The state government had already banned installation of idols in public places, taking out processions and immersion of the idols in sea and other water bodies in view of the COVID-19 induced lockdown and to prevent further spread of the virus and again reiterated its stand on Thursday and appealed to the people to celebrate it in their homes. Talking to reporters, BJP state unit chief L Murugan said the BJP would follow the Hindu Munnani’s stand on the Vinayaga Chaturthi celebrations.

Questioning the government’s decision to allow opening of state-owned liquor shops, he said the Hindu Munnani has been installing Lord Ganesha idols in public places for the last 40 years during the celebrations. He said, “We are not asking permission to take out rallies or procession, but only to install the idols in public,” he added.

He wondered why the Tamil Nadu government was reluctant to allow the celebrations at a time other states like Maharashtra, where coronavirus cases were high, Karnataka have allowed installation of idols in public places.

“I do not understand why the state government is refusing permission to celebrate Vinayagar Chathurthi,” he added. Meanwhile, as the Hindu Munnani stood firm in its decision to go ahead with installing 1.5 lakh idols across the state, senior police officials were holding a meeting with its members on the issue. In a related development, the Madras High Court on Thursday asked the state government whether it was possible to give some relaxations to conduct Vinayagar Chathurthi celebrations. The court has asked the government to file its response by Friday morning.

In the continuing war of words between the ruling party and state BJP unit over Vinayaga Chathurthi celebrations, senior AIADMK leader and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar while joining issue with BJP senior functionary H Raja said the AIADMK government was a ‘potent’ government. Referring to a tweet in which Raja indirectly termed the AIADMK government as ‘impotent’ (for not granting permission to install Ganesha idols for Vinayaga Chathurthi festival), Jayakumar told reporters here, “What he said was applicable to him (Raja) only.” The Fisheries Minister recalled how Raja went into hiding after posting a controversial tweet earlier and said “everyone knows about his ‘potent’ial.”