse to their marriage and lodged a bogus FIR against them.
The couple further submitted a joint affidavit expressing apprehension of an honour killing by the woman's family.
The court said that a prima facie case was made out and issued notice to the private respondent and granted two weeks to file a counter-affidavit.
Meanwhile, as an interim measure, the court granted the petitioners protection from arrest.
The court also explicitly ordered the woman's family members and relatives not to harm the petitioners, enter their matrimonial home, or establish contact with them directly or through any electronic means.
The bench directed the Aligarh senior superintendent of police to ensure that no harm comes to the couple and posted the matter for hearing on April 8.
