Following the civic body’s declaration that the Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru’s Chamarajapet belongs to the Karnataka revenue department, Congress leader and Chamarajapet MLA, Zameer Ahmed Khan on Monday said that Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations will not be allowed at the site.
On Saturday, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) passed an order stating that the ownership of the Idgah Maidan near Chamarajpet belongs to the state Revenue department and not the Wakf board.
For the first time in the history of the Idgah Maidan, the former Karnataka Minister, who visited the site, announced that the tricolour will be hoisted at the premises of the ground.
“The national flag will be hoisted on every occasion of Independence Day and Republic Day. The Kannada flag will be hoisted on November 1. But Ganesh Chaturthi won’t be celebrated here,” Ahmed said.
He stated that he visited the Maidan with the sole aim of planning for grand celebrations of the 75th Independence day.
Commenting on the BBMP’s order, the Congress MLA said that the State Wakf board will take care of the matter. He also alleged that the media is involved in provoking people over the issue and creating confusion regarding the Idgah Maidan controversy.
Meanwhile, Hindu activists are now demanding the demolition of the tower at the site. Vishwa Sanatan Parishat President Bhaskaran on Monday said when the BBMP has declared that the site belongs to the state government, “then why should there be an Idgah tower in the Maidan?”
He added if the tower is not razed down from the site then it would lead to communal clashes.
Several Hindu group activists have also demanded that since the land on which the Idgah Maidan stands was earlier a playground and is government property, therefore they must be allowed to celebrate Hindu festivals at the site.
(With inputs)
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Rabia Shireen is a Staff Reporter at The Cognate.
