High security after SC bars Ganesh Chaturthi celebration at Bengaluru Idgah Maidan

Bengaluru city Jamia Masjid imam Maulana Maqsood Imran welcomed the status quo order. “We welcome the order of the Supreme Court but will continue our fight for the ownership of the land. Besides offering prayers on Ramzan and Bakrid, let the ground be a public space for children to play or cows to graze. We are not in favour of allowing other religious activity at the ground,” he said.

Vishwa Sanatan Parishad president S Bhaskaran said his outfit would abide by the court order but expressed disappointment over the state government’s “lack of interest”. “I sought information from the waqf board under the Right To Information Act, and it clearly says the ground is not waqf board property. An alternative land has also been given to the Muslims. However, the BJP in Karnataka, ahead of the BBMP and Assembly elections, has not addressed the problem but is playing petty politics.”

Members of the outfit had demanded the government celebrate Independence Day at the ground. This year, the revenue department celebrated Independence Day there for the first time.

Deputy commissioner of police (west) Laxman B Nimbargi said that three deputy commissioners, 100 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, 21 assistant commissioners of police, 47 police inspectors, 130 sub-inspectors, 126 assistant sub-inspectors, 900 constables, 120 Rapid Action Force personnel and 100 personnel from the special weapons and tactics wing have been deployed.

The Ganesha festival used to celebrated at the ground but violence broke out when the festival coincided with Bakrid in 1982—the first incident of sectarian violence over the land. Pramila Nesargi, the first female MLA in the state, was then active in the protests. She represented the Chamarajpet constituency as a Janata Party MLA from 1978 to 1983.

From the homepage

US clears Excalibur artillery shells, Javelin anti-tank systems for India

SC clarifies Governor’s powers: How it answered 14 questions referred by President

90% of selected students Muslim, Sangh outfits want admission for Vaishnodevi medical college scrapped