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‘Aam Aadmi Pushed’: Viral Videos From Mumbai’s Lalbaug Cha Raja Ganesh Pandal Spark Debate On VIP Culture

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'Aam Aadmi Pushed': Viral Videos From Mumbai's Lalbaug Cha Raja Ganesh Pandal Spark Debate On VIP Culture

Visuals of Lalbaug Cha Raja, one of the most-visited Ganesh Pandals in Mumbai, are widely being circulated online. These include photos of daily darshan of Lalbaug Cha Raja, devotees visiting the pandal, footages of celebrities walking through the darshan lane. There are also drone shots or videos captured from top of buildings showing how the entire street in the area is lit up to mark Ganesh Utsav with an impressive festival spirit.

Of the many videos going viral online, there are few which record bouncers pushing general devotees touching the foot of Bappa in an act of trying to manage the crowd and stagnation.

Not one single video, but a couple of them show female bouncers pushing people soon after their Charan Sparsh is done. They aren’t allowed to stay there for minutes and pray to Bappa and are rather asked to leave the premises allowing others too to take the darshan. While this could be considered to be fair for making way for others by keeping the queue flowing, it sparked an outrage on social media after people compared it to how VIPs were treated at the pandal.

As seen in the video, one of the feet of Bappa was being touched by general public and the other was allegedly being worshipped by VIPs who weren’t pushed to leave the premises immediately. Even seconds after their darshan of Bappa and Charan Sparsh being done, those touching the other foot of Lalbaug Cha Raja, believed to be VIPs, were seen standing next to his foot and clicking pictures together. Videos showed how VIPs stood there for a while within which 5-6 devotees were already been pushed to leave from the other queue.

Netizens react

These visuals from the Ganpati Pandal raised questions on VIP culture and VIP darshan there. “Won’t be surprised if Lalbaugcha Raja Pandal is declared as VIP only in future,” said netizens while reacting to the videos going viral online from Lalbaug Cha Raja’s darshan. “Assign a separate day for VIP darshan only VIPs allowed and all the remaining days keep it open for all devotees irrespective of anything!! Hoping anyone listens,” people added while trying to understand that these important personalities may receive special darshan but others should not face mistreatment.

Netizens offered due respect to Lalbaug Cha Raja and his talked-about miracles, but they highlighted allegedly how the organisers failed to equally treat very devotee visiting the pandal. “Not sure if Lord Ganesha himself approves the behaviour of Lalbaug Cha raja mandal! In front of God you can’t treat ppl so differently,” they wrote.

Celebs at Lalbaug Cha Raja 2024

This year, several celebrities have visited the pandal already along with lakhs and lakhs of general public queueing up to seek a glimpse of Bappa. From politicians to cine stars, some of the popular personalities who recently took darshan of Lalabug Cha Raja are Amit Shah and his wife Sonal Shah, Uddhav Thackeray, Rashmi Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Deepak Kesarkar, Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra, Vicky Kaushal, Ayushmann Khurrana, Shriya Pilgaonka, Bhuvan Bam, and more.

Maharashtra

Urban Naxals: Sule urges Maha to review security Bill amid Secretariat’s move to seek public views

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Mumbai, March 15: NCP(SP) MP Supriya Sule on Saturday attacked the state government saying that the Bill to check the ‘Urban Naxal’ menace known as the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024 undermines the fundamental rights of citizens.

Supriya Sule said that through this Bill, the right of common people to speak against the government will be taken away.

In a truly healthy democracy, dissenting opinions are respected and the principle of democracy also values Opposition voices, as they ensure that those in power remain accountable and respect public opinion, Supriya Sule added.

She has urged the government to review the draft of this Bill and ensure that constitutional values are not violated.

Sule chose to target the government after the Maharashtra Legislative Secretariat, through an advertisement in national newspapers, appealed to the citizens and non-government organisations among others, to submit suggestions and objections till April 1 on the Bill.

The Secretariat’s move comes after the state Assembly during the Winter Session decided to refer it to a committee headed by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule for further deliberations.

In her post regarding the Maharashtra Special Public Security Act, 2024 on X, Sule said, “In the proposed ‘Prevention of certain unlawful activities by individuals and organisations and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto’, the definition of “illegal acts” seems to grant unlimited powers to government agencies.

“This effectively gives the government a licence to establish a Police Raj, which could be misused against individuals, institutions, or organisations that express constructive Opposition in a democratic manner.

“This Bill undermines the very concept of “We, the People of India.” By granting the administration unchecked powers, there is a risk that individuals may be harassed out of sheer vindictiveness.

“Criticising government policies and decisions, peacefully protesting, or organising marches could all be deemed illegal acts. This Bill disregards the principles of ideological diversity and directly infringes upon citizens’ constitutional rights.”

“Furthermore, the Bill grants the government the power to interfere in certain judicial processes, posing a direct threat to judicial independence. Some of its provisions encroach upon fundamental constitutional rights such as Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Association, and the Right to Fair Trial.”

“Historically, the British attempted to introduce a similar law (The Rowlatt Act) to suppress opposition during colonial rule. This Bill is a direct denial of the core principles of the Indian Constitution, and we strongly condemn it. We urge the government to review the draft of this Bill and ensure that constitutional values are not violated,” said Sule.

The Bill, which was presented by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state Assembly on December 18 last year, proposes to contain ‘Urban Naxal’ menace and provide more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and organisations.

He said that the Bill is not aimed to suppress genuine dissent but to weed out the ‘Urban Naxal’ bastions.

The Bill proposes jail term and penalty payable by unlawful organisations and powers to take possession of places and forfeit funds.

The Bill is crafted on the lines of the Public Security Act passed by Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha for effective monitoring of unlawful activities of Naxal frontal organisations or similar organisations.

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General

‘Animal Lives Matter’ Only During Bakri Eid: Netizen Criticises As Viral Video Shows Long Queue Outside Mutton Shop On Holi

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Vasai-Virar: A video became popular depicting a long line on Holi day outside a mutton shop in Virar. An X user shared a video highlighting the waiting line of Virar locals purchasing mutton (goat meat) from Azeez Mutton shop and remarked in the caption that called out people for criticising animal slaughter only on Bakri Eid but turns a blind eye on other festivals where people enjoy meat.

The post was initially shared by a user on X (@single_soul1), reacting to the lengthy line outside the mutton shop, pointing out that the Jain community does not object to Hindu celebrations where meat is consumed, yet it seems to only condemn Islamic festivals for doing likewise.

The X user (@HumairaMirza7) reposted the post with caption that stated: “Now, during Bakra Eid, everyone will suddenly remember ‘Animal lives matter’., There was a huge queue at Azeez Mutton shop in Virar during Holi.”

When it comes to certain restrictions that are imposed on religious customs, a unfair play is always seen amongst the communities claiming the restrictions are only placed on them and not the other religions or customs.

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Crime

Communal tension on Holi in Ratnagiri Rajapur: Situation peaceful

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Mumbai: The situation is peaceful after the communal tension on Shimga Holi in Ratnagiri Rajapur, Maharashtra. During the Holi Shimga procession at Jamia Masjid in Ratnagiri Rajapur, people of a particular community tried to damage the door of the mosque, after which the situation deteriorated here, but the police have registered a case in this matter under various sections and the Police Act. Police have registered a case in this case against Sanjay Khopade, Ankit Arvind Khatkar, Prajit Khopade, Dashrath Dudhgavkar, Prashant Marathe, Amit Kadam, Shopnil Balkarkar, Prashan Devasthali, Mahesh Narayan Reddy, Sujit Ramesh Shinde, Prasad Masurkar, Shubham Pawar, Raju Murte and others. All of them are residents of Rajapur Ratnagiri.

On the night of March 12, miscreants forcibly entered the Jama Masjid while the Shimga Holi procession was being taken out through that route. The mob is also accused of forcibly damaging the gate. The police have registered a case in this matter. Also, to worsen the situation, people of a particular community also raised slogans of Jai Shri Ram, Har Har Mahadev and violated the prohibitory orders, after which the police have registered a case.

The situation in Ratnagiri is peaceful, but tension persists. SP Ratnagiri Dhananjay Kulkarni said that a case of violation of prohibitory orders has been registered because a crowd had gathered near the Jama Masjid. The situation here is peaceful, but the market of rumors is active. He appealed to the public not to pay attention to rumors. The police have tightened security in the area. According to tradition, there is a custom of placing a stick on the stairs of Jawahar Chowk Jama Masjid in Rajapur village and saluting and coconut and garland are offered from here. After that the procession starts, but tension spread at night when the crowd forcibly attacked the gate while shouting Jai Shri Ram slogans.

Assembly member Nitesh Rane said that the festival of Shimga and Holi is celebrated according to tradition in Ratnagiri, so there is no tension here. Some people are trying to spoil the atmosphere. While the festival of Holi is celebrated peacefully here, Hindus and Muslims live together. There is no tension or tension. The situation is peaceful. He said that an attempt has been made to mislead by presenting this incident on social media, while the facts are different. When the route of the procession is like this and it is a tradition, it is also important to find out who closed the gate of the mosque and what is the reason behind it. He said that Muslims also welcome the Holi procession and there is mutual brotherhood.

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