Bengaluru: A recent incident in Karnataka’s capital, Bengaluru, has caused significant controversy after images of Lord Ganesha’s idol placed inside a police van went viral on social media. The incident occurred during a protest at Bengaluru’s Town Hall against the attack on a Ganesh Visarjan procession in Nagamangala. The images, which showed the idol seated in the police van intended for transporting arrested protesters, drew strong disapproval from various political and religious groups.
Condemnation by BJP and VHP
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) were quick to condemn the incident. Leaders from both groups criticised the act, stating that the deity was “also among those arrested.” Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the situation at a rally in Haryana, where he remarked, “In Congress-ruled Karnataka, even Ganpati is being put in jail.”
The uproar was in response to what many saw as a disrespectful handling of a revered religious figure. VHP leader Girish Bharadwaj called the sight of Lord Ganesha in the police van “heartbreaking and unfortunate,” comparing the situation to treating the deity like a criminal.
What Happened During the Protest?
The protest in question was sparked by recent violence in Nagamangala, where two communities clashed during a Ganesh Visarjan procession. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Ganesh Utsav Committee organised the protest at Town Hall, despite being denied permission by the police. When the police received information about the protest, they deployed two platoons of officers to manage the situation.
By midday, about 20 to 30 protesters had gathered at Town Hall, chanting slogans. As the gathering did not have prior approval, the police began arresting the demonstrators and moving them into police vans.
In a curious twist, a group of people joined the protest with a Ganesha idol, which they claimed was meant for visarjan (immersion). When the police began detaining the protesters, the idol was left on the ground. According to Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, an officer noticed the unattended idol and decided to place it inside the police van for safekeeping.
The Viral Image and Reactions
The image of the Ganesha idol inside the police van quickly went viral, sparking outrage across social media platforms. Many criticised the police for what they saw as disrespect towards the deity, while others blamed the administration for mishandling the situation.
In response to the backlash, Commissioner Dayananda clarified the police’s actions. He explained, “How could we leave Lord Ganesha unattended? Our officer ensured that the idol was taken safely, and since it was meant to be taken for visarjan, the visarjan was done at a local police station with all respect and devotion.”
He added that the police acted to protect the sanctity of the idol rather than disrespect it. However, the viral image led to strong reactions, with BJP MP Tejasvi Surya among those expressing concern on social media.
The Protest’s Origin and Arrests
The protest was organised in response to an incident in Nagamangala where clashes between two communities during a Ganesh Visarjan procession escalated into violence. This led to arson and unrest in the area, prompting widespread protests across Karnataka. The protesters in Bengaluru aimed to highlight what they called an intelligence failure on the part of the police in Nagamangala. However, as the protest was unauthorised, the police took action and arrested 40 people, including those carrying the Ganesha idol.
Senior VHP leader Girish Bharadwaj stated that the Bengaluru protest was peaceful and criticised the police for how the situation was handled. “There seem to be restrictions on celebrating Hindu festivals. Why don’t they impose restrictions on other communities as well?” Bharadwaj asked, adding that the protesters only wanted to draw attention to the police’s mishandling of the Nagamangala situation.
Concluding Remarks
While the police maintain that they acted with respect and care towards the Ganesha idol, the incident has sparked a broader debate on the handling of religious symbols during protests. The arrest of protesters, coupled with the placement of the idol in the police van, has raised questions about how such situations should be managed in the future to avoid religious sensitivities being hurt.