TN (Tamil Nadu) police have come up with unrealistic restrictions curbing Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Only recently DMK MLA Udhaynidhi Stalin had called for the ‘eradication’ of Sanatan Hindu Dharma followed by 2G Scam accused A Raja who exceeded all limits of decency in derogating Hindu Dharma.

TN police rules for Ganesh Chaturthi

The TN police tweeted the following restrictions for Hindus to follow during Ganesh Chaturthi.

On the occasion of Vinayagar Chaturthi, instructions for the installation and worship of Vinayagar idols:

1) Landowners where Vinayagar idols are going to be installed must have obtained permission from the local bodies concerned, the Highway Department or the Government Department.

2) Must have obtained a No Objection Certificate from the Fire Department, Electricity Board, etc.

3) Obtain permission from the police station officer concerned by filling up the forms for the installation of Vinayagar idols, undertaking to abide by the restrictions and conditions mentioned therein.

4) The height of the statue to be installed should not exceed 10 feet from the base of the platform.

5) Installation of idols near places of Worship, Hospitals, and Educational institutions should be avoided.

6) There should be no room for shouting and chanting in a manner that incites religious hatred or hurts the sentiments of other religions.

7) Two volunteers should be deputed on a 24-hour rotation to ensure the safety of the idols.

8) Banners/billboards in support of any political parties or religious leaders should not be placed at the worship point.

9) Fire safety rules and regulations must be followed, Electrical wire connections and Pandals should be monitored periodically to avoid accidents and mishaps.

10) On days permitted by the Police for immersion of Vinayagar idols, idols should be carried in permitted four-wheelers on permitted routes only and peacefully immersed.

11) Bursting of firecrackers is not allowed in places where Vinayagar idols are installed, procession routes and immersion Points.

On the face of it, these appear to be regular restrictions. However, it is amply clear that the aim is to indirectly break the spirit of Hindus. The TN police ask Hindus to sign an undertaking and considering the DMK government’s history, this rule simply appears to be another way of dissuading Hindus from celebrating Vinayakar Chaturthi. Moreover, it vaguely says “undertaking to abide by the restrictions and conditions mentioned therein“. This might be similar to ‘conditions apply’ where the fine print is usually unreasonable, to say the least.

Point number 5 is also unreasonable considering the fact that pandals are erected close to temples. Here it must be highlighted that last year, the Madras High Court (HC) passed an unreasonable order asking Hindus to acquire permission from Jamaat to erect Ganesh pandal. “Why do Hindus need to take the consent of a jamaat to celebrate their own festival? How does it affect Muslims? Hindus lost their lives and were maimed in the 1998 Coimbatore bombing and the riots in 1997. Yet Abdul Nazar Madani, the brain behind the bomb blasts was acquitted and roaming freely, while Hindus have to beg Muslims to even conduct festivals”, HinduPost had highlighted. 

Also, in view of the fact that Hinduphobics are triggered by the mere chanting of Jai Shri Ram, the TN police have probably added this caveat to provide ammunition to ‘minorities’ to claim victimhood in case of any untoward incident. Isn’t security the duty of TN police? While there is no harm in ensuring pandals have their volunteers in pandals, the TN police are washing their hands off the security issue.

While the TN police dissuade Hindus from bursting crackers, it imposed no such restriction on the highly mismanaged AR Rahman concert that recently took place in Chennai.

In other words, the restrictions cloaked as ‘rules’ are another form of dissuading Hindus from celebrating Hindu festivals by making celebrations difficult.

TN police officer harasses Ganesh murti maker

Recently, a video of a TN police officer harassing a Ganesh murti maker went viral on social media. Murugan, a native of Shenkottai in Tenkasi, has been running the business of making murtis using eco-friendly materials for decades. Murugan and his father Thirumalai, specialize in making murtis of Ganesha ranging from 2 feet to 12 feet and during Ganesh Chaturthi season.

As the festival is fast approaching, Murugan has been receiving hundreds of orders from across the state and even from neighbouring Kerala. Recently a video of him narrating his ordeal on how he is being targeted by the Tamil Nadu police on false charges for his political affiliation went viral on social media.

Hinduphobic DMK and I.N.D.I alliance

TN is ruled by Hinduphobic DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kaghazam) which has leaders like A Raja who terms Sanatan Hindu Dharma as a ‘menace’ to the world. The chief minister’s son, who is also an MLA, Udhaynidhi Stalin called for the ‘eradication’ of Hindu Dharma.

It is part of the I.N.D.I alliance that rushed to defend Stalin by its members parroting the same anti-Hindu stance. The Congress puts up a show of being a Hindu-friendly party in the North, while its leaders in TN continue their anti-Hindu tirade. It is apt to highlight that I.N.D.I alliance leaders have repeatedly insulted Hindu Dharma.

It is not just the anti-Hindu TN police but it has become routine for anti-Hindu secular states to place restrictions on Hindu festivals alone. “Hindu festivals are a time for state governments and Bharat’s secular establishments to come out with regulations in the name of guidelines. Only recently, the Odisha government had placed severe restrictions on Hindu festivals using the pandemic as an excuse. Similarly, the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government has also restricted the celebration of upcoming Hindu festivals of Janmashtami and Ganpati Chaturthi”, HinduPost reported in 2021.

Hindus are time and again being treated as second-class citizens both by the state and the judiciary. Hindus are the majority population of Bharat. But no other community thinks celebrating their festival would offend Hindus or police ban them on the pretext of protecting law and order. There have been many instances of Muslims throwing stones, and shouting anti-Hindu slogans during their religious processions. But no Muslim celebration or procession is banned citing law and order.

(Featured Image Source: Zee News)