Hyderabad: Religious fest is now on the rise in India with the right-wing group making efforts to add these to nation’s secular events as well.
BJP legislators from Amberpet have planned a Maha Aarti at Tank Bund on Republic Day which has irked people who raised objection against the Pooja as it is interfering with nation’s secular event like Republic Day.
The Maha Aarti is planned at Bharat Mata Statue which was installed at People’s Plaza on Wednesday. Amberpet BJP MLA G. Kishan Reddy will be leading the Aarti Pooja, along with other BJP leaders, that is, Khairatabad BJP MLA Chintala Ramach-andra Reddy, MLC and city president N. Ramchander Rao, and Uppal MLA N.V.S.S Prabhakar. The area falls under Khairatabad’s Assembly Constituency and BJP leader C. Ramachandra Reddy is the area’s MLA.
When DC enquired about the Maha Aarti permission approval granted by Buddha Purnima Project Wing (Government’s regulatory body that maintains the Hussainsagar), an official responded that “a request was sought by Bharat Mata Foundation and subsequently approved, for the Maha Arati on January 26th. However, no consent has been given by this office for installing a statue at People’s Plaza.”
Ashish Naik a retired Major speaking to DC told “Political parties are free to celebrate India as a Republic and the celebrations should be more about recalling all those who sacrificed their lives for the nation and also we should be thankful for the ones currently serving. It should attract patriotic fervor.”
Another retired officer of the Indian Army, Captain Pandu Ranga Reddy said, “The BJP political bigwigs are trying to emulate the Maha Arati at Hardwar. Neither is it good for them and for their political outfit nor for the people, but it incurs retribution. Also, history has proved that whosoever treats it sacrilegiously attracts misfortune. If politicians want to wrest power, they should be more secular and not desecrate such places.”
State Human Rights and Consumer Protection Cell Chairman Thakur Raj Kumar Singh speaking on it said, “During Kartika Masam a particular tree is worshipped and no harm is caused subsequently. Likewise, the Maha Arati will leave people with sentiments of protecting the lake and avoid polluting it.”