Pune: Kasba Constituency MLA Ravindra Dhangekar, along with a Congress delegation, met with Police Commissioner Ritesh Kumar on Thursday, November 2, to address concerns about the government’s handling of Hindu festival celebrations. At this time, Dhangekar posed a barrage of incisive questions to the ruling government and especially the Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, leaving him little room for evasion.
Dhangekar’s primary question revolved around the government’s self-proclaimed claim of a Hindu government and its actions against individuals and workers participating in Hindu festivals such as Ganeshotsav and Dahi Handi. He emphasised the need to withdraw all cases filed against mandal activists in recent days.
After the meeting with the Police Commissioner, Dhangekar spoke to the media, highlighting the Chief Minister’s previous announcement regarding the relaxation of festival celebration restrictions in the state. “While the government had promised a free and open atmosphere for festivals, it had only allowed a five-day loudspeaker permit until late at night during the festival period. Additionally, mandal activists faced charges under various sections and were incarcerated,” he said.
Dhangekar also questioned the inconsistency between the Chief Minister’s stance on the issue and the police’s alleged harassment of mandal workers who were celebrating festivals within the boundaries of the law. He called upon the Commissioner to intervene and put an end to this situation, while also demanding the withdrawal of cases against the festival workers.
Present at this event were former MLA Mohan Joshi, along with Balasaheb Amrale, Sanjay Balgude, Prashant Suravase, Bhau Karpe, and several office-bearers of Ganesh Mandals in the city.
