Rashtriya Hindu Andolan held at Dadar (Mumbai)

Government has no right to deprive Hindus of performing religious rituals under excuse of security ! – Sumit Sagavekar, HJS

Mumbai : Offering coconut to God is a religious ritual of Hindus and coconut is the medium to acquire principle of that Deity, is the faith of devotees; therefore, imposing ban on offering coconut on the day of ‘Angaraki Chaturthi’ in Shri Siddhivinayak Mandir is like depriving Hindus of such religious benefit. Today, with advanced machinery, it is easy to find whether explosives are hidden in a coconut. It is possible to use such machinery for protection of devotees as also allowing them to perform their religious rituals. The Government has no right to stop Hindus from performing religious rituals under duress and excuse of security reasons. The above views were expressed by Shri. Sumit Sagavekar of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) during demonstrations staged on 14th March near Kabutarkhana in Dadar (West) under the aegis of ‘Rashtriya Hindu Andolan (RHA)’ to oppose Government’s decision prohibiting devotees from carrying coconut to Shri Siddhivinayak temple for security reasons, on the day of ‘Angaraki Chaturthi’ in last month. Demand was made to immediately pass law banning religion- conversions. Members of Shri Raigad Sanvardhan Pratishthan, VHP, Shiv Sena, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, HJS and Sanatan Sanstha etc participated in the demonstrations.

Views expressed by participating dignitaries

1. Shri. Rajendra Sawant, Shri Raigad Sanvardhan Pratishthan

Restrictions imposed on Hindus related to temples are condemnable. The Government is all the time trampling our religious faiths. Hindus are only facing restrictions under various laws; but non-Hindus are extended lot of facilities. Henceforth, it will not be tolerated.

2. Shri. Sanghatan Sharma, Youth leader, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, Mumbai

Hindus’ religious sentiments should be respected. Ban on carrying coconut to Shri Siddhivinayak Temple should be immediately withdrawn considering faith of devotees.

A Ganesh-devotee coming forward to express her reaction against the intimidating decision of Maharashtra Govt.

“We carried a ‘toran’ made of 5 coconuts on the day of Angaraki Chaturthi but security guards prevented us from carrying it inside. We were asked to keep the ‘toran’ outside; so we felt very bad. We were advised to donate money instead of buying ‘toran’ of coconuts. We felt it was wrong.” – Smt. Manisha Kadam, Khar (E)

Highlights : Shri. Mayur Chavan, ‘Shakha-Pramukh’ of Shiv Sena from Nagar and his two friends spontaneously joined the demonstrations.