Incidents of stone-pelting and clashes during Ganeshotsav in different parts of the country this month have sparked suspicion that these festivities are being used by “lumpen elements” to instigate violence and create law and order challenges.
A Ganesh Visarjan procession turned violent on Wednesday leading to clashes between two communities in Karnataka’s Nagamangala village. Also, on September 10, a mob allegedly chucked stones at a Ganesh Puja pandal in Ganga Vihar Colony of Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow, breaking an urn placed near the idol while chanting “Allahu Akbar”. The incident took place during an evening aarti at the home of devotee Kiran Chaurasia.
As of now, the situation in Nagamangala remains tense but under control. A police inspector overseeing the security deployment for the procession has been suspended for dereliction of duty. Fifty-five people have been arrested for rioting and disturbing the peace, and three-day prohibitory orders have been imposed.
Not isolated incidents
However, Hindu activists are raising questions about the motive behind such attacks on festivals like Ram Navami, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Durga Puja in various parts of the country. They question why Ganesh pandals are specifically targeted, as seen in an incident in Surat on September 9. Stones were thrown at a Ganesh pandal, leading to communal clashes there, followed by the arrest of 27 people, including six minors.
Stone-pelting on Ganesh Chaturthi processions was also reported near Hubballi’s Idgah Maidan and in Bengaluru last year. Ganesh Visarjan processions were disrupted, leading to a clash between two communities in Haveri’s Ranebennur, where several people attacked a procession as it passed in front of a dargah in 2023. An FIR was filed against 500 individuals after police dispersed the mobs.
In 2015, Karnataka witnessed another such incident during a Ganesh idol procession in Kadolkar Galli, in north Karnataka’s Belagavi district, where the procession turned violent, injuring two police officers as they attempted to control the clashes. This incident led to riots where mobs torched 21 vehicles, destroyed 40 shops and two houses, and injured 10 police officers.
In September 2023, Jharkhand also saw two groups clashing over the location of a Ganesh pandal in Lohardaga’s Valmiki Nagar. Similar incidents were reported in Surat, Ratlam, and Rajkot last year.
‘No trust in state govt’
Speaking about the incident in Nagamangala, Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Sharan Pumpwell said that Hindu organisations have no faith in the Congress government in Karnataka and have appealed to the Centre to intervene to ensure law and order in the state.
“We have no trust in the state government anymore. We would like to appeal to the central government to provide us with security during Hindu festival processions, as there is a threat that these radical groups will attack and cause further harm,” Pumpwell told News18.
Calling it an attempt to specifically target Hindus and disrupt festivities, Pumpwell added that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure peace, and they have failed miserably.
“They are specifically targeting Ganesh Chaturthi festivities and our Hindu festivals. They don’t want us to celebrate in areas where they live or where our processions pass in front of their mosques. How can that be allowed? This is very much our land,” he added.
‘Don’t add fuel to fire’
Mufti Mohammed Maqsood Imran, Imam and Khatib of Jama Masjid Bengaluru, had a different perspective on the Nagamangala incident.
“Do not add fuel to the fire. We should ensure that there is peace and prosperity in our country and not be divided by such acts,” he told News18.
He mentioned that a specific route had been planned for the Ganesh Visarjan procession, but it was altered, which was seen as an attempt to instigate trouble.
“They deviated from the route and indulged in sloganeering in front of the mosque. The matter ended there, but it spiralled out of control when groups began setting fire to shops and houses belonging to people of a specific community. It doesn’t matter what religion they belong to; the fact that they were allowed to engage in arson is unacceptable. Those involved in the riots, regardless of community, should be held accountable for putting innocent lives at risk,” he said.
‘Know who is behind this’
Deputy leader of the opposition Arvind Bellad of the BJP added that there seemed to be a concerted effort to target Ganesh Chaturthi festivities. He claimed that anti-national and fundamentalist forces were trying to disrupt peace in the state. He accused the Congress government of not taking action against these groups, despite knowing their antecedents.
“We know who is behind this. If proper action is taken, it will not happen again. But the Congress is protecting them, and they will soon be released on bail. They are trying to do a balancing act by filing cases against Hindu activists, but the attack happened on a peaceful Hindu procession. How does that make sense? Shouldn’t they be arresting those who indulged in arson and attacked homes and shops with petrol bombs belonging to Hindus? If strict action is not taken, they will return, and that is heartbreaking,” Bellad told News18.
Senior Congress leader and AICC secretary Mansoor Ali Khan said that the Karnataka government had taken swift action, and those involved in the violence were immediately booked to ensure peace. When asked why such attacks occur during festivities like Ganesh Chaturthi, Khan said it was wrong to claim these incidents target only one community. He explained that “anti-social elements” wait for opportunities like these to cause unrest and ignite conflicts between peaceful communities.
“These processions are easy targets for creating unrest and disharmony. There may be groups of lumpen elements looking to spark discontent and use it to cause trouble. Both the majority and minority communities should maintain peace, root out these anti-social elements, ensure they are held accountable by the law, and live together as one peaceful society,” he said.
‘Against the principles of Islam’
Clerics in Uttar Pradesh have strongly condemned the stone-pelting incident on a Ganeshotsav pandal in Lucknow on September 10, calling it an act “against the principles of Islam”.
Following the attack, organiser Kiran Chaurasia lodged a complaint, saying that her religious sentiments had been hurt. Hindu groups gathered at the police station in protest, demanding swift action. The police responded promptly, registering a case and arresting 11 people, including four minors, with further investigations underway.
“The FIR into the matter has been registered against the miscreants involved in the act of stone-pelting at the Ganesh Utsav pandal in Lucknow,” said Shashank Singh, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), West, Police Commissionerate, Lucknow.
Clerics have urged Muslims to refrain from acts that disrupt communal peace and hurt the sentiments of people from other communities. “Lucknow has long been celebrated for its Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, where people from all communities and castes come together to celebrate festivals in harmony. We strongly condemn the recent incident, as such actions are entirely un-Islamic. We urge our Muslim brethren to refrain from any behaviour that hurts the religious sentiments of others,” said Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, a Sunni cleric and a senior member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), and Imam Eidgah, Lucknow.
Maulana Yasoob Abbas, a Shia cleric from Lucknow too strongly condemned the act of stone-pelting and said that such acts bring a bad name to the entire community. “We strongly condemn the act. The act was committed by some misguided minors,” he said.
Similarly, Barelvis too condemned the incident, urging youths to avoid such actions. “Of late we have observed the indulgence of youths from both the communities in such provocative acts. We strongly condemn this behaviour. Instead of engaging in such actions, we should strive to set an example that strengthens communal harmony. It is our responsibility to promote peace and unity, ensuring that all communities live together in mutual respect,” said Nasir Quraishi, convener of Dargah Ala Hazrat, Bareilly, UP.
‘First time in 103 years’
However, the organisers of Ganesh puja pandals in Lucknow expressed shock, stating that the stone-pelting incident marks the first such occurrence in the festival’s 103-year history here.
“Our Maharashtrian Samaj has been observing Ganeshotsav for the last 103 years in Lucknow. In fact, we were among the first few to start the trend of observing Ganeshotsav in Uttar Pradesh. However, never ever had we come across any such incident like stone-pelting at the pandals. We strongly condemn the act. I think it’s high time for all the religious leaders from different communities to come forward and counsel the youths in order to send the strong message of harmony and peace,” said Dinesh Joshi, a member of the Maharashtrian Samaj.
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