Calling it an “insult to Indian culture”, the Mumbai Congress has condemned Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led government for allegedly pressuring Maharashtra Ramlila Mandal to perform Ravana Dahan a day in advance (on Navmi), so that Mumbai’s Azad Maidan can be available for the CM’s Dussehra rally on Tuesday. Despite repeated attempts, the Shinde Sena group was unavailable for a comment.
Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad has written to Shinde, demanding the move be reversed immediately, failing which she said her party would support those protesting against it.
“These mandals have been organising Ramlila at Azad Maidan for the past 48 years. The government put pressure on both these groups to make the ground available for the rally. The government has suggested that these mandals should either perform Ravan Vadh ritual a day early or the entire Ramlila should be shifted to some other place,” Gaikwad told News18.
“This is an insult to the Indian culture and disrespects the faith of millions of people. People expect the festival to end where it began. Wherever a Ramlila begins, the death of Ravana is expected to happen at the same place. But this government has devised an idea that everything should be done one day prior. This does not suit those who are so proud of the Indian culture,” said Gaikwad.
TWO GROUPS AT THE VENUE
According to sources, the two Ramlila groups – Sahitya Kala Mandal and Maharashtra Ramlila Mandal – at Azad Maidan were called by Mumbai Guardian minister for a meeting in which they were requested either to shift to another location in the vicinity or wrap up their show one day prior to the Dussehra rally of Shiv Sena.
The Sahitya Kala Mandal decided to shift to a new venue, while the Maharashtra Ramlila Mandal decided to wrap it up a day before Dussehra.
However, Sandeep Shukla, vice-president, Maharashtra Ramlila Mandal, objected to this proposal and protested against it. According to Shukla, after his objection, their office-bearers passed a resolution stating that “as requested by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde to make Azad Maidan ground available for Shiv Sena Dussehra Rally, they are concluding their Ramlila Show on 23rd of October without any pressure, so that the ground can be made available for Shinde’s rally on 24th of October”.
“If they call themselves the real Shiv Sena, they should follow the teachings of Balasaheb thoroughly. Balasaheb, before his Dussehra rally speech, used to burn the Ravan effigy. He never interfered with the culture and faith of people. I request them to do the same and burn Ravan on the day of Dussehra as it is significant,” said Shukla.
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