Karnataka govt likely to allow Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations at Idgah Maidan

The Karnataka High Court on Friday allowed religious and cultural events to be held at the disputed Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru's Chamarajpet, following which the government is mulling the idea of holding Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations there.

Published on: Aug 27, 2022, 16:18:54 IST

By Yamini C S | Edited by Aniruddha Dhar

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The Basavaraj Bommai-led government in Karnataka may decide to hold Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations at the Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru's Chamarajpet after the Karnataka High Court's order allowing religious and cultural activities at the controversial playground.

The Idgah Maidan has been in controversy with Hindu organisations pushing for their festivals to be celebrated at the ground as well. (ANI)

The maidan has been the topic of many debates, with both the Waqf board and the city administrative body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) claiming ownership until it was declared to be the property of the revenue department earlier this month.

Also read: 'Idgah Maidan' land belongs to Revenue Department: Karnataka Minister

Hindu organisations have also been pushing for their festivals to be celebrated at the ground, seeking permission to hold the Ganesh Chaturthi festival there.

The high court on Friday modified an interim order on the disputed playground, saying religious and cultural activities can be allowed by the government there, but for a limited period from August 31.

Also Read: Idgah Maidan row: Amid bandh call in Bengaluru's Chamarajpet, security hiked

Chief minister Bommai told news agency PTI that the state government will decide on implementing the court order after holding a meeting with the advocate general and the revenue minister on Saturday.

“The division bench of the high court has given an order regarding Chamrajpet survey number 40 (Idgah playground) asking the government to take an appropriate decision, and has analysed how our country is multi-religious. Regarding implementing the court order with letter and spirit, tomorrow the Advocate General, Revenue Minister and I will hold discussions,” Bommai told PTI.

Also read: In a first, Tricolour hoisted at Idgah Maidan amid tight vigil

“Everyone's wishes need to be fulfilled while maintaining peace, and the government will do it. We will completely study the court order. We will hold a meeting tomorrow on implementing it with letter and spirit, and will decide accordingly,” he added.

The order was celebrated by BJP leaders, with BJP national general secretary CT Ravi tweeting, “I welcome the judgement of Karnataka High Court to leave it to the discretion of the State Government to decide about the Idgah Maidan in Chamarajpet, Bengaluru. Cultural & religious activities must be allowed on this land as per the desire expressed by citizens & organizations.”

In an interim order on Thursday, a single judge bench had ordered that the ground should be used only to celebrate Muslim festivals and as a playground at other times. However, after the state government approached the division bench with an appeal, the case was disposed and the court said religious and cultural activities can be allowed by the government on the two-acre land.

(With inputs from PTI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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