The Bhagynagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi has accused the city police of harassing Ganesh mandap organisers by insisting on compulsory permission for installing Ganesh idols in their respective localities.
The Ganesh festival will start on September 9 and culminate on September 18 with the immersion of idols.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, BGUS president G Raghava Reddy, vice-president Korodimal Narsinghpuriya, general secretary Bhagwanth Rao, secretary R Shashidhar and other office-bearers said the government had issued instructions to the police that they should inspect the area and give clearance to those organisers who propose to install Ganesh idols and perform daily pujas.
“Hyderabad police commissioner Anurag Sharma issued similar instructions but the same is not being implemented. Local police stations’ staff are forcibly asking organisers to seek permission and threatening them. Local police should stop harassing organisers and give clearance without resorting to corruption,’’ they said and demanded a halt to foisting of cases on Ganesh mandap organisers and a stop to demands seeking early immersion of idols.They also demanded free power supply to all Ganesh mandapams within the GHMC limits. This year about 70,000 Ganesh mandapams will come up in Greater Hyderabad, 5,000 more than last year.
Singhal, Seers Coming on Sunday Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s chief patron Ashok Singhal will be in the city on September 1 to attend a public meeting at the Nizam College grounds.
The meeting is being organised by the BGUS in which all the representatives of Ganesh mandapams in Greater Hyderabad limits are expected to participate.
Swami Chinmayananda from Uttar Pradesh, Paripurnananda Swami of Sri Peetham from Kakinada, Kamalananda Bharathi Swamiji of Hindu Temples Protection Committee and others will participate in the meeting.