Over 150 Trucks Allegedly Used to Transport Ganesh Idols in Garbage – Hindu Janajagruti Samiti demands Immediate Criminal Action
Ganesh idols near the Diaghar dumping ground in Thane district, calling it a grave affront to Hindu religious sentiments and the sanctity of Ganeshotsav, which has been accorded State Festival status this year. Community outrage was palpable as villagers compelled more than 150 dumpers to return with the idols, rejecting this degrading treatment at the grassroots level. Videos widely circulating on social media purportedly show trucks marked “vehicle on BMC duty,” raising serious concerns about civic involvement and prompting HJS to demand immediate registration of criminal cases against officials responsible. HJS has addressed its demand to the District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners of Mumbai and Thane, the respective Police Commissioners, and the Hon’ble Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
शंभर ते दीडशे मोठ्या गाड्यांमध्ये भरून मुंबईतील दीड दिवसाच्या गणेश विसर्जन मूर्ती डायघर (कल्याण ग्रामीण) येथील डम्पिंग ग्राउंडवर विल्हेवाट लावण्यासाठी आणल्या होत्या.
हे देवत्वाचा अपमान आहे!
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HJS underscores that prior formal representations to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Environment Minister, District Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, and other concerned authorities had clearly urged: a complete bar on transporting idols in waste-collection vehicles; strict prevention of any mishandling or desecration of idols retrieved from artificial immersion tanks; and a prohibition on dumping idols with garbage, at deserted locations, or in quarries. The failure to enforce these safeguards has culminated in a serious transgression against religious faith and community dignity. While acknowledging that certain directions of the Hon’ble Courts and the Government of Maharashtra govern idol immersion, HJS stresses that compliance with environmental norms can never justify disrespect to sacred idols. As per Hindu scriptures, Lord Ganesha is to be immersed in flowing water, and Article 25 of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom to practice religion.
In light of the above, HJS urgently calls upon the Government of Maharashtra to immediately halt the use of garbage vehicles for transporting idols; initiate prompt criminal proceedings against the officials found responsible; and ensure that personnel tasked with retrieval from artificial ponds handle idols with due reverence at all times. To prevent recurrence during the forthcoming immersion events, HJS further urges issuance of stringent, statewide directives with clear command responsibility, continuous oversight, and measurable compliance checks—so that no action or omission by administrative agencies results in injury to religious sentiments.
