Hubballi civic body allows to hold Ganesh festival at Idgah Maidan for 3 days, but with 18 conditions

The corporation’s order comes after the Karnataka High Court, Dharwad bench, dismissed a plea by Muslim body Anjuman-i-Islam that had challenged the corporation’s resolution to allow Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations at Idgah Maidan.

The corporation’s general body meeting on August 31 passed the resolution with a majority allowing Ganesh Utsav this year as well. However, the resolution was challenged by the Muslim body in the High Court.

The civic body has directed the organisers to install a pandal of the prescribed size of 30 feet long and 30 feet wide only in the designated area.

It has also banned entertainment or cultural events, loudspeakers, flags, provocative banners and flexboards that could disturb peace in society. The commissioner of the corporation has also directed the organisers to not incite riots or cause disturbance during the celebrations.

The organisers have been ordered to give an assurance on maintaining public peace and communal harmony and in case of unnecessary riots and disturbances resulting in damage to public property, the organisers are ordered to take full responsibility and face legal action. The Ganesha idol procession route must be followed as prescribed by the corporation and the procession must be completed within one hour, officials said. The corporation has also banned the use of firecrackers near the Idgah maidan premises.

Meanwhile, the Hubballi-Dharwad police department has ramped up security measures. Nearly 1,500 police officials from other districts and 15 Karnataka State Reserve Police and 10 Rapid Action Force teams will be deployed for the Ganesh festival.

Mahesh Tenginakai, BJP MLA from Hubballi-Dharwad, central stated that if the Muslim body continues to interfere in stopping Ganesh festival, the Hindu organisations will move the Supreme Court for a stay against offering namaz in the maidan.

“Anjuman-i-Islam has repeatedly made efforts to communalise the (Ganesh festival) issue. The previous year court order has clearly mentioned that the municipal corporation has the authority over the Idgah maidan. This property does not belong to Anjuman-i-Islam and there is no need for them to interfere every time during Ganesha utsav festivities. Hindu organisations are holding talks to move the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the namaz allowed for the Muslims on two occasions,” the BJP legislator said.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Yusuf Savanur, president of Anjuman-i-Islam, said the property is leased out to them for 999 years. “We cannot allow Ganesh Chaturthi festival to be organised every other year. We will refer the issue to a two-member bench and if we don’t succeed, we will move the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the festivities at the Idgah Maidan,” said Mohammed Yusuf Savanur, president of Anjuman-i-Islam.

On August 30 last year, the Karnataka High Court allowed a Hindu organisation to erect a Ganesh idol at the Idgah ground after ruling that there was no title dispute over the Idgah Maidan in Hubballi, unlike the Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru. The Dharwad bench also observed that the Idgah Maidan in Hubballi belonged to the HDMC and that the land had been leased for 999 years to the Anjuman-i-Islam. It said the HDMC, however, still had rights over the use of the land.

Last year, in a first, the Rani Chennamma Maidana Gajanana Utsav Mahamandali and other Hindu organisations organised Ganesh Utsav at the Idgah Maidan. The event went off peacefully with scores of devotees attending the historic event.