Bengaluru, 13 September (H.S.) :Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka has criticised T Narasipura police inspector Dhananjay for allegedly imposing several restrictions on Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and processions in the town.

Warning officials against interfering with Hindu religious practices, the senior BJP leader said he would visit any place where Ganesh festival celebrations faced difficulties.

Ashoka alleged that Hindus were not being allowed to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi peacefully after the Congress government assumed office. He claimed that devotees and festival organisers were facing harassment across Karnataka.

Referring to the restrictions reportedly announced by the inspector, Ashoka alleged that they indicated a conspiracy involving the State government. He accused the Congress administration of pursuing an anti-Hindu policy and deliberately creating obstacles to religious celebrations.

The BJP leader said the inspector had spoken arrogantly while laying down conditions for the festival in T Narasipura. According to Ashoka, organisers were told that Ganesh processions should not pass in front of mosques and that firecrackers should not be burst during the celebrations.

Questioning the manner in which the police addressed the organisers, Ashoka asked whether devotees participating in the procession were being treated as rowdies or troublemakers. He said peaceful festival participants should not be viewed with suspicion or subjected to unnecessary restrictions.

Ashoka also targeted Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, accusing him of displaying religious devotion only during elections. He said Shivakumar frequently visited temples, wore saffron attire and took ritual dips in rivers whenever elections approached, presenting himself as a devout Hindu.

The Opposition leader questioned whether the restrictions imposed on Ganesh festival celebrations reflected the Congress leadership's stated concern for Hindus. He accused the party of practising what he described as hypocritical Hindutva for electoral purposes while allowing devotees to be threatened and religious events to be restricted after coming to power.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman