Hindu Munnani slams restrictions on Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in TN, to install 1.5 lakh idols

COIMBATORE: Hindu Munnani state president Kadeswara C Subramaniam on Thursday announced that the organisation will install 1.5 lakh Ganesh idols across Tamil Nadu to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. He criticised the state government for imposing restrictions on Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
Subramaniam met reporters at the organisation’s office in Ram Nagar, Coimbatore. He said, “We have been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi for the last 36 years. We are going to install 1.5 lakh Ganesh idols across the state and we are ready to face government’s action.”
He assured that the organisation would follow all prohibitory orders set by the government and won’t allow people to gather at one place.
“We suggested that only five members from Hindu Munnani will take the idols for immersion. However, the government did not bother to consider our suggestions and imposed the ban. The state government provided relaxation to Muslims and Christians to celebrate Eid al- adha (bakrid) and other festivals. But they are not supporting Hindus,” he added.
He demanded that Dravidian party leaders and MLAs encourage Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. “A few MLAs and party functionaries of the Dravidian parties are interested to celebrate Ganesh Chathurthi as well,” he said.
Subramaniam added, “A few bureaucrats with Naxalite ideology gave wrong suggestions to chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to ban Ganesh Chaturthi celebration.”
He claimed that Dravidian parties were afraid of Hindu Munnani organisation’s growth in the state.
On Thursday, the Tamil Nadu government announced a ban on installing Ganesh idols in public places and procession to immerse the idols in waterbodies. The government instructed people to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at homes.