The case of a false complaint made by ‘Pestam Sagar Forum’ against HJS

Bhadrapat Shukla Trayodashi, Kaliyug Varsha 5111

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Updates

• The case of a false complaint made by ‘Pestam Sagar Forum’ against HJS (2 Sept 09)
• Heretic Organisation ‘Pestam Sagar Citizen Forum’ pounds Idols of Lord Ganesh at Chembur (1 Sept 09)

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The case of a false complaint made by ‘Pestam Sagar Forum’ against HJS

HJS demands that the concerned Editors publish the truth !

Mumbai (Maharashtra): The local English newspapers namely ‘Mid-Day’, ‘Mumbai Mirror’ and Marathi Daily ‘Pudhari’ in its supplement named ‘Mai Mumbai’ have published a defaming and false news report saying that the activists of HJS had threatened the gardener and office bearers of ‘Pestam Sagar Citizens Forum’ due to their construction of artificial tanks following which a police complaint has been lodged against them. Explanatory letters have been sent to the editors of these three newspapers on behalf of HJS and it has been demanded that they publish HJS’ explanation on this issue in their newspapers.

The clarification explains that HJS has been conducting the campaign against the artificial tanks in a peaceful and lawful manner with the sole purpose of educating the Ganesh devotees. Even the policed are convinced that the complaint lodged by the Forum against HJS is baseless and false.

Source: Daily Sanatan Prabhat

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Heretic Organisation ‘Pestam Sagar Citizen Forum’ pounds Idols of Lord Ganesh at Chembur

Bhadrapat Shukla Dwadashi, Kaliyug Varsha 5111

September 1, 2009

Mumbai (Maharashtra): It is understood that an organisation by the name‘  Pestam Sagar Citizen Forum’ has been forcing Ganesh devotees to immerse Ganesh  Idols in artificial tanks in the name of pollution and these Idols which are worshipped with earnest devotion  are then literally pounded in a stone mortar. All this is done with the permission of the Mumbai Municipality. (Do not call yourself a Ganesh devotee if your blood does not boil on learning about such a desecration! – Editor SP)

A project called ‘Eco-friendly Ganesh Immersion and Nirmalya Project 2009’ is founded jointly by ‘Pestam Sagar Citizens Forum’, Municipal Corporation of Mumbai and Mumbai Police.(Would the Government machinery dare to conduct a similar  activity against the Muslim religion during their festival season ?- Editor SP)

Under this project 4 tanks each measuring 6 feet in depth and 3 feet in diameter were constructed at Nana Nani Park, Pestam Sagar and Road No.6, Chembur. The immersed Ganesh Idols are taken out after some time and then taken to two huts nearby. There these Idols are literally pounded in a stone mortar. The clay thus obtained is used for making bricks and the remaining clay is used for plants. ( The Pollution Control Board  itself has declared that only immersion of Ganesh Idols does not cause pollution. In fact after the Ganesh Idol immersion, the purity level of water rises. O Hindus, these so called eco-friendly organisations and the Municipality are making the common people move away from Righteous conduct and are making them anti-Dharma ! – Editor SP)

‘Pestam Sagar citizens Forum’ has been trying to initiate this ‘Eco-friendly Ganesh Immersion’ movement since 2006 and has constructed artificial tanks for Ganesh Idol immersion. This organisation has also published a pamphlet appealing to the people that they should join this eco-friendly immersion to maintain cleanliness, beauty and safety. (Those who conveniently neglect the pollution wrought by chemical factories throughout the year or even the traffic jams during the festivals of other religions, are amazingly attentive towards pollution and safety only during Hindu Festivals ! – Editor SP)

Comments by the prominent people:

This is very disgusting ! I will ask the Mayor for an explanation !- Jyotirbhaskar Jayant Salgaonkar

To pound sacred Idols immersed in artificial tanks in a stone mortar is a very shameful act. As I am listening to this news I get the painful feeling that somebody is likewise pounding my mind in that mortar. Even after the vital energy in the Idol is gone after the Uttarpuja, the Idol still has to be immersed in flowing water. Our Mayor should not speak with authority about the scriptures, as nobody has such a right without proper study. If you are so worried about water pollution, appeal to the people to make small Idols as nowhere in the scriptures is it is mentioned that the Idols should be huge. I myself will seek the explanation from the mayor about this. On the other hand when the Idols are prepared from paper, trash etc. in the name of curbing pollution, it goes grossly against Dharma.

This is nothing but Idol-breaking !- Rashtriya Pravachankar Mr. S.G. Shewde

We worship the Idol with devotion and develop faith towards it. To pound such an Idol in a mortar is a very painful concept. It is nothing but Idol desecration. This is an act that can be accomplished only by those who work against Dharma. Through this, the religious sentiments of Hindus are being crushed which can lead to an uproar in society. Who then will take responsibility? It is absolutely correct to oppose such an act in defence of Dharma. There are other causes of water pollution also. The Municipality should at least make some attempt to rectify them !

Pound those in the mortar who pound our Idols!- Mr. Sanjay Raut, MP

Whoever got the idea of pounding Idols by organising having mortars kept beside the artificial tanks is evil indeed ! This is against our culture, Dharma and faith. Pound the very ones in the mortar who pound our Idols !

Keep opposing the stance taken by the Mayor !- Dr. Deepak Sawant, Shiv Sena MLA

Why are Hindus always shown the baton of pollution ? Why not for followers of other religions ? Why are the festivals of Hindus always targeted ? There are also other causes of water pollution for which stern measures are required. Considering other causes, the pollution occurring due to Ganesh Idol immersion is negligible. We must resist the manner in which the Idols are destroyed at Chembur in the name of pollution through the medium of artificial tanks. I am opposed to this anti- Dharmic stance taken by the Mayor. You must continue educating the people.

Nobody has the right to interfere in Dharma !- Mr. Rahul Shewale, Shiv Sena Councillor
 
I am opposed to this idea of artificial tanks by the Municipality from the very beginning. This year as well I submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner conveying that there is no need of artificial tanks but since the mayor is adamant on this issue, nobody can help. But nobody has got the right to interfere in Dharma. The Idol of Lord Ganesh has to be immersed in flowing water.

Comments by an employee of ‘Pestam Sagar Citizen Forum’

“I am working with this organisation for the past 4 years. I do not agree with this ‘Ganesh Immersion’ activity of theirs. But since I am employed here I am helpless.” (Lord Ganesh will not bestow His grace on somebody involved in anti-Dharmic activity in the name of employment.-Editor) “The devotees worship the Idol for seven days and then immerse them here. But the employees here remove them from the tank, take them to the nearby hut and pound it in a mortar. I am very much pained. The concerned authority should be pounded in the same way that they pound the Idol.”

HJS’ explanation on the defaming news published in Daily ‘ Loksatta’

Mumbai: In its issue dated 31st August on page No.3 the Daily Loksatta had published a  defamatory news report stating that the 25-30 activists of Hindu Janjagaran Samiti had threatened the office bearers and the gardener  of ‘ Pestam Sagar Citizens Forum’ for which the Chembur police have registered a complaint against them.

The HJS has therefore sent an explanatory letter to the editor of Daily Loksatta.

HJS explanation on the defaming news published in the Daily ‘Loksatta’: In this news the Daily has reported that ‘The Chembur police has registered a complaint in this regard. The activists 20 to30 in number who carried placards in their hands came acclaiming the name of HJS loudly and threatened the gardener of the park.’

In its explanation sent to ‘Daily Loksatta’ HJS has said that ‘On 29th August the activists of the Samiti with prior permission of the Police were enlightening devotees in a peaceful and democratic manner  on the road outside Nana-Nani Park, near the artificial tanks in the Pestam  Sagar area. Since the activists were doing it in a democratic manner, the police gave their consent and stood some distance away from the tanks. When this is the truth the Daily Loksatta has published a slanderous report stating ‘facts’ that never occurred.

The Police dismissed the complaint lodged by the ‘Forum’ as false after an explanation from HJS

HJS activist Mr. Satish Sonar was called to Tilaknagar Police Station in connection with the complaint lodged by the office bearers of ‘Pestam Sagar Citizens Forum’. Mr. Satish Sonar then explained in detail about their peaceful and legitimate activity of educating the devotees on 29th August. The Police present there also supported his explanation. Thus Mr. Sonar brought to the notice of   Police that this was a ploy by the office bearers of Forum to defame HJS. Following this the Police were convinced that they were mistaken and HJS was no way connected with this false complaint.