Hyderabad: Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti (BGUS) has decided not to follow the height restriction on idols for immersion, recommended by the government.
The samiti, which met the Chief Secretary, declined to bring down the height saying the government does not have the right to do so and it is a fundamental right of the people to worship irrespective of idol size.
The state government should instead plan to control industrial pollution, said the samithi. The members also argued that DJ permissions are banned during Ganesh immersion but allowed during state formation day celebrations.
Dr. Bhagvantha Rao, General secretary, BGUS, said there is no provision in the Constitution of India or state or police law to restrict customary religious functions.
It is a fundamental right of the citizen and cannot be curtailed by the state. Ganesh Utsav is a ten day-function and BGUS has been conducting it since 1990.
It coordinates all who believe in Lord Ganesh, irrespective of religion, caste, creed and linguistic difference. Eighty per cent of the people of Bhagyanagar participate.
“This is the 37th year we are holding mass immersion. So far there has been no difficulty faced by the state or individuals,” he said.
The BGUS members questioned why DJ is banned during Ganesh immersion, but permitted during state festival and Bathukamma, headed by the Chief Minister’s daughter, Nizambad MP, K. Kavitha.
Telangana Chief Secretary, Dr Rajiv Sharma met members of the BGUS on Wednesday and appealed to them to cooperate with the administration for the smooth conduct of the immersion of Ganesh idols in Hussainsagar and other places.
In accordance with the observations of the High Court, he asked members to discuss with their committee on the height restriction of Ganesh idols set at 15 feet, in view of metro rail construction work and for free flow of traffic.
The members refused to abide by the government’s suggestion.
