Cultural Affairs Minister and Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar has launched a scathing attack on the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), accusing them of working under an "urban Naxalite agenda" to curtail the public celebration of Ganeshotsav — a festival he described as a powerful symbol of Hindutva.
Speaking at a public gathering of Ganeshotsav Mandals and devotees at Shirodkar Hall in Parel on Sunday, Shelar said the BJP will not allow any disruption to the sacred tradition of sarvajanik (public) Ganeshotsav celebrations. The event was jointly organized by the Akhil Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mahasangh, Maharashtra Rajya Shree Ganesh Murtikar Sangathana, and other festival committees.
“Today I speak not as a minister or party leader, but as a devotee of Lord Ganesha,” Shelar said. “Over the years, there has been a calculated attempt to shut down Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav. This began in 2003 with a petition seeking a ban on Hindu rituals at natural water bodies. Unfortunately, the then government supported it by including POP (Plaster of Paris) idol issues in its affidavit to the court."
He blamed successive governments, particularly during Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure as Chief Minister and during the Shiv Sena’s control of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), for "weaponizing environmental concerns" to curb traditional idol-making practices. Shelar pointed out that Aaditya Thackeray, as a BMC corporator, had supported measures to promote clay idols by banning POP, which severely impacted the idol-making industry.
Calling the opposition's Hindutva “fake,” Shelar said the campaign against POP idols was not just about pollution but an attempt to destroy the ₹25,000 crore Ganeshotsav economy — which includes idol makers, pandal decorators, puja item sellers, artisans, and others.
"With the recent lifting of the POP ban, the mask has come off. The truth behind this conspiracy is now in the open,” Shelar declared, while presenting a detailed legal timeline of the issue from 2003 to 2024.
He also said the government would present a clear stand before the court regarding the immersion of large idols by June 30, responding to concerns raised after the POP ban was lifted.
Reaching out to political rivals, Shelar said, “We are ready to come to Matoshree [Uddhav Thackeray’s residence] and hold discussions on behalf of Ganesh devotees. But those who kept silent during the idol ban must answer now. Why didn’t they support the idol makers or the festivals?”
