The alleged “arrest” of Lord Ganesha by the Karnataka government has sparked widespread outrage across India. The incident took place on September 13 during a Ganesh immersion procession in Congress-ruled Karnataka. Tensions rose when stones were thrown at participants in the procession. Instead of detaining the attackers, police reportedly arrested those protesting the violence and confiscated the Ganesha idol, intensifying public anger.
The controversy quickly spread beyond Karnataka, with Hindu communities in Maharashtra expressing their dissatisfaction. This marks a significant moment in India’s religious and political history, as such an event has never occurred in post-independence India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in a Ganapati Aarti has faced criticism from Congress and the Mahavikas Aghadi coalition. Additionally, Chief Justice of India Dhananjay Chandrachud, who installed a Ganesha idol at his residence, was criticized for allegedly compromising his neutrality by engaging in the religious ceremony.
Traditionally, Hindu festivals aim to promote communal harmony, but this event seems to have been overshadowed by political tensions. Critics from Hindutva groups have questioned the apparent inconsistency of political leaders who support Iftar gatherings but criticize Hindu religious practices like Ganpati Aarti.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded by accusing Congress of hypocrisy. They reminded Congress of past instances when Iftar parties were hosted, such as the 2009 event attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan. BJP leaders, including Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, condemned Congress for opposing Modi’s Ganapati Aarti while endorsing similar events in the past.
At a recent Sambhaji Brigade event, Congress MP Shahu Maharaj and patron Sharad Pawar made derogatory remarks about Hindu deities, including Lord Ram and Swami Samarth. Their comments, and the fact that Pawar laughed during the incident, stirred further controversy. The next day, Sharad Pawar visited the Lalbagh Raja, seemingly to mitigate the fallout from his earlier actions. Critics noted that while Pawar regularly attends Iftar events, he is rarely seen participating in significant Hindu traditions like the Wari pilgrimage.
The purported arrest of the Ganesha idol, combined with the political discord, has intensified tensions between religious and political interests in India. Remarks made at the Sambhaji Brigade event, including hurtful statements by Gyanesh Maharao, have added to the growing resentment among Hindu communities. These events underscore the ongoing friction between religious customs and political strategies in India, further complicating the social landscape.
