Qasab a threat to Ganeshotsav?

Police fear communal clashes if city mandals go for 26/11-themed tableaux featuring the convicted Ajmal Qasab, advise against such displays


An artist puts finishing touches to a mannequin of Ajmal Qasab during the run-up to Ganeshotsav.

CAN a tableau with 26/11 as its subject and which features the convicted Ajmal Qasab trigger communal clashes in the city? This is the question various Ganapati mandals wanting to pay homage to the martyrs
of the terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008, have been left asking after the police told them to refrain from putting up such displays.

The Akara Maruti Kopra Ganapati Mandal of Shukrawar Peth was in for a rude shock on Saturday when the police denied it permission for the pandal decoration it was putting up. The mandal had 26/11 zas its theme.
The mandal planned to show the attack and the terrorists, including Ajmal Qasab, and the havoc it created.


Rajendra Deshmukh, president of Akara Maruti Kopra Ganapati Mandal, with a 26/11-theme sketch.
Deshmukh says the mandal had to cancel the order for Qasab's mannequin after the police said no to the theme.
The pandal of this Ganapati mandal is now empty but for the Ganesh idol.

At eleventh hour
Rajendra Deshmukh, president of the Akara Maruti Kopra Ganapati Mandal, said the refusal came at the eleventh hour.

"It was very unfair on behalf of the police to not give us permission for the theme. We were not showing anything false, but just highlighting the pain that we have faced because of 26/11," said Deshmukh.
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"Qasab was part of it because he was the only terrorist caught, but the police asked us to either change the theme or have no theme at all."

He added that the reason the police gave for denial of permission was that it would provoke communal clashes and disturb the festive mood.

Deshmukh felt it was a deliberate move on the part of the police to refuse permission at the last moment so that there would be no chance for a debate on the issue.

Police appeal
The police maintain they want mandals to avoid subjectsu00a0 featuring Qasab or even 26/11 as it may lead to communal riots during the festival.

"We do not want the city to face the same communal tension that Sangli, Satara and Solapur faced last year," said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ranjeet Dhure. "For the sake of peace, we have denied permission to tableaux of Ajmal Qasab or Afzal Khan. We've asked mandals to avoid controversial topics, but it is finally up to them to do what we say or go with what they want."

I think the cops are right because incidents like 26/11 remind us of nothing but chaos
- Rachit Gupta, Student,
Viman Nagar

I agree with the cops. Bringing up these things again will upset the festive mood
- Priyanka Maheshwari, HR recruiter, Senapati Bapat Road

In the festive season, activities that have resulted in violence shouldn't be mentioned
- Rima Choraria,
Administration manager, Baner