HUBBALLI: Posters of Veer Savarkar and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, put up on stage during Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations at the Idgah Maidan in Hubbali, were removed by the authorities on Wednesday night.
Savarkar’s photograph was also placed next to the idol, and a poster of Savarkar on a banner was placed on the dais.
The authorities said the banner sporting the images was removed as it violated the permissible criterion for the event.
However, a banner with a picture of Veer Savarkar was put on display outside the main entrance of the Rani Chennamma Maidan Gajanan Utsav Mahamandal event at the Idgah Maidan.
Union minister Prahlad Joshi on Wednesday said Savarkar’s photo had been put as a backdrop. “The organisers believe that Savarkar is a great patriot, so they have put it. What’s wrong with that?” Joshi asked. He was speaking with mediapersons after attending the Maha Arati at the Idgah Maidan Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations. The celebrations were held amid tight security and heavy police presence.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Karnataka High Court had allowed Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations to go ahead at the Idgah ground in Hubbali. The order rejecting the petition filed by Anjuman-E-Islam said the ground is the property of the Hubballi-Dharawad Municipal Commission (HDMC) and they can allot the land to whoever they desire so.
This is the first time that the Hindu festival is being celebrated at the controversial ground. The Idgah Maidan in Hubballi has been caught up in a controversial dispute for decades until 2010, when the Supreme Court, in its judgment, held that the ground is the exclusive property of Hubbali-Dharawad Municipal Corporation.
In 1921, the ground was leased to the Islamic organization, Anjuman-E-Islam for 999 years to hold prayers. Post-Independence, many shops were opened on the premises. This was challenged in court and a long litigation process started which halted in 2010 after the Supreme Court judgment. The top court had granted permission for prayers twice a year and not to build any permanent structure on the ground. (ANI)